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British Museum

Museum

British Museum

Two million years of human history under one roof, from the Rosetta Stone to the Sutton Hoo helmet. Free entry; open late on Fridays.

experience to book
1
typical visit
2–3 hours
lowest price
£14

Things to do at British Museum

Tickets

About British Museum

Founded in 1753, the British Museum calls itself the first national public museum in the world. You enter through a Greek Revival portico into the Great Court, roofed in glass in 2000 around the old Reading Room.

The ground floor holds the Rosetta Stone, which unlocked Egyptian hieroglyphs, and the Parthenon sculptures. Upstairs are the Egyptian mummies, the Anglo-Saxon treasure from Sutton Hoo and the Lewis Chessmen. With more than 60 galleries, pick a handful of rooms rather than trying to see everything.

Know before you go

  • Entry is free; a booked slot gives priority entry at busy times.
  • All bags may be searched. Wheeled cases and items over 40 × 40 × 50 cm or 8 kg aren't allowed.
  • Galleries close for maintenance on rotation, e.g. Room 33 (China and South Asia) 30 Nov–11 Dec 2026.
  • The Reading Room is closed all day on 13 and 20 November 2026.
  • The Montague Place entrance at the back is often quieter.