The British Museum

Q: How long does it take to tour the British Museum?

Recommended visiting time is at least three to four hours, but if you're interested in joining some of the many different talks and tours at the museum, then be prepared to spend the entire day wandering around.

Q: Is the British Museum worth seeing?

Look at the many TripAdvisor reviews for this great institution, and check out the website to find out what's on when you are there. Free entry means you could always return later in the same day or on another day. It is absolutely, definitely worth a visit.

Q: Is the British Museum London Free?

The British Museum is free to enter and includes access to its permanent galleries. Special exhibitions usually require a fee. Although this attraction is free to visit, you must book a timed entry ticket in advance.

Q: Do I need to book to visit the British Museum?

You're advised to book a timed slot in advance (Opens in new window) to guarantee entry and help control the numbers of individuals who can visit. Walk-up visits are available each day for those who arrive at the Museum without advance bookings.

Question 1

The British Museum Guide

Answer

It is commonly said that when you are in London, you are never too far away from a museum. With over 150 museums, galleries and exhibitions spread across the city, one can see why this statement holds true. London has a museum for literally everything - a science museum, a war museum, a natural history museum, a museum dedicated to The Beatles, a zoology museum, even a Freud museum! Looking at this vast list, it is safe to say that Londoners love their museums and all the history and traditions associated with it. However, out of this list, there is one museum in particular - the British Museum, which overshadows and outshines all the rest.

Here's a detailed guide to the British Museum in London, tickets to the best British Museum Tours, the must see exhibits at British Museum, the British Museum restaurants and a few insider tips that will help you plan your British Museum visit effortlessly.

Question 2

British Museum In London

Answer

The British Museum in London is one of England’s largest, oldest and most comprehensive museums, with its permanent collections housing over 8 million works and articles. Through its exhibits and collections, this museum takes you back to the birth of mankind and civilization. The British Museum is dedicated to documenting and showcasing the evolution and culture of humankind, with exhibits from all over the world.

If you find yourself in London, visiting this museum should definitely be on the top of your list (after the London Eye, of course)

Question 3

British Museum History and Architecture

Answer

British Museum History

The British Museum in London is the world’s first national public museum, established in the year 1753. The exhibits and items on display at the museum are largely based on the collections of Sir Hans Sloane, an Irish physician and scientist. Although the museum didn’t start out with much (71,000 objects), over the course of the last two and half centuries, it has undergone several changes, including widespread renovations and expansions, in order to accommodate the ever-growing collection.

Today, the British Museum, London is home to one of the most extensive and comprehensive collections of artefacts, sculptures, paintings, statues, manuscripts and other antiquities, all collected from around the globe and all dedicated to showcasing the leaps and bounds of human history.

British Museum Architecture

The British Museum was designed in the Greek Revival style, emulating the classical Greek architecture, with columns, a decorative pediment at the south entrance and a main quadrangle and 4 wings. The core of the building was designed by Sir Robert Smirke, at the time an eminent and established neoclassical architect. Smirke began the project with the construction of the east wing meant for the King’s Library, (today, considered one of the greatest examples of neoclassical interiors in London) and consequently moved onto the other wings.

What is most striking about the building is its exterior, built decoratively and beautifully so as to convey to its onlookers about the treasures and wondrous objects stored inside. Considering that the museum went through several expansions and restorations, a number of other architects worked on some of the newer areas and wings, including Sydney Smirke, Sir John Taylor and John Russell Pope, all adding to the allure and beauty of the museum we see today.

Question 4

Tickets To The Best British Museum Tours

Answer

The British Museum Guided Tour

Explore the British Museum in London, one of the largest museums in the world with an expert tour guide by your side. On this British Museum Tour, take in 6,000 years worth of knowledge and walk through the history of mankind. Your guide will help you experience the museum in a lineage order i.e, your tour will progress in the same order as the date of the events that took place on earth. In this way, you will be able to make sense of everything you see and also witness step by step how mankind progressed from small, scattered tribes to modern, interconnected civilizations we see today.

This British Museum Tour is highly recommended for those who are interested in delving into the history of the artefacts and installations on display rather than just ambling about the museum. Note that tickets to this British Museum Tour grants access to all the exhibitions that are running in the museum.
British Museum Tour Timings - This tour begins every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 2:00 PM and goes on for 2 to 2.5 hours.

Semi Private & Private Guided Tour of The British Museum

The British Museum in London has over 70 galleries and 8 million articles on display. Suffice to say, if you’re entering the museum for the first time, you are bound to get overwhelmed. On this semi private or private British Museum tour, you will be able to enjoy all that this wonderful museum has to offer, along with the services of a professional historian guide, who will not only curate your experience but also provide all the necessary and relevant information you need to know about the museum and its many contents. On this British Museum Tour, you get a chance to witness all the exhibits like the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, the Portland Vase etc. while learning about their history and significance. Get a truly enriching and insightful experience, and don’t be afraid to ask your guide any questions you may have.

This Semi Private/ Private British Museum Tour is recommended for those who are prefer small group intimate tours that allows personal attention from the historian guide. Note that tickets to this British Museum Tour grants access to all the exhibitions that are running in the museum.

British Museum Semi Private Guided Tour Timings

Semi Private Tour Timings:
Mon - Thu & Sat - Sun: 10 AM
Fri : 10 AM & 5 PM
Private Tour Timings
Mon - Thu - 10 AM & 1 PM
Fri - 10 AM, 1 PM & 5 PM
Sat - Sun : 10 AM

Question 5

Know Before You Visit British Museum London

Answer

Entry to the British Museum is free for all visitors. However, if you are looking for a guided tour (recommended), you will be charged a nominal fee. Tickets for a British Museum Guided Tour can be purchased at a discount online.

There are cloakroom facilities at the museum, with the main cloakroom located west of the main entrance. There is a minimal charge, depending upon the item you check in (umbrella £1, coat £2 and bags £2.5)
There are male and female washrooms located on each floor of the museum. The accessible toilets are located in the Great Court and the Ford Centre for Young Visitors.
Free WiFi is provided for all visitors of British Museum
Flash photography and video recording is permitted (for personal use only) in all areas of the museum.
There are multilingual audio guides available for visitors to use. These can be purchased at the museum itself and cost about £7 per adult.

Question 6

Insider Tips for Visiting the British Museum in London

Answer

Although entry to the British Museum is free, it is highly recommended to take a guided tour of the collections. As mentioned earlier, there is just so much to see and explore and it can get pretty overwhelming. Having a guide will help you skip through all the noise and focus on the important exhibitions.
Avoid going to the British Museum on school and public holidays. During these days, the museum gets horribly crowded and the lines to enter can stretch on forever. Save yourself the trouble and visit on weekdays.
Once you enter the British Museum, tackle the popular attractions first. We'd recommend you head to the Rosetta Stone and Elgin Marbles first as these exhibits will take up most of your time.
Have an action plan. Make a list of all the items and artefacts you want to see beforehand. This will not only help you save time but also a ton of energy.
If you’re not sure what you want to see, take the Around the World in 90 Minutes Tour, which takes place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For £12 you will be able to see all the important sites in the museum in 90 minutes!
If you don’t want to rush and take your time to see everything the museum has to offer, take multiple visits of the museum. Since it has free entry, you can go a bunch of times.