The British Museum

The British Museum is the first national museum of England, that house eight million artworks and some of the world's most important archaeological finds.

TravelCurious Tip

Check out the King’s Library, in the oldest part of the building, with a collection of over 60,000 rare books which once belonged to the Kings of England.

A vast legacy

The British Museum contains over 8 million artefacts from all over the world, exploring history, art and culture from man’s beginnings up to the modern age. The Museum is located in the beautiful and historic Bloomsbury district, an area famous for creativity and learning, which is also home to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and many other museums and universities.


The Museum was established in 1753 when Sir Hans Sloane, a physician and naturalist, gave his large collection of over 71,000 artefacts to King George II for the nation in exchange for a payment of £20,000 to his heirs. The artefacts were put on public display in 1759 with free admission in Montagu House, on the same site as the museum today, creating the first national public museum in the world. 


From Egypt to Bloomsbury

At first, the Museum’s collection was made up mostly of books, coins and drawings. From the early 19th century, however, it began rapidly acquiring important ancient artefacts such as the Rosetta Stone, which decoded the mysteries of Egyptian hieroglyphs for the first time, and classical sculpture from Greece - including the controversial Elgin Marbles. Other antiquities include Greek vases, Egyptian statues and mummies, a stunning Assyrian colossal winged bull and other sculptures from the Middle East.


During the latter half of the 19th century, the focus shifted from foreign antiquities to homegrown British treasures. The four most recent galleries added to the Museum are Chinese ceramics, Europe 1050–1540, clocks and watches, and the painted tomb-chapel of a wealthy ancient Egyptian named Nebamun. 


The British Museum is a spectacular attraction with an abundance of treasures from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas to offer its visitors – and it’s entirely free. You could easily spend a full day (or two) wandering its vast galleries, so when you visit be sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in London
Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley is a street lined with record studios, where the Sex Pistols, Rolling Stones, Elton John, and David Bowie all recorded music.
The Rosetta Stone
A stone slab found in 1799 which became key to understanding Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Great Court of the British Museum
Admire the Great Court's magnificent glass and steel roof designed by Foster and Partners, which holds the world-famous Reading Room in the middle.
Easter Island Sculpture
Discover 'Hoa Hakananai'a' and 'Moai Hava', the two large stone Moai from Rapa Nui, held by the Museum.
Holborn
Home of inventors, authors, artists, and hauntings, Holborn’s history is salacious.
Red Lion Square
Developed by an unscrupulous property developer, the square’s stories are hallmarks of Holborn’s history.

Related Tours

Explore the Highlights of the British Museum: Private Tour
London is renowned the world over for its spectacular museums and the British Museum has the largest and most comprehensive collection in existence dedicated to human history, art and culture. Located in the Bloomsbury area of London, the museum houses a lot of interesting artefacts which explain more than two million years of human history. 

On your private highlights tour you will:

  • Explore the British Museum, the first national public museum in the world;
  • Navigate to the highlights of its millions of objects, from Vikings and samurais to Egyptian mummies;
  • See the Rosetta Stone: the key which unlocked modern understanding of ancient Egypt;
  • Visit the Easter Island statue, the Elgin Marbles, and the Lewis Chessmen, which are 12th-century, walrus ivory chess pieces from Scandinavia;
  • End at the Main Hall of the museum, where your guide will direct you to other curiosities you can explore or point you in the direction of the best places to eat in Bloomsbury.  
Your private tour of one of London’s best museums will help you navigate through the immensity of the collections to the must-see highlights, along with any curiosities which intrigue you. 

The British Museum houses millions of items in over 70 galleries including some of humankind's greatest archaeological artefacts, and learn of their significance. 

See relics and artistic curiosities from lost times and civilizations – from mummies, priceless armour, and ancient coins to architectural marvels. Hear of their discovery, from the adventures of old British explorers, and medieval tomb raiders to spoils of war. 

You will see the Rosetta Stone, the Easter Island Moai, the Sutton Hoo, the Lewis Chessmen, and the Parthenon marbles, as well as many other remarkable objects as part of an unmissable day of discovery and mystery. 

Your tour ends inside the Main Hall of the British Museum, where your guide will happily point you toward some of the museum’s more obscure artefacts or will direct you to some of the best places to eat in Bloomsbury. 
The British Museum & London's National Gallery: Private Tour
London is renowned for its world-famous museums. The British Museum houses some of history's greatest treasures, and some of the greatest works of art hang in the National Gallery. 

On your private tour you will:

  • Tour the British Museum, one of Britain’s preeminent museums for history and culture; 
  • Navigate the highlights of its millions of objects and artefacts from Ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt and Mesopotamia and around the ancient world;
  • See the Rosetta Stone, the Easter Island statue, and the Parthenon Marbles (formerly the Elgin Marbles);
  • Enjoy a scenic and easy walk from Bloomsbury to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square;
  • Tour the National Gallery, seeing some of the world’s most famous pieces of art;
  •  See works from the Italian Renaissance, the Dutch Golden Age, the Romantics and the Impressionists;
  • Enjoy works  by Raphael and Caravaggio, Rubens, Monet and Van Gogh and so many more.
  • Admire classical portraits of the aristocracy by the English painter Gainsborough, and extraordinarily dramatic naval paintings by Turner.
  • Finish your tour inside the National Gallery, where you can continue exploring on your own or ask your guide for local recommendations. 
Enjoy a private tour of two of London’s best-loved and largest museums, with an expert private guide to navigate you through these immense buildings and their vast collections. This is a great way to ensure you see the must-see highlights, as well as intriguing curiosities.

Your tour begins at the British Museum. One of the oldest museums in the world, it houses millions of items in over 70 galleries. Comb through some of humankind's greatest archaeological artefacts, and learn of their significance. See relics and artistic curiosities from lost times and ancient civilisations – from Egyptian mummies to Greek temples, priceless armour to marble busts and statues of long-dead rulers; see ancient coins, art and architectural marvels. Hear of their discoveries, by adventurous British explorers, medieval tomb raiders or as spoils of war. 

You will see the Rosetta Stone, the Easter Island Moai, the Sutton Hoo, the Lewis Chessmen, and the Parthenon marbles, as well as many other remarkable objects as part of an unmissable day of discovery and mystery.

Then, you’ll enjoy a brief walk through central London, with your guide showing you the best spots to explore after your tour, as you walk to the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, home to some of the world's most beautiful works of art. 

Your guide will navigate you through the vast galleries - architecturally splendid in their own right.  Delve beyond the superficial appearance, and gain a deeper understanding of the hidden meanings, mystique and coded messages in some of the world’s most iconic pieces of art. 

With over 2300 paintings ranging over 7 centuries and works from some of the most prolific artists, including Da Vinci, Van Gogh, and Holbein, the National Gallery will not fail to ignite your imagination. From Monet's Waterlilies to Van Gogh's Sunflowers, from the Greats of the Italian Renaissance to the most famous equine portrait in the world, Whistlejacket by George Stubbs, you're sure to be bowled over. 

Your tour ends inside the National Gallery, but your guide will also take time to tell you where to best spend the rest of the day exploring the area of central London around the gallery. 
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