The British Museum situated in the Bloomsbury area of London, Museum opened on 15th of January 1759 and was the world’s first national Museum to be open to the public, anyone can visit the museum and look at strange and wonderful objects that were collected from all over the world and now has a collection size of over 8 million objects, you can find objects from all the continents and documents that tell a beautiful story of human cultures from its beginnings to the present.
The Montagu House has been home to the British Museum since its opening, over the two and a half centuries it has expanded due to the expanding British colonization, which resulted into creation of several branch institutions, one of the first was the British Museum of Natural history in South Kensington in 1881 however it is now called Natural History Museum and separated from the British Museum.
The British Library Act 1972 detached the library department from the British Museum, however, it continued to host the currently split British Library in the exact same Reading Room and construction as the memorial until 1997. The memorial is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Media and Sport, and as with other national museums in the United Kingdom, it charges no admission fee, except for advance exhibitions. When the British Museum was started in 1759 it was the first national museum to be available to the public everywhere in the world.
In the past few decades, there were campaigns by other states who desire a few of their historical treasures returned. Nevertheless, the British Museum remains among the world’s most popular attractions.
The most recent issue was regarding the Elgin Marbles, and who has the legal right to own it. A campaign was made by Greece to have the sculptures return to Athens to allow all the surviving sculptures to be reunited.
The galleries are divided by location and periods in history: Ancient Iran, Greece, China from 5000 BC onwards, Ancient Rome Britain and so forth and in case you are overwhelmed with the choice, follow one of the free 20 second spotlight tours directed by the guides each Friday, or check out one of the free displays dedicated to a particular theme or works of art. There are daily free activities for children, too, such as crafts, action paths and digital workshops, ideal when there is a homework project that has to be fired by inspiration.
Before entering the British Museum you may get searched especially if you are caring big luggage, due to security reasons rucksacks, packages, and individual items can be searched. Wheeled cases and large items are not allowed on British Museum assumptions. You can store luggage and other items inside any major rail station, such as Euston, King’s Cross and Charing Cross.
Telephone: 020 7323 8299 | Official Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
How to get there
- By Bus: Bus Services that go near the British Museum: 1, 8, 19, 25, 38, 55, 98, 242 Stop on New Oxford Street, 10, 14, 24, 29, 73, 134, 390 stop near Northbound on Tottenham Court Road and 59, 68, X68, 91, 168, 188 sop near Southampton Row.
- By Bike: There are bike racks inside the Museum gates on Great Russell Street.
- By Car: The Museum is within the Congestion Charge zone. More Information about the Congestion Zone
- Underground Stations: nearest stations are Tottenham Court Road and Holborn, 500meters away, Russell Square and Goodge Street, 800 meters away.
- By Coach: Coach parties are advised to use the metered parking on Montague Place.
- By Foot: The British Museum is 20 minutes away from the Trafalgar Square and 52 minutes away from The Shard by foot.
Special Exhibitions
Living with gods: peoples, places, and worlds beyond
- 2 November 2017 – 8 April 2018
Scythians: Warriors of Ancient Siberia
- 14 September 2017 – 14 January 2018
Free Exhibitions
A physician’s cabinet: Sir Hans Sloane’s practices of collecting and cataloguing and Sidney Nolan centenary: Back of beyond
- Until 11 January 2018
On violence and beauty: Reflections on war
- Until 21 January 2018
The business of prints
- Until 28 January 2018
Living histories: Recent acquisitions of works on paper by contemporary Arab artists
- Until 4 February 2018
The currency of communism
- Until 18 March 2018
British Museum is a Free Museum however special Exhibitions are priced differently depending on the exhibition
Opening Hours
Monday | 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM |
Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM |
Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM |
Thursday | 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM |
Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM |
Saturday | 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM |
Sunday | 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM |
Museum has a collection size of around 8 Million objects.
More Photography’s
Location
Address: Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG
The British Museum is one of the best FREE visitor attractions in London