The British Museum
The British Museum
4.5
Speciality MuseumsArt MuseumsHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
A museum of the world, for the world. Discover over two million years of human history and culture. Some of the world-famous objects include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and Egyptian mummies.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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What is Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best?
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Bloomsbury
Snuggly nestled within Central London is academic and leafy Bloomsbury, an area that boasts walking distance access to many of London's most popular attractions. It is also home to some of Britain's most celebrated museums, including the must-see British Museum. Despite an understandable popularity with students, tourists and day trippers, vast sections of Bloomsbury retain a quiet, residential feel year round and throughout the week.
How to get there
  • Tottenham Court Road • 6 min walk
  • Russell Square • 6 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • Ryan S
    Cardiff, United Kingdom226 contributions
    A Marvellous Museum
    The biggest museum in Britain and one of the biggest in Europe, the British Museum is full of thousands of displays and many sectors from across the world. The most notable sector is the Egyptian Sector which houses the Rosetta Stone and the Bust of Ramesses the Great. Another sector is the Greek and Parthenon which houses many Parthenon sculptures, Crouching Venus Sculpture and the Sophilos Vase. Other notable sectors include the African, Life and Death, Egyptian Mummies and Chinese Sectors. My favourite room which looks the greatest is the Library of Enlightenment which houses The Piranesi Vase at its centre. There are so many displays to look at there is too many to look at in a day, but you can spend about 3- 4 hours looking at the best ones that catch your eye.
    Visited December 2022
    Written 15 December 2022
  • Sabine S
    23 contributions
    Great museum, amazing exhibitions however train the waiters better, please.
    We had so much fun walking though the exhibition even if you keep your coat on, in wintertime as it is, do to the temperatures they need to have, really chilly in certain parts of the museum e.g. Mummy/ ancient Egypt. Visit well worth alone for the amount of things you can and will see as you visit it. However, we felt sorry for the staff at the pizzeria - the food is great and a clear recommendation and at a price point where you say - not that much higher in comparison to the restaurans around, however they needs to be better coordinated in terms of responsibility and knowing what the actually do.
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled with friends
    Written 18 December 2022
  • Barry-John W
    Cape Town, South Africa390 contributions
    Massive. Need a week lol
    Wow. Is all I can say. So much to see in this place... It's huge and free. Lots of interesting things to see and learn about. You need alot of time here. Not just a 15 min walk around lol
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 December 2022
  • Abeer H
    Dubai, United Arab Emirates1,300 contributions
    Best history museum
    The best history museum we have ever seen. Number of civilizations covered with amazing pieces. This is the first museum for us which was free and no entry fee. We had a young kid with stroller and every place was accessible with multiple lifts. Usually we face a lot of issue with stairs in museums as museum buildings are mostly old.
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 December 2022
  • Jasmina S
    Mumbai, India1,028 contributions
    Museum deserve more than seven ⭐
    This is one the best museum. This is very huge museam needs at least more hours to see or can see in 2/3 days while reading all details. 3/4floors all rooms are very big. This is for all ages museum. Like students, family's, seniors, youngsters. All will enjoy. Lots of collection and details of many countries. Collection of things are so good. Just see that. Their is fast moving ques. Can take atleast half an hour or more. If you r artist or designer take a pen and paper to gets best design and ideas. They have facilities of water washrooms and coffee areas. Can take so many pictures. Watch this museam with intrest, it's really good one.
    Visited October 2022
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 December 2022
  • M L
    Chino Hills, California21 contributions
    Best Value and must see while in London
    This place is huge and lot of things to see. With the free admission, it's just an amazing value that every tourist to London should not skip. Make sure to make online reservation beforehand and to get the free paper map at the Information Desk. I purchased the £6 Museum guide that also includes the color map up front. The guide is nicely done and worth the price. One can easily spend few hours here. If under time constraint, I would identify the room numbers I'm interested at from the map and tackle those first. In the morning, we needed to wait in line outside the entrance but the line went fairly quickly.
    Visited December 2022
    Written 28 December 2022
  • Bosco
    Montvale, New Jersey16 contributions
    One Could Spend a Few Days Here
    We visited twice during our Xmas holiday week in London. It can be tiring to try to hit everything in one shot. Lots of stuff to see, I'm sure there is a lot more in storage not for public viewing. A must see for sure if you are in London.
    Visited December 2022
    Written 1 January 2023
  • Doina T
    Bucharest, Romania7 contributions
    Highlights for a family with a 8year old child
    We had 2 days, one for the free exhibitions and one for the hieroglyphs exhibition. For the first day we had a time reservation but it really did not matter. Access was easy with reasonable waiting times. We enjoyed the Parthenon sculptures, the Assyrian artefacts and, of course, the Egyptian ones. Roman Britain was also interesting.
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 3 January 2023
  • Tkommy
    107 contributions
    Nice free museum
    For a big museum like this with so many exhibited items. It is hard to imagine that it is actually free. You can easily spend a few hours or even more because there’s a lot to see. Highly recommend it to people who would like some free leisure.
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 9 January 2023
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pjmdvm
Atlanta, GA1,843 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
In all fairness, I should have read a review or two before arriving at the British Museum. I signed up for a free timed ticket online on the museums website as directed. They state that they suggest the timed entry tickets, but they do hold some time slots for people who show up without tickets. I was shocked to see the very long line…. All the way down the front of the block and more than half way around the corner of the side of the block. This line is for everyone, ticket holders and those without a timed QR code alike. The people in front and behind me did not have tickets and everyone got in. This was at 11:00 am, maybe later in the day it is different. The line moves somewhat quickly. If you don’t have a bag you can get through faster. You go through metal detector and then you are allowed entry into the museum. No one looks at your QR code, ever. A guidebook/map can be found near the entry— suggested 5 euro donation, but they do not have change. If you want to see the Rosetta Stone go left once you enter into the museum —it’s on the ground floor. There are plenty of toilets throughout the museum. The employees are very kind and happy to give you directions to wherever you are trying to go. Overall, a very nice museum.
Written 12 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Helen W
Frimley, UK107 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Considering it's the British museum, there's really very little in there that's British. What it does have, however, is an awful lot of old (and some very old) objects that the British seem to have 'acquired' from different countries around the world. The Egyptian exhibit is impressive and worth a visit, but I couldn't help wondering if some of these countries might like their stuff back.
Written 9 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kelly_L_Holmes
Eccleshall, UK137 contributions
Feb 2023 • Friends
Great history here for any history buff or just someone slightly interested! Nice building and good gift shops. Need to get here early to be able to walk around everything on display here!
Written 9 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Shareef
London, UK9 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Its extensive collections and inspiring architecture, coupled with stunning sculptures, make it a must-see destination. The museum is home to artifacts from around the world and throughout history, giving visitors a chance to explore the past in a truly unique way. Its galleries are a treasure trove of knowledge and beauty, and its exhibitions are sure to leave a lasting impression.
Written 8 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CHARITY
London, UK9 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Its vast collection of artifacts, beautiful paintings, interactive exhibits, and captivating displays make it a truly unique experience. From the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures, the museum offers something for everyone. The interactive exhibits allow visitors to explore the history and culture of the world, while the captivating displays provide an unforgettable experience.
Written 8 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jania Crush
London, UK5 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
The British Museum is a must-visit for anyone looking to explore the fascinating history of the world. With world-renowned exhibits and educational programs, it is an incredible experience for all ages. From the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures, there is something for everyone. The museum also offers a range of activities, from lectures to guided tours, to help visitors learn more about the past. Whether you're a history buff or just looking for a fun day out, The British Museum is a must-see!
Written 6 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Madalina C
Cluj-Napoca, Romania235 contributions
Dec 2023 • Friends
Hey 😊 our visit was a short one as there were to many people inside. I think they should make groups or something based on an hourly schedule because you could use anything. The galleries were nice anyway.
Written 2 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

William H
4 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
One the best museums in the world. The museum is so huge and it has so many things to see from many countries. A museum full of history. I totally recommend it.
Written 1 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul M
Norwich, UK4 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
As the name suggests this museum should be full of British history and not artifacts robbed and pillaged from other nations. The empire and colonialism has long gone, so it's time to give it all back to their rightful places
Written 1 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lainie L
New York City, NY195 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
The British Museum is not a museum to be taken lightly. Similar to New York's National History Museum, it contains gobs of artifacts and would take you a year just to see everything, including weekends.

That's why I used the museum map and directory to find all the must-see artifacts including the Rosetta Stone and the Lewis Chessmen.

I also had a difficult time figuring out where to go but a super helpful staff member, I wished I had gotten her name! pointed me in the right direction and thanks to her, I was able to read the map.

If you just want to wander around, this is the place.

If you just want to check out the really important stuff, you can be in and out in less than two hours.

You still need to wander around looking for the items in question.
Written 30 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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THE BRITISH MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about The British Museum