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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The area
Address
Neighborhood: 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 travelers are saying
  • Joanne R
    San Ramon, California644 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Perfect for a rainy day in London
    Short, 3 days in London. I was told to spend some time at the British Museum. Relatively easy to book a timed entry appointment. Entry fee was free - always nice.. There is sooooo much to see. I was only able to visit for 2 hrs. You need to give yourself closer to 4 hours - just to scratch the surface! I took the Enlightenment tour w/Jan. She was wonderful, insightful & witty. Next time I find myself in London (I will be back), I will pay for the self guided audio tour as well
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written March 21, 2023
  • Jamie H
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good day at museum
    So much to see for kids and adults alike. Egyptian mummies , tombs . Greek sculptures were amazing. The Chinese jade collection. The Samarai suit in Japan section with sword . Amazing. Had two course lunch in great court restraunt . Food was great sitting right up in roof , good service . Make sure you book on line very busy .
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written March 25, 2023
  • James D
    134 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The British Museum. It is worth multiple visits
    Outstandiong collection of artifacts. The central part of the building is beautiful. From here you can pause and plan your visit. If you are in London for an extended period I suggest multiple short visits. The place is so huge and there is so much to see you can get Museum Overload. The Museum is free. It also gets mobbed so I suggest getting there early (it opens at 10am). Make it the first stop on your day. There are numerous must sees including but not limited to the Rosetta Stone. Great exhibit of money, Egyptian Mummies, etc. etc. etc.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written March 26, 2023
  • jpcheshire1615
    Wilmslow, United Kingdom495 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Endlessly fascinating museum
    Entry to the British Museum is free so you don't need to spend all day - you can come back another time. I visited many times when I lived in London and have been back on many return trips to London. This time we spent just an hour and looked at some Ancient Egyptian objects and some artefacts from the so-called Dark Ages. There is plenty for future visits! The back entrance is much less busy than the main one. Worth remembering when it is raining.
    Visited March 2023
    Written March 27, 2023
  • bstlv
    Tel Aviv, Israel480 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Outstanding collections of cultures from around the world
    There is something to see for everyone, from every possible period. Entry is free of charge. There is a dedicated entry lane if you register in advance and you do not have to queue at all. Go either early in the morning or late afternoon (we did it in 2 sessions) Take the map and follow the "Don't miss" artifacts.
    Visited March 2023
    Written March 28, 2023
  • Ziggy5150
    East Texas, Pennsylvania50 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic museum
    Large museum with a lot of great things to see. It’s well laid out with good signage to direct you. We loved all the displays. We spent about 4 hours but you could definitely make it a full day.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 28, 2023
  • Marianne
    Kingskerswell, United Kingdom14 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    fascinating exhibits, well displayed, easy layout.
    great visit on Wednesday before Easter hols. some great books in the shop. the tea at the cafe is excellent. loves the Assyria, Ancient Egypt, China, India and Africa galleries - although Africa gallery was a bit limited and also very hot. Only wish we'd had a bit more time as there was lots more to see. Could do with more toilets as very busy, and better signage to the toilets as one sign took us on a wild goose chase.
    Visited March 2023
    Written March 31, 2023
  • DoozeUK
    Leicestershire, United Kingdom1,012 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great museum with so much to do and see
    This has to be a must visit if your in London and want to enjoy seeing some of the most interesting antiquities in the world. Such a wide range to enjoy, in lovely surroundings and a great cafe too ! Be it wet, cold, windy, sunny put it on the list and anyway it’s free so what’s not to enjoy!
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written April 2, 2023
  • ldjs
    Fort Lee, New Jersey692 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Full of wonder!
    The British Museum is truly amazing. The history and art collected in these halls is beyond imagination. The building itself is grand and airy, architecture breathtakingly beautiful, entrance is free( donation suggested). If you only have 1-2 hours, make a plan in advance which must sees you plan to visit. Otherwise you could easily spend a day inside. Rosetta Stone, Lewis chessmen, Rothschild collection, Ramses and ancient Egypt, walks of Persepolis, and halls and halls of amazing treasures from all over the world. Needless to say, there are gift shops and cafes and there are free themed tours you should avail yourself of if you have time. Museum is good for children as well and there are lots of places to sit down and rest. The maps are very helpful as the Museum is huge. We will be coming back.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written April 3, 2023
  • Sandee
    London, United Kingdom8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One the best place to visit in London
    The British Museum is a must-see for anyone visiting London. The stunning sculptures, knowledgeable staff and inspiring stories of the world-renowned exhibits make it a truly memorable experience. Whether you're looking to learn more about history or just take in the beauty of the museum, you won't be disappointed. Highly recommend!
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 7, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Lalita
7 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
The newly re-opened British Museum can be visited as long as you book in advance on line for a timed visit.
The ground floor which has such things as the Rosetta stone, the Parat's more than enough for tourists on a first time visit as it's massive. There is a one way system which is easy to follow and no danger from Covid 19! Staff are availalable as always to ask questions and the queue for the Ladies was monitored to prevent too many people crowding together.
Excellent visit. I'll be back.
Written September 6, 2020
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.

KimbKo
Bostonian36 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We were a group of six who purchased tickets to a private tour, there are a few each day, that begins at 8:50 when the museum is not yet open. It was such a joy to have a knowledgeable guide to take us through a virtually empty museum. This museum is one of the best in the world and daily admission is free so it gets crowded. Go early or book the private tour. It is really very much worth it.
Written January 10, 2020
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.

Steviefull
Kidderminster, UK1,699 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
We were looking for something to do on our arrival in London and this seemed like a good way to spend the 3 hours or so we had spare. The museum has timed entry in effect to limit the number of people at any one time, so it was worth booking in advance just to be sure.

The museum has a bit of everything, set across many rooms, I do recommend downloading the app as it has two separate tours on it, 1 hour and 3 hours, so it will guide you through the highlights.

My personal highlight is the egyptian area with some large impressive statues and sarcophagus.

If you have the time, do not hesitate to visit and please make a donation.
Written October 24, 2021
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.

Sidney
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
As someone who loves ancient Greek and Roman history, I had so much fun
I bought an Audio Guide which was amazing because it really helped supplement the plaques that were with each item
If you're like me, who wants to see anything and everything, you need a lot of time. I think I spent about 6 hours in there and I didn't even see any other floor except the ground floor.
Wasn't terribly crowded when I went, though it did get a bit busy around 15-16:00 (3-4 pm)
Also while I was there, I got to see the Troy: Myth and Reality exhibition. That was fantastic to see and it gave great information, whilst giving you a story as you walk-through
Overall, if you like history, and you don't mind spending several hours in the museum, then I highly recommend
Written January 23, 2020
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.

Crystalwaters123
Mumbai, India519 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Solo
Ended up going to this museum on a rainy day.. The lines were long - however didn’t take much time to get in..
Like most London museums this is free - there is a recommended £5 donation.. The audio guide is £7..
The museum itself looks gorgeous - very modern.. It has a vast collection of artifacts ranging from varying times in history and has a collection spread across many countries.. I especially enjoyed the Indus Valley and the Chinese collections..
Written January 27, 2020
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.

Natasha Smith
United Kingdom5 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The British museum is very big. It has regular collections on display all the time and temporary displays which change every month or so. It has paid exhibitions and it used to show really good films on a friday evening for £3 etc in the lecture theatre but they seeemed to have stopped doing that recently which is ashame.
Written April 2, 2020
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 James H
151 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Solo
Although the British Museum is free to enter, you still have to get a ticket; as social distancing limits the visitor numbers.

There is a large Egyptian area of the museum, taking you from the 4th millenium Bc, through the 3rd millenium Bc. There are interesting peices(doors), that depict Eqyptian life. Many statues to the various gods, and statues to pharoas; believed to be almost semi gods. I didn't realise that the depictions on the pharoa's tombs, were to represent what they want to have in the afterlife. Believing that the images would become real, these became quite detailed.

After this there's the early Greek, Minoans and Miceneans, and their culture, with musical instruments made out of bone. Next you have Greek vases and the Roman period, with bits of the Parthenon kept here (and abroad). There is also a complete recreation of the Parthenon, to give it some perspective. The statues are next, and then lead on to Assyria and the Balawat gates, and from there you have the modern African collection. It is important to note here, that knowledge about how the items were aquired, is given.

The African sulptures and arms, represent items that were for years excluded from museum collections. Their weapons of war and beliefs, contrast with those of the west. If you get a chance, there's a cystal skull from South America, just before this Collection. It is unknown whether it is genuine, or not. But it is in a glass case, and thought to hold some sort of energy/power.

You can easily stay all day here, but please note that it only opens Wednesday to Sunday.
A great day out, and if you still want some more information than the displays give you, you can use a QR reader (throughout the place). Alternatively go to the Google play store and download the British museum audio guide (for a fee ) from there.
Written September 8, 2020
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.

ElleDLosAngeles
Los Angeles25 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Solo
Visiting from California, I took off without the family for a trip to this amazing Museum - not my first visit and definitely not my last I hope. While the line seems long, it moves relatively quickly and if you can manage without a backpack you’ll likely be shepherded I to separate and much quicker line that doesn’t require extensive search of belongings. This is an immense museum and any notion that you could do it in a day is impossible to accomplish. So recommend a little research before going and identifying the areas of prime interest - mine was Egyptology and Ancient Britain. I did get an audio
Your but be aware in peak they do run out for a while until returned. The descriptions on the items displayed are detailed and will probably inspire you to learn more once leaving. While I didn’t travel with the grandkids on this visit they have what seems to be a really good family activity visit, with things for the kids to look out for as you tour around. Architecturally it isn’t as gorgeous as the naturalhistory museum but the contents and exhibits more than make up for it. Really a spectacular place and worth the visit
Written January 4, 2020
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.

Joyce
512 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
The museum is open, but COVID-19 measures are in place. All guests will have to enter through the Great Russell Street entrance and exit through the Montague Place. Everyone's bags are checked. You will have to prebook a time to enter the museum - tickets are still free (there is an option to voluntarily donate!) but you will need to present your barcode to the front desk in order to go through to the exhibits. The coat and baggage areas are closed, so you'll be carrying everything with you around the museum. Most cafe and sit down ares are also closed, but there are still places in the museum you can get food and drink (near the entrance). Special exhibitions still require you to book and pay for a ticket. Everyone, unless exempted, must wear a mask at all times inside the museum. Many doors separating different galleries and museums have hand sanitisers.

All visitors are required to follow the arrows on the floor to walk through the museum. Unfortunately, many of the smaller galleries and rooms have been closed off for social distancing purposes, but the gems of the museum, the Ancient Egyptian and Greek galleries are still open for everyone to admire.

Social distancing measures are also being observed in the gift shops and in the bathrooms, so only a certain amount of people will be allowed in at any time.

While tourist numbers in London are down significantly, there were still surprisingly quite a few people coming into the museum late in the afternoon! I visited the museum 6 years ago and I found it fantastic; this time round my feelings have not changed.
Written October 6, 2020
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.

Stuart C
Rayleigh, UK2,981 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Solo
While entrance to this fantastic museum is free the Troy - Myth and Reality is an extra £20 per adult. You can buy in advance although the day of my visits lost of time slots had availability so I just turned up and purchased my ticket in the main hall and then went straight in. The first and to me most interesting section talked about the myth with lots of mainly Roman artefacts telling the story of the siege of Troy. Many were from the museums own collection but included exhibits from Berlin, the Ashmoleam and other museums. It was all very well told in chronological order using the exhibits. The second section is the actual finds from the real Troy. While the discovery was explained there was little attempt at describing what the city was actually like and it’s place in the ancient World and it mainly consisted of pots and everyday objects. The final section is some of the artwork depicting Troy through the ages. I really enjoyed it particularly the first section on the legend but came away wishing they had explained the ancient city better.
Written January 26, 2020
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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