How to Plan a Trip to the British Museum in London

The British Museum offers free admission and has more than 8 million pieces in its collection.

When I go to London, I always try to make time for a visit to the British Museum. It is filled with an incredible range of artifacts and important pieces. I have been three times to date, and it will still take several more trips through the facility to make my way through all there is to discover and learn about.

The British Museum is one of the largest and most-visited in the world. Here is my easy guide to help you when you go.

About the Museum

The British Museum is a massive facility located in the Bloomsbury neighborhood of London. The museum houses one of the largest permanent collections of works in the world, with more than eight million pieces in its collection that trace the fascinating and varied timeline of human history through the pieces that represent numerous cultures and eras. The bulk of the items have been acquired (taken) during the time of the British Empire and expanding British colonization.

Pieces are organized in collections depicting periods of history dating as far back as 10,000-plus years ago. The museum was established in 1753, and the current facility is a large and beautiful building on the original site.

Location

The British Museum is located on Great Russell Street in Bloomsbury, London. This is between Bloomsbury Street and Montague Street. If using the London Underground for transportation, the Holborn and Tottenham Court Road Tube stations are just 500 meters away.

Admission

Entrance to the museum is free. They ask for a 5-pound donation after the security search area at the entrance of the building. The museum also has donation boxes located around the facility. You can choose to make a donation, or not. If you have a bag, it will be searched. If you are not carrying a bag, your entry is expedited through a separate lane.

What's Inside?

The British Museum's top attractions include the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies and funeral temple artifacts, the Parthenon Marbles Greek reliefs, samurai armor, coins, ancient game boards, Greek and Roman sculptures and a nearly 2,000,000-year-old stone chopping tool.

The museum features special exhibitions, too. On my most recent visit, for example, the British Museum was showing the exhibits "Edvard Munch: Love and Angst" and "Manga," a look at the Japanese comic and graphic novel phenomena.

Photos: Some of the Pieces You’ll See

A Top Tip for Visiting the British Museum

Start at the top floors and work your way back down. Most visitors seem to start exploring the rooms that branch off the ground floor immediately. If you head to the top, you will find that the crowds have dispersed more evenly throughout the museum, and you can then easily work your way down. It also can be nicer to be descending the stairs after your legs and feet start to tire.

Within the complex, you'll find small cafe areas where you can get enjoy a break for lunch or a snack and drink.

Happy exploring, and thanks for reading,

JR