British Museum

One of the world's great museums and it's completely free — the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon sculptures, Egyptian mummies and two million years of human history under Norman Foster's glass roof. The catch is everyone knows it: book a free timed slot, go at opening or on the Friday late, and pick three galleries rather than attempting everything.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

What are the British Museum's opening hours?

Daily 10am to 5pm, and until 8:30pm on Fridays (except Good Friday). Closed 24-26 December. Friday evenings are the connoisseur's slot — same galleries, half the people.

How long do you need at the British Museum?

Two to three focused hours covers the headliners without museum fatigue setting in. It's free, so honestly the best strategy is two shorter visits rather than one exhausting death march through all 90-odd galleries.

Is the British Museum really free?

Yes — the entire permanent collection is free, no catch. Booking a free timed-entry ticket online is recommended (and sensible in summer) but walk-up entry is usually possible with a queue. Only special exhibitions charge.

What are the must-sees at the British Museum?

The Rosetta Stone (Room 4), the Parthenon sculptures (Room 18), the Egyptian mummies (Rooms 62-63) and the Sutton Hoo treasure (Room 41) are the big four. That circuit takes about two hours; add the Lewis Chessmen and the Assyrian lion hunts if you have energy left.

How do I avoid crowds at the British Museum?

Go Friday after 5pm or be at the door for 10am opening and head straight to the Rosetta Stone before tour groups form their scrum around it. Midweek mornings in term time are also decent; summer weekend afternoons are the worst.

Is the Rosetta Stone worth seeing?

It's a modest grey slab that changed how we understand the ancient world, and there's something moving about that — but expect to view it over a wall of phones. Come at opening or Friday evening to actually read the information panels in peace.

Does the British Museum have a cloakroom and cafe?

Yes — a paid cloakroom near the main entrance (large luggage isn't accepted, so don't bring suitcases), plus cafes in the Great Court and a pizzeria. The Great Court itself, with its lattice glass roof, is worth ten minutes of just looking up.

What's the nearest tube to the British Museum?

Tottenham Court Road and Holborn are both about seven minutes' walk; Russell Square slightly closer to the back entrance on Montague Place. Using that quieter north entrance is a small local trick that often skips the main queue.

Nearby in Ask London

• Sir John Soane's MuseumMuseum0.71 km · 9 min walk
• BagerietCafé0.83 km · 10 min walk
• Covent GardenNeighborhood0.88 km · 11 min walk
• SohoNeighborhood0.92 km · 12 min walk
• Courtauld GalleryMuseum1.09 km · 14 min walk