London
Price €101
Min age 0
Rating 4.96 / 5 [574 ratings]
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Travel bucket list idea:
London, United Kingdom (UK)
A must-do on every London visitor’s itinerary, the imposing, colonnaded British Museum truly lives up to the hype. One of the oldest museums in the world (established 1753), its enormously rich collection of more than seven million artefacts, many collected and brought back to London from across the world by British explorers and archaeologists during the days of the British Empire.
The ethics may be questionable, but it has ensured thousands of ancient relics that may otherwise have been lost have been safeguarded. Discussions go on about the rights of returning many of these artefacts to their original countries, but for the moment they are still on display to be enjoyed and marvelled at.
The addition in 2000 of a soaring, glass-domed atrium – the Great Court, designed by Norman Foster – brought a dash of contemporary cool to a historic landmark.
Dating back to 196 BC, this unique stelae (a slab or column bearing an inscription) gave the first possibility of deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs, as the inscription repeated the same words in Ancient Greek, which scholars could understand.
A spectacular collection of Greek panels and sculptures dating back to 450 BC. Removed from the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens in 1801 by Scottish nobleman, Lord Elgin, ownership of the marbles remains a vexed issue between the UK and Greece.
The seven galleries hold a selection of the Museum’s mummies and coffins – the largest collection outside of Cairo. Highlights include the colossal granite head of King Rameses II and the exquisite, gold-lined sarcophagi.
Housed in room 41, the artefacts and remains of the Sutton Hoo ship burial date back to Anglo-Saxon times. The Sutton Hoo helmet is one of only four remaining in the world.
The nearest Underground station is Holborn (Central and Piccadilly Lines). Entry is free. The scale and variety of the collections can be overwhelming: see the museum website for suggested one-hour and three-hour routes around it, or highlights for children.
Interactive audio guides bring colour to the main exhibits and tell you the stories behind them. The museum is well equipped for making its exhibits fascinating to children and families, with activity trails, backpacks and multimedia guides.
The Great Court Restaurant, high up beneath the spectacular glass dome, is a treat for lunch or afternoon tea, with set menus inspired by the museum’s exhibitions.
The museum is open all year round, daily, usually with later opening hours on Fridays. This is the most visited attraction in the UK, so go at the start of the day, or late on a weekday to avoid the crush.
Late openings on Fridays give you more breathing space. Christmas, Easter and July-August are especially crowded.
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