British Museum

The British Museum initially opened its doors to the public in 1753, and it remains available today at no cost to “studious and curious persons.” Over eight million artefacts are housed there, creating a stunning mosaic of human civilization. And it’s a perfect symbol of the British love of adventure, eccentricity, and collecting. It’s easy to lose weeks of time here. Here are some recommendation on what to see and do.

Exquisite Egyptian Galleries

The west half of the museum is home to a lengthy, beautiful exhibition containing sculptures and artefacts from ancient Egypt dating back some three thousand years.

The Rosetta Stone, which dates back to 196 B.C. and is inscribed with nearly similar sentences in three scripts, enabling linguists to acquire an understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs by comparing them to other writing systems.

The Parthenon Sculptures

The Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens, which included these exquisite friezes and sculptures, was constructed between 447 and 438 B.C. After Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, removed them in 1805 to prevent further deterioration, they became known as the Elgin Marbles and have been in the ownership of the British Museum ever since.

Asian Art: Chinese Ceramics

The beauty, uniqueness, and historical significance of this Chinese ceramics collection are unparalleled. There are even relics from roughly the time porcelain was first created, some 2,000 years ago.

Sutton Hoo Ship Burial

A ship carrying royal jewels from Anglo-Saxony, circa 600 AD, was discovered in 1937. Gold jewellery, Byzantine silverware, a gorgeous casket, and an iron helmet were just some of the artefacts that were discovered on board the 88.5-foot-long ship, an archaeologist’s dream. An Anglo-Saxon king may have been buried there.

Assyrian Lion Hunts

The last great Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal, ruled between 668 and roughly 630 B.C., and his magnificent hunting rites are depicted in the carved reliefs on alabaster panels that line this gallery. From the initial release of the lions to the subsequent chase, showering of arrows, and kills that demonstrated the king’s prowess and authority, the entire story is depicted in the panels.

The staircases of the museum

Take the large staircases at either end of the museum instead of the elevators to the second or third floors, and linger over the exhibits that most visitors breeze right by. An amazing Amitabha Buddha carved from white marble in northern China is shown on the North stairwell and ascends all four levels of the museum. Beautiful mosaic pieces from the 4th and 5th centuries adorn the West stairwell.

The British Museum for Children

The British Museum is a great place to take kids. Family-friendly route suggestions, informational cards about the sights they’ll encounter, and coloring pages are all available at the front desk. Children under 10 will enjoy the digital guide’s ($7) games that are linked to the many exhibits. You may find a family events calendar and ideas for kid-friendly activities on the museum’s website. Here are four recommendations for self-guided sightseeing.