Planning to visit London? Between the historical architecture, fascinating landmarks and delicious cups of tea, it’s hard to decide what to cram into your itinerary, especially on a time crunch! With that being said, you must visit at least one of the world famous museums in London.
My top pick? The British Museum.
Filled with over eight million historical pieces, seeing all the British Museum has to offer in one visit is nearly impossible. Wether you have one hour or one full day to visit, you won’t regret stepping inside the walls of this incredible place. Home to some of the most awe inspiring pieces of work the world has ever known, it’s easy to get overwhelmed at the grandiose size of it’s collection. In fact, it’s one of the largest collections in the world!
But, I’m here to help! I’ve put together a must see list for you so you’ll know all the most famous highlights from the British Museum, and where to find them.
VISITING THE BRITISH MUSEUM- HOW TO GET THERE
First things first, how do you get to the British Museum? With a central location in London, it’s super easy to get to by foot, car, taxi, bus or tube.
BOOK ACCOMODATION CLOSE TO THE BRITISH MUSEUM HERE!
BRITISH MUSEUM ADDRESS:
THE BRITISH MUSEUM
Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DG
THE CLOSEST TUBE STATIONS TO THE BRITISH MUSEUM:
- Tottenham Court Rd- 5 minute walk
- Holborn- 7 minute walk
- Russell Square- 7 minute walk
- Goodge Street- 8 minute walk
THE BRITISH MUSEUM HOURS:
Open hours are Monday-Sunday from 10.00–17.00. The last entry is at 15.30.
*Galleries start clearing ten minute before they close.
-Hours are subject to change- be sure to check out their website for hours on the day you plan to visit.
TOURS & TICKETS TO THE BRITISH MUSEUM:
TOURS
BOOK a private or group tour with Get Your Guide here!
These tours will allow you to learn even more about the must see highlights of the British Museum. Plus, you won’t have to worry about how to get to what room, your guide will do all the work for you!
- Want a guide, but on a time crunch? Skip the lines by booking this tour!
- Bringing your kids along? This is the best tour to book for families with children!
- Want to enjoy afternoon tea at the British Museum? Book here to enjoy your cuppa!
TICKETS
Tickets to the British Museum’s permanent collection are free to those who want to explore on their own. You must pre-book your time slot, and can secure your free entry ticket here. If you want to visit one of the special exhibitions, be sure to book separately here.
THE 10 MUST SEE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM:
1. THE ROSETTA STONE
(ROOM 4) 196 BC
The Rosetta Stone is easily the most famous object within the walls of the British Museum.
Now a broken part of a once massive stone slab, the Rosetta Stone has a message carved into it in three different languages. (Hieroglyphics, Greek and Demotic.) Discovered in 1799, it was one of the main documents that helped scholars finally learn how to read Egyptian Hieroglyphs. Hieroglyphics had never been translated before it’s discovery. Therefore, it was extremely important in learning about life in ancient Egypt. If you could only see one of the highlights from the British Museum, this is the one to see!
Want to visit Egypt? Check out my Ultimate Egypt Travel Guide!
2. THE ELGIN MARBLES
(ROOM 18) 447-432 BC
Theses sculptures, known as the Elgin Marbles, are a collection of architectural decorations from the world famous Acropolis in Athens, Greece. They depict processions, battles between Centaurs and Lapiths, and figures of gods and famous heroes. The collection contains 15 metopes, 17 figures and one 247 foot frieze, that was the original apex of the Parthenon. People have traveled all over the world to come to see The Elgin Marbles. They have inspired famous artists throughout time, and have become a staple throughout the history of art.
There is much controversy over how these sculptures got to Britain. During the Ottoman upheaval, Lord Elgin, a British Ambassador claims to have gotten a permit to excavate the sculptures from the Parthenon. The 200 year debate lives on to this day. The British claim to have a legal title while Greece claims the sculptures were stolen.
As one of the most famous works of Greece, the country has requested their return since 1983. There have been many meetings and debates about where they belong. However, that doesn’t look like it will be settled anytime soon.
3. ASSYRIAN SCULPTURE & BALAWAT GATES
(ROOM 6A) 1100-800 BC
Carved from limestone, these massive human headed winged lions flanked the entry of the royal palace of King Ashurnasirpal II. Similar sculptures were put at the gates and doorways across Assyria and were thought to protect the city. They have five legs so it appears from the side they are moving, while standing firm from the front.
Originally these came from an area known as Mesopotamia, which is currently northern Iraq, Syria and Turkey.
4. HOA HAKANANAI’A- Easter Island Statue
(ROOM 24) 1000-1200 AD
Hoa Hakananai means lost, hidden or stolen friend. This is one of only ten moai megaliths to have been carved from basalt. The other 95% were carved out of tuff from the volcano Rano Raraku. Tuff is volcanic ash, and would have been easy to carve with stone tools.
Originating from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) the moai statues would have stood on a ceremonial platforms called ahu, which served as tombs for loved ones. The moai all have specific features meant to mimic the person buried below. It’s still up for debate how these 86 ton stone pieces were once moved. Theories include rolling on wooden logs, using rope to make the statue “walk” and even extra terrestrials.
When this statue was found in 1868, it was buried up to it’s shoulders within a house in the ceremonial village of Orongo. Discovered by the crew of a British survey ship, the men dismantled the house and brought the sculpture to England by boat.
5. EGYPTIAN CAT MUMMIES
(ROOM 52) 30 BC
The mummification of cats started in the later Egyptian period of the first century. Associated with the goddess Bastet, the goddess of protection, cats, fertility and pregnancy. For this reason, the Egyptians may have mummified the animal in places associated with this feline deity.
You can see the importance of the animal to Egyptian civilizations through their complex wrappings and attention to detail.
Unfortunately, many of the cat cemeteries found were destroyed before archeologists could work on them. In the 19th century, 180,000 cat mummies were shipped to Britain to be processes as fertilizer. Such a shame!
6. THE LEWIS CHESSMEN
(ROOM 40) 12th Century
The Lewis Chessmen are the oldest objects to ever found made for leisure. Thought to originate from one of the Nordic countries in the 12th century, they are carved from walrus ivory and whale bone with extreme detail. There is still some mystery as to exactly where they were from. Today, they are one of the most traveled objects within the British Museum. Making their way around the world, millions of people have had the chance to see them, increasing their fame. They even made a cameo in Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.
7. THE MUMMY OF KATEBET
(ROOM 62-63) 1330-1250 BC
Katebet is the mummy of an older woman who was once a Chantree of Amun in Karnak. The well preserved mummy was found in a tomb in Thebes (modern day Luxor) with linen wrappings, plaited dark hair, and a painted mask with gilded jewelry. Modern CAT scans have shown her brain was never removed and had two remaining teeth. She was elderly when she passed and showed signs of arthritic changes and scoliosis.
8. THE STANDARD OF UR
(ROOM 56) 5000-1550 BC
Found in current day Iraq in a royal grave with several tomb chambers, The Standard of Ur is a hollow box. The use of this box is still unknown. The four sides are covered in decorative mosaic scenes with shells, red limestone and lapis lazuli inlays. These scenes give us an important look into the life of ancient Mesopotamia. One side depicts scenes of war and battle where the other shows peace and prosperity. Both sides also show an aspect of Sumerian kingship, where the ruler serves as a warrior or mediator between the gods and his people.
9. ASSYRIA LION HUNTS
(ROOM 10A) 645-635 BC
Displayed across from one another, these reliefs depict life in ancient Assyria, modern day Iraq. Lion hunting during was considered a sport for kings and monarchs to prove they could protect and defend their people. The lion hunting scenes are very realistic, showing the release, chase and killing of the animals.
10. COLOSSAL HEAD OF AMENHOTEP III
(ROOM 4) 1370 BC
Made of red granite, this head sculpture is 9.5 feet tall and weighs four tons! It depicts the face of Amenhotep III, a pharaoh who ruled between 1390-1325 BC, shown wearing the crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. In 1817, this sculpture was found in Karnak Temple and transported on the Nile to it’s final destination in London. The only other part of this sculpture found was a 3.3 meter arm that ends with a clenched fist.
***
The British Museum is one of the largest of it’s kind. Filled with historical antiques, paintings and sculptures from around the world, there is so much to learn from walking within the walls of this museum. Seeing these 10 must see highlights in the British Museum will make even a short visit to The British Museum memorable.
BEST ENGLAND TRAVEL RESOURCES
1. BOOK FLIGHTS WITH SKYSCANNER
2. BOOK ACCOMMODATION WITH BOOKING.COM or HOTELS.COM
3. BOOK ACTIVITIES AND TOURS WITH GET YOUR GUIDE
4. DO NOT FORGET TRAVEL INSURANCE ON YOUR TRIP TO ENGLAND!
I use World Nomads. Their website is super easy to navigate and claims are simple to submit. This coverage will keep you protected from anything from “oh no” moments, flight cancellations, and even lost luggage! Honestly- worth every penny!
Need help planning your trip to ENGLAND? Go to my travel resources page for my favorite travel companies to save you money, time, and headaches!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend companies and products I use, and the income is used to keep the site up and running.
PIN THIS BLOG POST!
Thanks for sharing this!!
So glad you enjoyed! 🙂