What a great feeling to be back in London again! After two years of living in Cambridge we have decided to move back to England’s Capital City. And although Cambridge has some nice museums as well, the ones in London are my absolute favourite. We brought already a visit to many of them, but one has been still on the list for ‘must see’. Talking about the British Museum, one of the most known in London and definitely a highlight when you bring a visit to the city.
Compare to previous blogs, it was mostly me and Lara who were exploring the surrounding places, but this time it was our first with a new family member, Lara’s little baby sister ‘Margot‘ who was born earlier this year. So off we went towards Great Russel Street, which is very easy to get there by bus or tube. – Due to Covid we had to book our slot in advance, but upon arrival we could easily get access to the massive entrance where we started our adventure through the museum.
The British Museum is dedicated to human history, art and culture, and is one of the largest and most comprehensive collections in existence with a collection of over 8 million works from all over the world. Actually one visit wouldn’t be enough to see everything, but still (although you just have an hour or two) its most worth to bring a visit to this famous museum in London.
When you first enter the British Museum, you’ll be surprised by the light and hight of the magnificent piece of architecture with a spectacular glass roof that acts as the center piece of the museum. Also the start where you can branch out in all directions to begin exploring the museum’s many exhibits.
The British Museum is the legacy of Sir Hans Sloane, a physician, naturalist and a collector who was born in Ireland. At the age of 92 he donated his collection of some 70,000+ objects to the British nation. His huge collection was the basis for the founding of the British Museum, as well as the British Library and the Natural History Museum. While he was travelling as a well renowned physician he managed to collect his objects from distant places.
The museum opened in 1759 and was the first national public museum in the world, providing free admission to the public. Nowadays the museum is still a popular destination, with over 6 million visitors coming to check out its exhibitions which include world-famous objects such as the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon sculptures, and Egyptian mummies. The British Museum is home to several very significant items which allows us to understand the past and learn about old cultures.
In addition to the permanent collection, the museum’s special exhibitions and events are all designed to understand the collection and cultures they represent even more. Also for the younger visitors, as there is always something to do for families, like puzzles, games and activities which you can do in the galleries. For example the Children’s Multimedia Guide or the Family Trails, where you can follow 8 fun trails around the Museum. You can also check out the free digital workshops which are available every weekend and school holidays too. – For more information about the learning activities, click here.
We spend a whole day walking through the corridors and beautiful rooms of the museum. Lara was so overwhelmed by all the magnificent pieces she saw, she couldn’t stop asking questions about it. It makes me always so happy to see her that interested in history and art. – You can definitely say the British Museum has a lot to offer for all ages. In case you want to see everything, make sure you come on time or book a second trip as there is so much to see and do. We’ve enjoyed our visit a lot and will definitely add this museum in our top list of London favourite ones!
Attraction Information
Venue Type
Indoor
Suitable for ages
Children, Adults
Facilities
Souvenir shop – toilets – education room – event space – café, elevator
Address & Contact
Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG, London
For more information about the British Museum, click here
T: +44 (0)20 7323 8000
Opening times
Mon till Sun 10am – 5pm