The British Museum
The British Museum
4.5
Speciality MuseumsArt MuseumsHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
A museum of the world, for the world. Discover over two million years of human history and culture. Some of the world-famous objects include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and Egyptian mummies.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Admission tickets
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$17.45
$12.21
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Top ways to experience The British Museum

The area

Address
Neighborhood: Bloomsbury
Snuggly nestled within Central London is academic and leafy Bloomsbury, an area that boasts walking distance access to many of London's most popular attractions. It is also home to some of Britain's most celebrated museums, including the must-see British Museum. Despite an understandable popularity with students, tourists and day trippers, vast sections of Bloomsbury retain a quiet, residential feel year round and throughout the week.
How to get there
  • Tottenham Court Road • 6 min walk
  • Russell Square • 6 min walk
Reach out directly

See what travelers are saying

  • Jolly H
    5 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    treasure trove of human history and culture
    Exploring The British Museum in London was an incredible journey through human history and culture. The vast collection of artifacts and artworks from around the world left me in awe. The museum’s architecture, especially the Great Court and its iconic glass roof, added to the grandeur of the experience. The audio guide was a valuable companion, providing insights into the museum’s treasures. From the Rosetta Stone to the Egyptian mummies, each exhibit was a testament to human achievement. The British Museum offers a captivating exploration of our shared heritage and is a must-visit for anyone interested in history and culture.
    Visited September 2023
    Written September 21, 2023
  • Kiana L
    Atlanta, Georgia551 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Block off your day for this incredible museum
    A definite must-see when visiting London! It was almost overwhelming how much history was in this museum. So many amazing exhibits. My favorite was Ancient Egypt. I've never seen so many mummies up close. It did get pretty crowded so be prepared for that. We spent hours exploring the museum on our own and it still wasn't enough time. I recommend blocking off your entire day, especially if you like to read everything like we do. A guided tour would have been great as well since there was so much to see.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 23, 2023
  • Rum&Raisin
    Reading, United Kingdom23 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    ENTIRELY BRILLIANT
    It doesn't get much better than this. If, like me you take your time when visiting museums/tour places, then you can spend a day in here, easy. It is one of the 'prides of Britain' & a must if you visit London. Wonderful.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 24, 2023
  • jmteeth
    London, United Kingdom188 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Spotlight tour will open your eyes to Ancient Egypt.
    I was visiting the museum and came across the spotlight tour about death in ancient Egypt, In the Egyptian gallery. Our guide,Douglas was knowledgeable, friendly and most well informed. (He even made a couple of ancient Egyptian jokes- not easy !) He made everyone fell included and had close up pictures to illustrate his talk. We moved around the gallery and he showed us items and symbols that we would have missed had we just been wandering through. He spent 20 minutes after the talk answering questions from his audience, which he had no problem answering- he clearly has a passion for his subject. Highly recommended- can’t wait to go back for more.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written September 28, 2023
  • Janet K
    Houston, Texas4,269 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    British museum is a must see
    Allow enough time! We went with the London Walks tour and felt we didn’t have enough time at the museum to just browse so I would say see the museum first and then have a tour if time. The Egyptian stuff is reason alone to go! So much more… the area around the museum is nice too for strolling so be sure to walk around a few blocks.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 1, 2023
  • Tiffany K
    Colchester, United Kingdom53 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great information and easy to read
    Lovely day out you spend however long you want. Inside The information points were very detailed and easy to read We only did 2.5hrs because for us that was enough. Got really hot inside. Don’t be put off with the queue out the front (it’s very quick) we didn’t need to wait for long.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 8, 2023
  • advcards
    Reno, Nevada4,233 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must see and free
    I would consider this one of the must sees of your trip. The biggest areas on Egypt and it is also the busiest area. If you really want to do a good job seeing it I would think you need to budget about four hours the day we went it opened at 10 and people started lining up around 915. Sam had tickets and some didn’t didn’t seem necessary but it might’ve got you in a few minutes faster
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 16, 2023
  • Claire D
    Melton Mowbray, United Kingdom133 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    History at it's best
    As soon as you walk through the big doors there are loads of things to see and do. We did have to cue round the block to get it but with in ten minutes we where in side after passing through security too. From before Bc right through to the present day there are pots and jewelry and weapons to see and view. The Egyptian part is fascinating as well. Loved every step we made. Due to it being our last day before home we also used the clock room facilities and the cost was very reasonable. Do be aware large pieces of luggage are not allowed in.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 23, 2023
  • Amberlynn
    Birmingham, United Kingdom2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    kind employees
    I was having a very bad day, my dog died so i decided to get my mind off things and go to the museum. When i was there i spent a long time looking at a sculpture of a dog and one of the staff approached me. Her name was a keida and she was lovely. she noticed i looked upset and brightened my day with her smile. please give her a raise she’s such a kind human being
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written October 24, 2023
  • Kati M
    London, United Kingdom1,634 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the best
    The Museum is one of the best in the world. Collect monuments cultures from all the world . I been in all Greek museums also Cairo museum as well. Entrance is free. But it's normal to be when you showing cultures from others countries .
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 25, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles74,359 reviews
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Fifi G
Loughton, UK5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
I went here with my friends to have a look at what was new, as we hadn't been to the museum for an extremely long time. We ended up spending about 3 hours instead of the planned 2 hours there because the exhibits were so interesting that we couldn't resist going to see another one after the other. We looked at lots, but we recommend the Chinese ceramics, ancient Egypt/mummies and clocks. There are also lots of tours you can take but they do have a bit of a high price. The audio guides are especially recommended; it's cheap and provides you with a ton of really useful info about all of the things in the museum. We went on the new year's eve, and we were really surprised that the museum was still opening until 6:00.

Transport is quite easy for the museum; its closest station is Holborn station which is served by the central and Piccadilly lines of the London Tube Network. Then, after you get out of the station, it's about a 5 min walk to the main entrance. Just note that there's quite a long line, so arrive earlier than you plan to.

Just as a sum up, a really good place for all the family to go to with things for everyone. Well done London.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bonymerlin111
Manchester, UK338 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
We have visited the British Museum many times before, but on this occasion went purely the see the Troy exhibition that runs until early March. You can buy tickets online for this exhibition (ÂŁ20 for adults but free for members) and it is well worth it if you have an interest in ancient history, literature or art, or are merely fascinated by the epic that is the story of Troy. The exhibits vary from ancient Greek artefacts to Renaissance art through to modern sculpture, and take you through the story of the Trojan war and its depiction through the ages, with every single exhibit accompanied by an explanatory panel, all of which are very informative. There is also a section on the archeological digs & finds in modern Turkey, with the layers of Troy (dating from 3000BC onwards) explained very well. Tickets are limited in time slots to try and prevent crowding - this is only partially successful unfortunately and we did spend quite a lot of time waiting for queues to move on at some exhibits - the only slight negative of the trip. Well worth a visit before it ends on March 8th.
Written February 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jo H
Wellington498 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Delighted that our London visit co-incided with this exhibition. Troy covers the myths, the history, the art and excavations. The storytelling is engaging and clear and altho I'm no classicist, I did know many of the stories and enjoyed finding out more about them. Outstanding.. but then the British Museum usually is. Pre-booking would be well worthwhile although the exhibition was never as crowded as some other parts of the Museum can get.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lalita
7 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
The newly re-opened British Museum can be visited as long as you book in advance on line for a timed visit.
The ground floor which has such things as the Rosetta stone, the Parat's more than enough for tourists on a first time visit as it's massive. There is a one way system which is easy to follow and no danger from Covid 19! Staff are availalable as always to ask questions and the queue for the Ladies was monitored to prevent too many people crowding together.
Excellent visit. I'll be back.
Written September 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KimbKo
Bostonian39 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We were a group of six who purchased tickets to a private tour, there are a few each day, that begins at 8:50 when the museum is not yet open. It was such a joy to have a knowledgeable guide to take us through a virtually empty museum. This museum is one of the best in the world and daily admission is free so it gets crowded. Go early or book the private tour. It is really very much worth it.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steviefull
Kidderminster, UK2,013 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
We were looking for something to do on our arrival in London and this seemed like a good way to spend the 3 hours or so we had spare. The museum has timed entry in effect to limit the number of people at any one time, so it was worth booking in advance just to be sure.

The museum has a bit of everything, set across many rooms, I do recommend downloading the app as it has two separate tours on it, 1 hour and 3 hours, so it will guide you through the highlights.

My personal highlight is the egyptian area with some large impressive statues and sarcophagus.

If you have the time, do not hesitate to visit and please make a donation.
Written October 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sidney
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
As someone who loves ancient Greek and Roman history, I had so much fun
I bought an Audio Guide which was amazing because it really helped supplement the plaques that were with each item
If you're like me, who wants to see anything and everything, you need a lot of time. I think I spent about 6 hours in there and I didn't even see any other floor except the ground floor.
Wasn't terribly crowded when I went, though it did get a bit busy around 15-16:00 (3-4 pm)
Also while I was there, I got to see the Troy: Myth and Reality exhibition. That was fantastic to see and it gave great information, whilst giving you a story as you walk-through
Overall, if you like history, and you don't mind spending several hours in the museum, then I highly recommend
Written January 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Crystalwaters123
Mumbai, India484 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Solo
Ended up going to this museum on a rainy day.. The lines were long - however didn’t take much time to get in..
Like most London museums this is free - there is a recommended ÂŁ5 donation.. The audio guide is ÂŁ7..
The museum itself looks gorgeous - very modern.. It has a vast collection of artifacts ranging from varying times in history and has a collection spread across many countries.. I especially enjoyed the Indus Valley and the Chinese collections..
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Natasha Smith
United Kingdom5 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The British museum is very big. It has regular collections on display all the time and temporary displays which change every month or so. It has paid exhibitions and it used to show really good films on a friday evening for ÂŁ3 etc in the lecture theatre but they seeemed to have stopped doing that recently which is ashame.
Written April 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul James H
154 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Solo
Although the British Museum is free to enter, you still have to get a ticket; as social distancing limits the visitor numbers.

There is a large Egyptian area of the museum, taking you from the 4th millenium Bc, through the 3rd millenium Bc. There are interesting peices(doors), that depict Eqyptian life. Many statues to the various gods, and statues to pharoas; believed to be almost semi gods. I didn't realise that the depictions on the pharoa's tombs, were to represent what they want to have in the afterlife. Believing that the images would become real, these became quite detailed.

After this there's the early Greek, Minoans and Miceneans, and their culture, with musical instruments made out of bone. Next you have Greek vases and the Roman period, with bits of the Parthenon kept here (and abroad). There is also a complete recreation of the Parthenon, to give it some perspective. The statues are next, and then lead on to Assyria and the Balawat gates, and from there you have the modern African collection. It is important to note here, that knowledge about how the items were aquired, is given.

The African sulptures and arms, represent items that were for years excluded from museum collections. Their weapons of war and beliefs, contrast with those of the west. If you get a chance, there's a cystal skull from South America, just before this Collection. It is unknown whether it is genuine, or not. But it is in a glass case, and thought to hold some sort of energy/power.

You can easily stay all day here, but please note that it only opens Wednesday to Sunday.
A great day out, and if you still want some more information than the displays give you, you can use a QR reader (throughout the place). Alternatively go to the Google play store and download the British museum audio guide (for a fee ) from there.
Written September 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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