Established in 1753, the British Museum in London is a museum of human history and culture and one of the most famous and great museums of the world.
The British Museum first opened to the public in January 1759 and documents the story of human culture from its beginning to the present with collections from around the world - some of which are the largest and most comprehensive to be found anywhere.
The extensive collections feature more than seven million objects on display, and famous objects include the Rosetta Stone, sculptures from the Parthenon, the Sutton Hoo and Mildenhall treasures and the Portland Vase. The many different departments include: Ancient Egypt and Sudan, Greek and Roman Antiquities, Middle East, Asia and Africa, Oceania and Americas. The British Museum houses the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of Egyptian antiquities outside the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, as well as housing one of the world's greatest and most comprehensive collections of Ethnographic material from Africa, Oceania and the Americas. The Coins and Medals collection consists of about a million objects spanning the entire history of coinage from its origins in the 7th century BC to the present day. There are approximately 9,000 coins, medals and banknotes on display around the British Museum. One of 4 new galleries opened for 2009 was 'the Paul and Jill Ruddock Gallery of Medieval Europe' devoted to a collection of medieval material covering the period from 1050-1500 AD. Forming the centrepieces are some of the Museum's greatest British, European and Byzantine treasures which will place this great collection in its fullest historical context, integrating art with archaeology.
At the British Museum there is also a programme of special exhibitions and daily gallery tours and talks, and with general admission to the museum free, a trip to London must include a visit to this world-famous and informative museum.
Admission: Free
Address
Great Russell Street
London
WC1B 3DG
Official website: www.britishmuseum.org
Hotels in Central London
The following London hotels are located in central London so they have good transport links to most London events, exhibitions, museums, shows and other top London tourist attractions.