Free Entry to British Museum in London

The British Museum – A Museum of the World for the World

Sep 28, 2009

London is blessed with many great museums and some of the most popular - including the magnificent British Museum - offer free admission to all visitors.

Located near Russell Square, the British Museum is one of the most cherished tourist attractions in London and has a glowing worldwide reputation for its outstanding collection of artefacts gathered from all over the globe. The British Museum is rated as one of the top museums in the world and visitors are taken on a journey through over two million years of history.

The Rosetta Stone and The Elgin Marbles

With a self-styled proclamation as 'a museum of the world for the world,' the British Museum has gathered together a remarkable collection from the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. The remarkable exhibits on show include iconic symbols of the Ancient World such as the Rosetta Stone, the instrument that helped the modern world decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs, and the Elgin Marbles, more commonly known as the Parthenon Sculptures brought to England from Athens by Lord Elgin – a controversial move that continues to be hotly disputed today.

In addition to the famous acquisitions, the British Museum is also home to many other monumental exhibits including Egyptian mummies, Roman armour made from crocodile skin, remarkable Greek, Roman and Assyrian sculptures, Medieval armoury, fascinating Mesoamerican art, beautiful mosaics and an impressive collection of highly-prized Chinese jade.

The impressive building that is home to the British Museum dates back to the 19th century and the stunning architecture of the Great Court alone provides an excellent photo opportunity. The reading room in the centre of the property is where Karl Marx spent weeks toiling over 'Das Kapital' and is consequently one of the most famous reading rooms in the world.

Free Tours in the British Museum

For patrons interested in learning more about the culture, history and artefacts, the British Museum conducts 14 different eyeOpener tours, the first concentrating on Japan and starting at 11.00 with the last one of the day at 15.45 covering Assyrian reliefs. Each tour lasts around 30-40 minutes and taken on a daily basis. Alternatively visitors can purchase an audio tour for a small fee of £3.50 ($6) or for the same price why not invest in a visitor's guide which has 15 self-guided tours.

The Building is equipped with excellent disabled facilities, toilets on every level, a cloak room, gift shop, two cafes and a restaurant. The daily opening hours are 10.00-17.30 except when late closing on Thursdays and Fridays ends at 20.30.

The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG. Telephone: +44 (0)20 7323 8000.

The copyright of the article Free Entry to British Museum in London in England Travel is owned by Richard Oldale. Permission to republish Free Entry to British Museum in London in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.