British Museum
Quick Facts
- Location
- UK, London
- Category
- Museum
- Duration
- Half day to a day
- Opening Hours
- Monday 10:00-17:00 · Tuesday 10:00-17:00 · Wednesday 10:00-17:00 · Thursday 10:00-17:00 · Friday 10:00-20:30 · Saturday 10:00-17:00 · Sunday 10:00-17:00
- Ticket Price
- Free Admission: Free (permanent collection) · Book a free timed ticket online in advance; exhibitions ticketed separately
- Address
- Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG
- Coordinates
- 51.5194, -0.1270
Introduction
Located in Bloomsbury, London, the British Museum was founded in 1753 and opened to the public in 1759 as the world’s first national public museum—owned by the state and open to all (the Ashmolean Museum opened earlier, in 1683, but as a university museum). Its collection of more than 8 million objects spans two million years of human history, art and culture: the Rosetta Stone, which unlocked Egyptian hieroglyphs; the Parthenon sculptures; Egyptian mummies and Assyrian palace reliefs; and treasures from every continent. The Great Court, capped by Norman Foster’s glass roof over the old Reading Room, is the architectural highlight. Entry to the permanent collection is free—book a free timed ticket online; on Fridays the museum stays open until 20:30. The provenance of major objects such as the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles and the Benin Bronzes remains the subject of long-running international debate, well worth understanding as you visit.
✨ Highlights
🛈 Practical Info
Opening Hours
| Monday | 10:00-17:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Friday | 10:00-20:30 |
| Saturday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00-17:00 |
Ticket Information
| Free Admission | Free (permanent collection) |
|---|
Book a free timed ticket online in advance; exhibitions ticketed separately
Transportation
Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Russell Square
Oxford Street lines
Main entrance Great Russell St; 2nd entrance Montague Pl
💡 Tips
FAQ
What are the opening hours of British Museum?
Monday: 10:00-17:00; Tuesday: 10:00-17:00; Wednesday: 10:00-17:00; Thursday: 10:00-17:00; Friday: 10:00-20:30; Saturday: 10:00-17:00; Sunday: 10:00-17:00
How much is the admission for British Museum?
Free Admission: Free (permanent collection); Book a free timed ticket online in advance; exhibitions ticketed separately
Any practical tips for visiting British Museum?
Arrive at opening to avoid the 11:00–14:00 group-tour peak around the star objects The Rosetta Stone sits in Room 4 on the same level as the Great Court—a natural starting point
How long should I spend at British Museum?
A typical visit takes Half day to a day.
How do I get to British Museum?
Subway: Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Russell Square; Bus: Oxford Street lines
