British Museum

Description

One of the UK’s main national museums, although despite it’s name, it focuses mostly on other countries.

Has an impressive collection from Egypt, Greece, Roman remains and a host of other item specific collections such as the clocks or money galleries.

Most of the galleries lead off a huge central courtyard which is under glass.

You can easily spend a day there.

A tip for visitors – they strongly recommend booking tickets in advance as only ticket holders can use the main entrance, and everyone else is sent around the other side of the museum to enter.

Address

Great Russell Street,
London,
WC1B 3DG

Ticket prices

The museum is free to visit. The temporary exhibitions usually charge for entry, but they make up only a small part of the museum collection.

Prices last checked January 2025.

Link to British Museum website

Opening Hours

The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with late opening until 8:30pm on Fridays.

Opening hours last checked January 2025.

Accessibility

For accessibility, please click here for details.

Address

British Museum
Great Russell Street,
London,
WC1B 3DG

Map

British Museum to unveil a new brand alongside the building upgrades

Jan
07
2025

See the plans to redevelop the British Museum

Dec
30
2024

Studio Weave to replace British Museum’s ugly security sheds with elegant designs

Dec
19
2024

British Museum receives £1 billion donation of Chinese ceramics

Nov
14
2024

Huge hoard of Norman Conquest era coins going on display at the British Museum

Oct
22
2024

Treasures of the Silk Roads: British Museum and British Library explore realities of East-West trade

Oct
21
2024

British Museum to ditch depressing bag check “sheds” with an architect competition

Oct
10
2024

Five shortlisted for major redevelopment of British Museum’s galleries

Sep
03
2024

British Museum drops its no photos rule in the magnificent Reading Room

Aug
29
2024

The British Museum’s famous Reading Room has reopened

Jul
02
2024

British Museum’s famous Reading Room is reopening for tours

Jul
01
2024

Architects invited to redesign the British Museum

May
09
2024

Uncovering Michelangelo at the British Museum: From bums and willies to spiritual redemption

May
07
2024

Michelangelo sketch and its painting reunited at the British Museum for the first time in 400 years

Feb
28
2024

Tickets Alert: Tours of the British Museum’s round reading room

Feb
09
2024

Beyond Gladiators: British Museum sheds light on Roman life through the eyes of a homesick soldier

Feb
08
2024

British Museum to put recovered stolen gems on display

Feb
01
2024

British Museum secures £50 million sponsorship deal with BP

Dec
19
2023

For a few weeks only: British Museum displays a fragile 1,500 year old Chinese scroll

Sep
29
2023

The Golden Letter of Alaungpaya to go on display at the British Museum

Jul
18
2023

British Museum’s richly decorated look at China’s final century of imperial rule

May
18
2023

Persia to Greece at the British Museum challenges the clash of cultures

May
08
2023

See a Japanese float on display in the British Museum

May
03
2023

British Museum now offering free membership for young people

Apr
07
2023

British Museum to look at China’s “long” 19th-century of conflicts and change

Mar
07
2023

Tickets Alert: Tours of the British Museum’s round reading room

Feb
08
2023

More News from the archive

Exhibitions open now

Hew Locke what have we here?

Hew Locke what have we here?What have we here? Join renowned Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke as he turns his lens on the British Museum collection in a collaborative exhibition exploring histories of British imperial power. In this groundbreaking new show, Locke (born 1959) explores, questions …

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Exhibition ends on Sunday 9th Feb Closing Soon
£16
British Museum, Russell Square

Silk Roads

Silk RoadsCamel caravans crossing desert dunes, merchants trading silks and spices at bazaars – these are the images that come to mind when we think of the Silk Roads. But the reality goes far beyond this. This exhibition challenges and expands …

British Museum Read More »

Exhibition ends on Sunday 23rd Feb
£17
British Museum, Russell Square

Picasso printmaker

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) was one of the most inventive and influential talents ever to explore the medium of print. In addition to his many paintings, sculptures and drawings, the Málaga-born artist made over 2,400 prints during his career. From his …

British Museum Read More »

Exhibition ends on Sunday 30th Mar
£9
British Museum, Russell Square

War rugs Afghanistan's knotted history

Discover how weavers in Afghanistan have recorded the country’s turbulent history in traditional rugs in this new display. On 24 December 1979 Soviet troops crossed the border into Afghanistan, beginning a protracted 10-year war. As the country was transformed by …

British Museum Read More »

Exhibition ends on Sunday 29th Jun
Free
British Museum, Russell Square

Top events happening here

Collecting and curating Picasso

Join world-renowned art dealers Frederick Mulder and Anne-Françoise Gavanon, long-time scholars of Picasso, as they talk with Catherine Daunt, curator of Picasso: printmaker.

Fri 21 Feb 2025 - 6:30pm to 7:30pm
£12

The women who made Picasso

In celebration of Women's History Month join a distinguished panel as they discuss the women who made Picasso.

Fri 21 Mar 2025 - 6:30pm to 8:00pm
£10