Great tourist spot. Go to Covent Garden tube station and you get directions to it in the lift! you can’t miss it. Its like the History museum, free. Although don’t expect as much entertainment for the kids at this one.

(If you want something for the kids try the science museum….they might look at you strange if they aren’t into it (i was likewise) but trust me they should come away happy. Loads to do.)

There is great collections at the british museum though and although it isn’t as hands on, it is beautiful

I first came across the British Museum while wondering the streets streets of London. When I walked through the gates of the museum and saw the giant pillared building, I thought WOW, what an amazing structure. Inside the museum, there is a maginificent collection of artifacts, statues and historical collections spanning centuries. From east to west, great history is displayed.
Now, sometimes to get away from the hussle and bustle of the London streets, I go to the museum, find a quiet corner in the vaste glass dome area and sit and reflect. It is a good place to grab a coffee too. Definately worth a visit.

My last visit to the museum was about 4 years ago and boy was i impressed! the sheer amount of exhibitions and the layout of all the different areas is extremely immense and all for a unbeatable price ( 100% free! )

I love the British Museum, there is so much to see here. I first went when I was a child and I was fascinated by all the archaeological finds that were displayed.

I last visited a couple of years ago and saw the Ancient Egypt exhibition and the Rossetta Stone. I was impressed with the newly built Great Hall.

Its really good that the British Museum and so many other museuams and art galleries offer free entry now-a-days.

Truly stunning, there is so much to see It would take a lifetime to see everything

The granddaddy of museums, and a “must” for any visitor to London. I am sometimes overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the British Museum: I’d suggest getting the map and picking two or three galleries upon which to focus. The museum is free, but please drop some coins into the donation boxes. Finally, be sure to enjoy the Great Court, with a stunning glass roof by Norman Foster. The Great Court is one of my favorite places in London.

It is arguably the most popular tourists attraction. You must visit this place if it’s your first time in town. The impressive museum exhibits include the egyptian mummies…(not for the faint hearted), greek antiques and a a library to name a few. Get your guide ready as it’ll be a whole day out!

ITS JUST EXCELLENT

They have Cleopatra’s mummy! THE Cleopatra! Now, aside from the fact that a lot of the stuff here should really be somewhere else (Elgin marbles anyone?), you can’t argue with the fact that the British have done an excellent job of housing and preserving historical artifacts from all over the world.

This museum is a must visit in London. You can’t possibly do it all in a day, so get the map and pick your favorite eras. I could spend hours in the Egyptian rooms. They even have little cat mummies, which I have never seen anywhere else.

Oh, and it’s F R E E. Go now!

defitenely the best museum of london

Boasting it has always been free this is a great place.
I like to do it in small doses except I have an obsession with the Egyption collection especially mummified cats and hamsters with rucksacks full of food for the afterlife.
Love to gaze at the Rosetta Stone.
The current print exhibition is good. I went to see the Hoppers and was a little disappointed there were so few.
One day I will afford to buy myself a replica Cat with earrings and a nose ring :)

Its a great place to visit if you dont like sitting down - there is no place to settle and contemplate except in the busy but expensive cafes.
I have a great difficulty ignoring the colonial aspect of ‘collecting bits of other people’s antiquity’ tol garnish ‘british culture’. Yet I tolerate it because there are impressive qualities - dispite this plundering and cultural rape, the creativity and crafts representated is awe inspiring and restores my faith in humanity.

The British Museum deserves its worldwide fame. It contains some stunning relics, like Cleopatra’s mummy, the Rosetta Stone, and the Elgin Marbles. Beyond that, though, it houses hundreds of thousands of pieces from all cultures and times on the planet. Perhaps you’ll welcome the debate about how much of this stuff is stolen from its original and proper place; or perhaps you’ll merely want to see it all.

Well, seeing it all isn’t an option unless you live in London and can make repeated visits over years. The Museum can’t put everything out at once, and some exhibits cycle new items from time to time.

But it’s worth it. Every single bit is fascinating, well-documented, and palpably communicates its history. Focus on Middle Eastern, Asian, North American, whatever culture you like.

Even a trip around the current holdings would take days, though. The building is massive. It’s not at all hard to get lost, especially amongst the crowds that infest places like the hall of mummies. The interior courtyard, with its glass-domed ceiling, is breathtaking.

The gift shops provide the opportunity for truly unique gifts. The cafés give you a welcome rest break.

Best of all: it’s all free. Though you really should donate something.

Very interesting could spend all day there

As a avid museum goer I would rate British Museum as big or huge (albeit with nice architecture)

You can spend a lot of time at the BM and YOU will become hungry or pekish and you have many choices I will give you two tips for how you should spend your quids in that case.

1) On the inside - The cafe/restaurant at the top floor of BM - go there for afternoon tea, order champagne and tea and just relax from the hustle and bustle of the museum.

2) On the outside - The cameracafe on Museum street 44
It is almost always empty its kinda quirky, cosy and with excellent choices and very personal service.
You’ll find their website at-> http://www.cameracafe.co.uk/
and they do have wifi and where else do you get your camera questions answered while you order your latte? It’s a unique place indeed!

A great place to take the kids.

A MUST for anyone visiting London.Ths imposing building is a nice place to be in if you have some time to grab some education. Entrance is free except for the more publicised exhibitions, and for that you get an ever changing programme of displays to gaze and wonder at.

Nice cafeterias but a tad expensive (I wish those counter staff would smile a bit more). I cringe when I see the abrupt and unfriendly way they treat tourists. C’mon folks! the tourists and visitors help to pay your salary so make some effort wont you!)

The shops on the ground floor have some nice souvenirs and postcards to take home with you. Again, the staff are a bit unsmiling and tight lipped and depending on individuals’ moods, they can get a bit tch! tch! and off hand. You get the distinct impression that some of them hate their jobs.

Honestly I have still not worked my way through this entire museum. It is so massive and intense I am still trying to get to my fourth visit. But go through it I will as each turn holds new magic! With incredible displays and exhibitions from all over the world, the British museum lives up to its reputation. Your expectations will not be blown – no matter which far flung place of British rule you are interested in, a coherent, extensive collection is available to view. My favourite still is the Egyptian section as the mysticism is so deep, but all the sections from east to west are well done.

Well there was almost everything said about this museum, but i just want to mention the exhebitions that are in the "basement" of the museum. Don´t miss these ones!!! They are really great and you really miss something if you don´t see the artefacts they have there (from native americans, aswell exhibitions about africa and its civil wars).

This museum has been a favourite of mine since I was a kid. There are various departments but the one that always stands out is of course the mummys. They are presented in glass boxes and you can even smell the preservatives or mould-dunno what the smell is but it makes the expereience more authentic! The mummys, as do all artifacts come with descriptions. Other exhibits include the rosetta stone, the marble slabs from the parthenon in ancient Athens and ancient artifacts from persia, if i remember correctly, along with a great deal of other artifacts. There is much to see and Ive never been able to see everything in one day, so you will have plenty to see. Entry is free and finding it may be a little difficult, but signposts are somewhat helpful. Take a map so you wont get lost.

There is no question that the British museum is one of the world's great museums, even the 40-50 yard walk from the gates to the grand entrance is something of an epic affair. Inside the museum the courtyard has to be seen to be believed, it's a sort of postmodern/colonial/whitewash dome. Anyone who has been will stand as testament to it as it really sets the tone for some incredible collections. The staff are all intelligent and dedicated, if you're particularly interested in something they'll be able to help you in the right direction. Collections include Renaissance Europe, Ancient Egypt and African pieces from thousands of years in to our past. Every Londoner and tourist should have been to the British museum.

I don’t even know how many times I’ve been to the British Museum. Have I seen everything yet? Of course not. Probably because I get stuck standing mesmerized in front of the moai … or the Rosetta Stone (if there aren’t five million people gathered around it) … or …. You get the point. The British Museum is brilliant and one of the most wonderful places in London to spend a day.

Although, the history of the British Museum itself can be quite disappointing for its funs, it is definately one of the greatest tourists' spots in the world.
The first thing which strikes one right from the entrance is how well the museum is organised. Everything seems to be on a right place, and I consider the fact very helpful when You just want to discover the history of the world from the beginning.
It has a large collection of statues, and painting, also fragments of the ancient buildings, and everything there is original. The most tempting hall, however, is the library.
In the centre of the library, there always lies the book-it can be everything- Columbus' diary, or simply the nineteenth century novel. The thing is every day you can read one page of it- and the next day there will be the second one shown. Its absolutely amazing how many unique books you can read in that way! (obviously, it takes sometimes a year to read one, but who cares!). Love this idea and enjoy going there

One place I have visited a few times and there is always so much to look at. You should really choose 2 or 3 parts of it to look at in one day and read the note with the exhibits instead of just look at the artifacts and not finding out where they are from and where they fit into history.
All I can say is the British Museum definitely made good from colonialism and the British Empire. But then it is cool to have all these treasures from around the world in one place for all to see.
I haven't made it into the Terrecota Army exhibition yet as its a timed entry and tickets at £12 go quick on the day.
The eygptian exhibitions are brilliant but could do with more readable information with the exhibits, so people know where and how it fits in. Could be more like the dinosaur bit in the Natural history museum where its a bit more interactive and colourful - better for kids of all ages I think. The rossetta stone is amazing and well worth spending 5 minutes in front of.
The asian exhibitions are equally as magical.
The African one was a bit of a disappointment as it seemed quite modern and focussed on Africas violent past and present, come on Africa is the cradle of life!
Its always busy there and not entirely pleasant with a pram!
The cafe area could do for a few more tables as well!
I seemed to have had a bit of a moan, but I love it really!!!

British Museum is a fascinating place to visit, especially do I love the department where decades old Egyptian mummies of humans, cats and other creatures are exhibited along with jewellery, tools, toys and other artefacts that the mummified will need in the afterlife.
Egypteology, all aspects of it, especially the Egyptian gods and the whole mysticism surrounding the pyramids and the act and purpose of mummification, has always fascinated me, why going to actually see real mummies has always appealed to me.
It is a fantastic sensation to be staring at a thousands of years old mummified human being, with only a thin layer of glass separating you from touching it!
In the middle of the museum there is a huge library that looks like something you would use as the setting of a movie, maybe as a library at Hogwarts or something like that. If you visit British Museum, do not forget to go into the library.

The thing I remembered most in there is the Japanese art . It was beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed that trip there. There were so many things to see in there that I had to go back a second time. If you want to fully appreciate all the art and little treasures in there you have to enjoy it. Walk round the museum slowly and read and look at every single piece of work. The second time I was there I realised that I have learned so much from the museum and had a great time.

How could anyone possibly visit the British Museum and not come away with a deep and abiding love of it? One of my favourite places to while away a rainy day, I am sure that you could visit every day for 10 years and still not come close to seeing every single piece here - the pride of London, surely, if not the UK?

And it's free!

I always get caught up by the Assyrian and Phoenecian displays, but always end up at the Egyptian section to admire the Rosetta stone and the mummies. A super place to take any newbie to London too.

Food & drink is fairly pricey in the Great Court restaurant but sometimes needs must! A better bet is to load up with a decent breakfast and head in there about 11am, which leaves you a good 5 hours to wander before the hunger pangs set it and your feet feel as if they are about to fall off.

Always keep an eye out on the website for their special deals and exhibitions. The "Terracotta Army" is already sold out for pre-Christmas dates, so it pays to book well in advance if something catches your eye.

I recommend you check out the Egyptian and Middle Eastern sections, if nothing else. Also, do have a look in their Gift Shop and pop a nominal amount of cash into the "pot" at the entrance/exit to the Museum to help pay for its upkeep.

This museum is one of the best I have been too. The exhibits are wonderful and while walking around you actually feel you are part of the exhibits around you. The day I was there we had the chance to hold some of the items. The best items I saw was probably from the Ancient Egyptian Culture wing. Besides that the authenic Easter Island statue is worth looking at. The architecture of the building is also fantastic. My friend and I had a good day out. Anyone in London should visit the British Museum.

The British Museum is a must for anyone visiting London. The collection includes some of the finest pieces of human and ancient history in the world.
A newly renovated entrance hall was inagurated in 2002 (I think..), a glass dome covering the old courtyard between the old building and the inner Library (designed by Sir Norman Foster).
The building is compromised of various galleries with everything from Ancient Egyptian Art to Oriental artefacts.
Don't miss the Rosetta Stone.

Unquestionably, this is one of the greatest museums in the world. Housed in one of London's architectural landmarks – the astonishing neo-classical building is worth a visit in itself - the collection is one of the finest in existence, spanning two million years of human history.

The original basis of the collection were the 1.7 million objects collected over his lifetime by the physician, naturalist and collector, Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753). His will bequeathed them to the nation, and an Act of Parliament in 1753 established the British Museum. Housed in Montagu House, a former mansion on the present site, the collection opened to the public in 1759.

Sir William Hamilton's collection of Greek vases and other classical objects, were purchased in 1772, followed by acquisitions as the Rosetta Stone and other antiquities from Egypt (1802), the Townley collection of classical sculpture (1805) and – the subject of controversy ever since - the sculptures of the Parthenon, known as the Elgin Marbles in 1816.

As the natural history collection and the library expanded, Montagu House became rapidly outgrown. In 1823 the gift to the nation by George IV of his father's library (the King's Library) lead to the construction of the stunning neo-classical building designed by Sir Robert Smirke (1780-1867). The first phase was completed in 1852. Construction of the round Reading Room followed in 1854-7, designed by Robert's brother Sydney.

Further growth of the collection led to the Natural History exhibits being moved to the present location in South Kensington in the 1880s. The library collection moved to a new site adjacent to St Pancras in 1997, although the famous reading room remains as a great attraction in its own right. More recently, in 2000, the roofing of the Great Court (the space between the Library Reading Room and the wings of the museum) has provided one of the most amazing public spaces in London.

Access to these formidable collections is free. Although they cover the whole world, it is especially strong in near-Eastern antiquities, with the Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Persian, Assyrian and Mesopotamian collections being outstanding – simply world class. The collection of British antiquities – which include my favourites - includes fabulous gold and bronze treasures from the Bronze and Iron Ages, silver and glass from Roman Britain, the eerily preserved remains of Lindow Man and the Anglo-Saxon treasures of Sutton Hoo.

As with the Louvre and the Pergamon Museum, the collection is simply too vast to even consider attempting in one go. That’s where free admission comes in handy – you can pop in for an hour or two, and see the collections in manageable quantities. There are also stunning exhibitions from time to time – the current (September-April 2007) exhibition of The First Emperor, featuring statues from China’s famous Terracotta Army, together with other objects from his empire, is beautifully curated and suitably impressive.

The museum’s education department is also world-class, and it makes a huge effort to accommodate people with disabilities, with large-print guides, magnifying glasses, special touch exhibits and a portable sound-loop system available on request (check in advance). Most of the galleries are accessible by wheelchair, with a number of lifts on each floor, and wheel-chair lifts at the main entrance.

The Museum also has an excellent shop, two cafes and a restaurant. Food prices are rather high, but the menu is varied and the quality is good. Alternatively, there are a number of restaurants in the surrounding area and in nearby Covent Garden.

The Museum celebrated 250 years in 2003, and remains a must-see on any itinerary in London.

Having worked in the museum for a short while, I can definately say it's well worth a visit. Firstly it's free in! (always good to hear)

I usually make a beeline for the Egyptian Section, where you can find the Rosetta stone, the Bust of Ramses the Great, wall paintings and mummies galore! The other sections to explore include the Greek and Roman, African Oceania and the Americas!

From all the walking around one usually gets really hungry after a while so there is a coffee shop in the Great Court where you can get a sandwich, tea and coffee but for those of you that have are a bit more flush then a trip to the Great Court restaurant is a must where you will experience fantastic views down onto the great reading room. Or failing that there is usually a man outside the gates of the museum selling hot dogs for £2!

Opening hours are from 10-5.30 with late opening on Thursday and Friday. It's always pretty busy no matter what time of the day you go. There are also late nights every so ofen where you can get a free glass of wine so watch out for those on the British Museum website.

Being a big history buff this was always going to be a stop on my sight-seeing list around London.
Not only was I pleased to discover the entry was free (museums usually cost a bit back home) But this place was chock a block full of so many things to see and do that I could easily spend many an afternoon wandering around it's many levels and halls.
A great way to spend a rainy afternoon-

Hi dear,I went to British museum.Amazing dear.Seeing all the ancient arts and culture .In that Japanese art was beautiful.The ethnography collection was really beefed up.

Everything is treasure in the museum.Don't miss it my dear.

My mom and me enjoyed a lot

Fantastic collection of Italian Renaissance art.