Quickly Visiting the British Museum
About the British Museum
The British Museum is one of the world’s most famous and visited museums. The museum is home to over 8 million artifacts acquired by the British throughout their colonization of the world. During my visit to London, I had to quickly visit the British Museum due to a very full itinerary. Despite having limited time, I thought it was essential to visit this amazing museum.
The British Museum opened its door in 1759, becoming the world’s first public museum. There has been some controversy as many of the artifacts that are on display have ownership disputes. These disputes include the museum’s famous Elgin Marbles and Rosetta Stone.
There is no cost to visit the British Museum as the UK does not charge an entrance fee to any of their national museums. To reach the museum, take the London Tube (subway) to Goodwin Street, Holborn, Tottenham Court Road, or Russell Square.
Quickly Visiting the British Museum - Table of Contents
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Quickly Visiting the British Museum - About My Visit
My biggest concern was that I only had a few hours to spend inside the British Museum. While it is possible to quickly visit the British Museum, it does require some planning. I spent about the first 30 minutes of my two-hour visit waiting in the queue to get past security. Although there is no cost to visit the museum, there was a security checkpoint that visitors must pass through before entering.
Once inside, I quickly followed my preplanned route. While quickly visiting the British Museum, it is essential to have your route already planned. My route focused on seeing the Rosetta Stone, Elgin Marbles, and Egyptian Mummies.
In the sections below, I will highlight those exhibits and a few others. I hope my experience helps you plan your visit to the British Museum.
Quickly Seeing the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum
The Rosetta Stone is the most visited exhibit in the British Museum and was one of the artifacts I most wanted to see during my quick visit to the British Museum. The stone was created in 196 BC and discovered in 1799 AD. It was not until the discovery of the Rosetta Stone that archaeologists were able to translate Egyptian Hieroglyphics. There is a controversy around the Rosetta Stone’s ownership. The Government of Egypt believes that the Rosetta Stone belongs to them and should be repatriated to Egypt.
A Quick Look at the Parthenon Sculptures and Elgin Marbles at the British Museum
The Parthenon Sculptures are sometimes known as the Elgin Marbles. The marbles date back to the year 447 BC and were part of the Parthenon in Athens. Similar to the Rosetta Stone, there have been calls for the marbles to be returned to Greece, their country of origin.
Quickly Seeing the Nereid Monument at the British Museum
The Nereid Monument is a sculpted tomb from Xanthos in Lycia (present-day Turkey). The tomb was constructed in 390 BC for the Dynast Arbinas. Discovered in the 1840s, the tomb was then sent to the British Museum.
Quickly Seeing the Mummies at the British Museum
The British Museum has one of the best collections of mummies of any museum in the world. In addition to mummified bodies, the museum also features mummified animals.
Be sure to visit the Gabelein Man, which dates back to the year 3400 BC. This mummified corpse is one of the oldest preserved bodies ever discovered.
2023 Update: After spending time in Egypt and visiting Giza, Dahshur, Saqqara, and Luxor, I have mixed feelings about these exhibits being housed outside of Egypt.
Everything Else at the British Museum - The Other Artifacts I Enjoyed During My Quick Visit
Some of the other exhibits that I enjoyed seeing were the Assyrian carvings, Egyptian Sculptures, the Statue of Amenhotep, Hoa Hakananai’a Moai, Currieries of the World, and the Korean Buddhas.
British Museum Tours and Packages
Since I spent a lot of time planning my visit to the British Museum, I did not take a tour or hire a guide. If you do your research, a guide is definitely not necessary. I know that some people prefer to be led by an expert. Below, I have linked four tours that caught my eye. Please note, that as an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a small commission if you book using one of my links. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
Prices are accurate as of April 2023.
 Small-Group Tour: The British Museum in London - $117.09 On this 2 to 2.5 hour small group tour, limited to 8 guests, visit one of the world’s largest collections of artifacts at the British Museum. Your engaging tour guide will take you through a curated selection of cultural and artistic works, sharing the history that will help you understand and appreciate a small portion of the 8 million items at the British Museum. |
 Small Group London British Museum Tour for Kids and Families - $290.78 This 2.5 hours Small Group British Museum Tour for kids and families is a must for those visiting London with children. With in excess of 8 million exhibits the British Museum has the largest collection in the world, tracing human life from its very beginnings. |
 Private Guided Tour of the British Museum in London - $117.09 On this 2 to 2.5 hour private tour, visit one of the world’s largest collections of artifacts at the British Museum. Our engaging tour guides will take you through a curated selection of cultural and artistic works, sharing the history that will help you understand and appreciate a small portion of the 8 million items at the British Museum. |
 Private Tour: London's National Gallery and The British Museum Guided Tour - $224.29 Explore two of London’s top attractions in one day on this private 5.5-hour National Gallery and British Museum guided tour. Follow a private guide through the National Gallery’s hallways and admire famous works such as Jan van Eyck’s ‘Arnolfini Portrait’ or Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’. Along the way, learn of skilled artists like Botticelli, Monet, Rembrandt, and Vermeer, and look out for their paintings. Afterward, delve into 6,000 years of human history at The British Museum, and discover valuable treasures like the Oxus Treasure, the Parthenon sculptures, and the Rosetta Stone. |
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