British Museum
The British Museum is a public museum in the Bloomsbury area of London dedicated to human history, art, and culture, and holder of the largest permanent collection in the world at eight million works. Established by Act of Parliament in 1753, it was the world’s first public national museum and has been open to the public free of charge since 1759. In 2025 it attracted 6,440,120 visitors, making it the second most-visited attraction in the United Kingdom and one of the most-visited museums globally.
At a glance
- Type
- National public museum of human history, art, and culture
- Period
- Founded 1753; main building (Robert Smirke) constructed 1823–1852; Great Court covered 2000
- Style
- Greek Revival (Robert Smirke); Great Court: contemporary (Norman Foster, 2000)
- Location
- Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG, England
- Coordinates
- 51.5194° N, 0.1270° W
Overview
The British Museum’s permanent collection of eight million objects documents the entirety of human culture from prehistoric times to the present day across all inhabited continents. Among its most celebrated holdings are the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles (Parthenon sculptures), the Lewis Chessmen, the Sutton Hoo helmet, Lindow Man, and the Warren Cup. The museum also maintains a world-class collection of prints and drawings, coins and medals, and ancient Egyptian mummies. Entry is permanently free of charge, with charges levied only for special temporary exhibitions.
History
The British Museum was established by an Act of Parliament in 1753 following the bequest of physician and naturalist Sir Hans Sloane, whose collection of over 71,000 objects formed its founding core. It opened to the public in 1759 in Montague House. The current Greek Revival building was designed by Robert Smirke and constructed between 1823 and 1852, with the iconic circular Reading Room at its centre completed in 1857. The Great Court, enclosing the central courtyard with a spectacular steel-and-glass roof designed by Norman Foster, was added in 2000 and is the largest covered public square in Europe.
What you see
The Great Court — the museum’s central hub — is a soaring glazed public space surrounding the historic Reading Room and providing access to all gallery wings. The Egyptian galleries on the ground floor house the Rosetta Stone and an unmatched collection of monumental sculpture. The Greece and Rome galleries contain the Parthenon sculptures (Elgin Marbles). The upper floors house the prehistoric and early Europe galleries, the Sutton Hoo treasures, the Lewis Chessmen, and the prints and drawings study room. The museum also offers an extensive programme of virtual and 3D digital tours of its collections.
Cultural significance
The British Museum is one of the foundational institutions of the global museum tradition and a primary repository for the material record of human civilisation. Its collections are the subject of ongoing international debates about the repatriation of cultural property — including the Parthenon sculptures, the Benin Bronzes, and the Rosetta Stone — making it a central site in contemporary discussions about the ethics of collection and cultural ownership. Its free permanent collection model has influenced museum policy worldwide.
Practical information
- Address
- Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG, United Kingdom
- Opening hours
- Saturday–Thursday 10:00–17:00; Friday 10:00–20:30; closed 24–26 December and 1 January. Check the official website for current hours.
- Admission
- Free for permanent collection; charges apply for some temporary exhibitions
- Website
- britishmuseum.org
Getting there
The British Museum is located in Bloomsbury, Central London. The nearest Underground stations are Holborn (Central and Piccadilly Lines) and Tottenham Court Road (Central and Northern Lines), each a 5-minute walk. Multiple bus routes serve Great Russell Street, Southampton Row, and New Oxford Street. The museum is accessible by bicycle via the Santander Cycles hire scheme, with docking stations on nearby streets.