The British Museum

The majority of those who come in London want to see the British Museum. It is one of the most famous museums in the world. Here you will learn more about history and culture. This tourist attraction is in the top ten of the places to see in London.

Here you will find impressive collections of objects from around the world starting with the stone works of Babylonian period, to artifacts from the Roman Empire and of course, the most famous Egyptian collections.

The origins of the museum we find in the testament of a doctor, naturalist and collector, Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753). Throughout his life he has collected over 71,000 objects that needed to be kept intact after his death. So the entire collection was bequeathed to the King George II in exchange for 20,000 pounds, which would be given to the heirs of Sir Hans Sloan. The king accepted the donation, and on the day of of June 7, 1753, an Act of the British Parliament established the creation of the British Museu.

The British Museum is located in the Bloomsbury area of London. The museum first opened to the public was in 15 January 1759 in Montagu House in Bloomsbury. Until 1997, when the British Library moved to a new site, the British Museum housed both: a national museum of antiquities and a national library, in the same building.

The museum impresses you from the start by its construction. The facade with its 44 Ionic columns reminds you by the Capitol in Rome or by the temples from the Athens Acropolis.

Its collections are organized into 94 galleries spread over three levels with an impressive total area of 33 acres.

Once you get past the entrance control you will step into the courtyard (Great Court). It was restored in 2000 and has a neoclassical glass roof - it is considered the largest covered market in Europe. In the middle of it dominates a circular Reading Room. In the Great Court you will find the information points and you can rest your legs to a well-deserved coffee during the breaks between the visits of the galleries.

The collections are grouped according to the geographical area, cultures and themes. There are exhibits from/about Greece and Rome, Egypt, Asia, Japan, Ancient Near East, Africa and the Americas.

Among the exhibits there is also:
- Marble sculptures from the Parthenon - they were taken in 1800 from the Temple of Athena on the Acropolis. The British they did not returned because I think they are better preserved here
- The Rosetta Stone - available in black granite plate that was encrusted with the same text in three languages: Egyptian hieroglyphics, demotic and Greek - this offered the possibility to decipher the Egyptian hieroglyphics. It was found by Napoleon's army in 1799 in the Nile Delta
- Portland Vase - the oldest glass bowl with embossed ornaments
- Chess pieces made from walrus claw - 93 beautiful pieces coming from the Lewis island
- Egyptian mummies - Egyptian mummies and coffins (the preserved body of Ginger, an Egyptian from 5500-3100 BC
- Lindow Man - a well preserved body from 2000 years ago (the preserved in peat in a swamp)
- Sutton Hoo Treasure – founded on a intact funeral ship in Suffolk, dating from the VII century
- The treasure of Mindelhall - a set of vases with representations of Bacchus (god of wine) and silver tableware, the fourth century - all in Suffolk
- Assyrian stelae - from the period of 880-612 BC
- The collection of watches and clocks, exhibiting artefacts from the XVI-XX centuries, is one of the most beautiful in the world. Be there at the time when all the clocks beat in unison.

All the travel guides discourage you from the start telling you that, in case you have at your disposal several days, you will not be able to see all 4 million exhibits. It is recommended to visit this museum in an organized way.

That means to be informed before the visit begins. You can visit one or two galleries per day, depending on what you are interested.

The museum site provides you detailed information about the most famous collections and exhibits. For those who are interested in art and history I recommend to use it with confidence.

Once you get to the museum you can contact the guided tours or the audio guides. Less