The British Museum: A Journey Through History and Culture

The British Museum is the first national public museum in the world and was founded in 1753. Well, Sir Hans Sloane was a physician and collector. Sloane collected over 71,000 objects worldwide and bequeathed them to King George II. He stipulated one condition: that the products he had specialized in be available to the public.

The collection was initially placed in Montagu House, a mansion in the West End neighborhood of London. This place was soon only able to fit so much as the collection grew. The museum became magnified with the occurrence of the Townley Gallery in 1807 and the King's Library in 1823.

Currently, the British Museum is the keeper of over eight million artifacts. It showcases human history and progress from the beginning to the present day. Moreover, it will be the highlighted place in your London trip package.

Best Exhibits and Galleries

Here is the list of the best exhibits and galleries:

The Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone is one of the famous artifacts in the British Museum you must check. It is an ancient Egyptian stone slab. It helped the scholars decipher hieroglyphics. Moreover, the Rosetta Stone wasn't discovered in the city of Rosetta. As its name suggests, it was found in the village of Rashid in Egypt.

The Lewis Chessmen

These are the 12th-century chess pieces. Did you know? These are made of walrus ivory and white teeth. Well, they are some of the most intricate and well-preserved examples. Moreover 1831, they were discovered in Scotland on the Isle of Lewis. However, scholars believe that they were created in Norway.

The Assyrian Lion Hunt Reliefs

The Assyrian Lion Hunt Reliefs are large stone reliefs. They are considered some of the finest examples of ancient Near Eastern art. Moreover, they date back to the 9th century BC. Well, it depicts the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal and his companions hunting lions. Furthermore, they were discovered in the king's palace library in the ancient city of Nineveh.

Planning your visit

The British Museum in London offers so many attractions. Make sure to add this to your trip to London. Organizing your visit to the museum can be quite challenging. Here are a few suggestions and tactics to help you enjoy this place to your satisfaction.

  1. Pre-book your entry tickets online to avoid the long lines winding up to the entrance.
  2. Take advantage of the interactive map and app of the museum to plan your route carefully and list down the exhibits you wish to see first.
  3. Go to the place when it’s less busy for a more serene experience.
  4. Taking just a few steps can bring you into the British Museum's unique atmosphere and masterpiece range.

Food and Amenities at the British Museum

The British Museum visitor can choose among the several options it provides for eating. These include:

  1. The Great Court Restaurant is within the museum and champions Mediterranean-inspired plain casual cuisine.
  2. The Court Cafe is right across from the ball court and is as convenient for a snack or coffee.
  3. Both places feature indoor and outdoor seating near the museum's famous Reading Room.
  4. Quite a few stores within the museum sell a wide variety of merchandise, including gifts, souvenirs, books, and art materials.

The museum provides a cloakroom, restroom, and baby-changing area. It makes it easy for visitors. The galleries have suitable access for visitors in wheelchairs. They have doors wide enough for a wheelchair.

Therefore, make sure to add this to your London holiday packages. If you are a big history lover then you will learn a lot of things during your trip to London. So, why wait to get your London trip package booked with Nitsa Holidays today?