British Museum

One of the world's most famous museums and free to enter. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, Egyptian mummies, and the Admonitions Scroll from China, making it a must-see among its roughly 8 million objects.

The British Museum was founded in 1753 and opened to the public in 1759. It was the world's first national public museum. Its collection of about 8 million objects spans 2 million years of human history and culture, and general admission to the permanent galleries is free. The Great Court, a vast covered square roofed by a glass canopy designed by Norman Foster, is the largest covered public square in Europe.

Key highlights include the Rosetta Stone in Room 4, the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs; the marble sculptures from the Parthenon in Room 18; Egyptian mummies and coffins in Rooms 62-63; the Assyrian lion hunt reliefs in Room 10; the Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon helmet in Room 41; and the Easter Island moai in Room 24. In Room 33, the China and South Asia galleries (Sir Joseph Hotung Gallery) display Yuan dynasty blue-and-white porcelain, Tang sancai glazed pottery, and Dunhuang silk paintings. The Tang dynasty copy of Gu Kaizhi's Admonitions of the Imperial Instructress to Court Ladies is shown only briefly each year because of conservation needs.

It is best to reserve a free timed-entry slot on the official website in advance, though you can also queue on arrival. The museum opens at 10 a.m., and the earliest hours are the least crowded. You can rent a Chinese-language audio guide or download the official app and follow the Highlights route, which takes about 2 to 3 hours. A more thorough visit needs half a day or more.

The museum is in the Bloomsbury district, a 5-minute walk from Tottenham Court Road or Holborn Underground stations. The main entrance is on Great Russell Street. There are several cafés and restaurants inside, but large luggage cannot be stored. You can easily combine your visit with the bookshops of Charing Cross Road and Covent Garden nearby. Large backpacks must pass through security, and photography without flash is allowed in the galleries.

British Museum

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