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The glass-roofed Great Court of the British Museum

No. 4 Top 100 Most Visited Art Museums 2025 · 6,440,120 visitors in 2025

British Museum

London, United Kingdom · City guide: London

Two million years of human history under one roof, free to visit in Bloomsbury.

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Photo: Eric Pouhier, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The British Museum is No. 4 in The Art Newspaper's survey of the world's most visited art museums, with 6,440,120 visitors in 2025, similar to 2024 and above its 2019 level. Founded in 1753, it opened in 1759 as the first national public museum in the world.

Its collection covers two million years of human history and culture. The Great Court, designed by Foster and Partners and opened in 2000, is covered by a glass roof around the historic Reading Room. General admission is free.

Greek Revival colonnades around the British Museum forecourt
Greek Revival colonnades around the British Museum forecourt. Photo: Elliott Brown from Birmingham, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0, source

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings and Friday late openings, when there are any, are usually quieter than weekends and school holidays.

Highlights & collections

  • 1

    Rosetta Stone

    The stone slab that was key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs.

  • 2

    Parthenon sculptures

    Sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens, displayed in the Duveen Gallery; their ownership is disputed by Greece.

  • 3

    Egyptian mummies

    The Egyptian death and afterlife galleries upstairs are among the museum's most popular rooms.

  • 4

    Sutton Hoo

    Treasures from an Anglo-Saxon ship burial in Suffolk, including the famous helmet.

  • 5

    Assyrian reliefs

    The lion hunt reliefs from the palace of Nineveh.

  • 6

    The Great Court

    The largest covered public square in Europe when it opened.

Getting there

The museum is in Bloomsbury. The nearest Underground stations are Tottenham Court Road (Central, Northern and Elizabeth lines), Holborn and Russell Square. The Elizabeth line runs directly from Heathrow Airport to Tottenham Court Road.

Visiting tips

Tickets & hours
General admission is free. Booking a free timed entry slot online is recommended. Special exhibitions charge. Check the official website for hours.
Time needed
At least two to three hours for the highlights.
Security
All bags are checked at the entrance. Large bags and suitcases are not allowed.
Currency
Pound sterling (GBP). Cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Visa & entry
Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, Australia and EU countries, now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling. Check gov.uk for the current rules.

Official information: The British Museum (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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