The British Museum is the largest museum in the UK. It is located in London and has a collection of over 7,500,000 objects from all over the world. The museum was founded in 1753 and is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world.
The museum houses many world-famous exhibits such as the Rosetta Stone, the Lewis chess pieces, the Sutton Hoo treasure, the Benin bronzes, the Parthenon sculptures and the Egyptian mummies.
You could spend your entire stay in the English capital visiting the galleries, but to make sure you get the highlights, the must-sees, we recommend you get professional guidance from the team of Free Tours we offer here at GuruWalk.
The first thing you'll notice about the British Museum is the building itself.
The British Museum was Norman Foster's first major public commission and the only one he completed in the city.
The building is a dome of glass and steel, reflecting and amplifying daylight. The central space of the museum is an atrium that rises to a height of 60 metres (197 feet), employing a new technique in which pre-stressed concrete was poured in long continuous sections.
What about the museum's contents? We could start with the King's Library.
The King's Library is a collection of over 26,000 books and pamphlets. In 1757, King George II donated his library to the library.
It includes many famous texts of English literature, including a copy of the first edition of Sir Isaac Newton's Principia Mathematica and Shakespeare's First Folio.
And from here, does the Rosetta Stone ring a bell?
The Rosetta Stone is a beautiful artefact that provides an insight into the life of the ancient Egyptians. It has been on display in the British Museum in London since 1802.
This artefact is one of the most important discoveries in history and was made when Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Egypt and ordered his troops to Alexandria after defeating the Mamluk forces in Cairo. The British Museum also has many other pieces of Egyptian history.
The Ancient Egyptian rooms of the British Museum are a must-see for anyone interested in Egyptian history. The museum offers interactive exhibits, many artefacts and some informative videos.
Visitors to these rooms can explore the different periods of Ancient Egyptian history on display. They can also gain some knowledge about the people who lived in ancient Egypt and what their lives were like.
The same goes for the rooms specific to Ancient Greece or the Mesopotamian cultures of the Middle East.