By Joanna Szabo
The British Museum is, despite its name, actually a collection of items from all over world rather than an entirely British display. The size of the museum is incredible, and it takes at least a day to see everything. From the Elgin Marbles to the Rosetta Stone, the British Museum is filled with ancient and modern artifacts and artwork that are sure to fascinate. Here are some suggestions for conquering the British Museum.
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Don’t Miss These Exhibits
Rosetta Stone: The same advice extends to seeing the Rosetta Stone, located on the ground floor in Egyptian Sculpture. The Rosetta Stone was famously used to decipher hieroglyphics 1400 years after they’d gone out of use. It has been the property of the British since 1801, when it passed from British to French hands with the Treaty of Alexandria. Although the Stone’s writing is actually a simple decree from a council of priests, its importance for Egyptology is unprecedented.
Elgin Marbles: The Elgin Marbles are another hugely famous exhibit at the Museum. Though certainly prized because some of them originate from the Parthenon, the Elgin Marbles are arguably most famous for the controversy surrounding them. Since the 1980s, the Greek government has continually asked for the Elgin Marbles and all other artifacts from Athens that the British Museum possesses. Yet, the Museum argues that it has every legal right to these artifacts. The controversy is not only about who has the legal right to the objects, but also how best the history of the objects can be represented and their stories told.
The Japanese exhibit on Level 5 is small but beautiful, and features paintings, Samurai swords and ceremonial tea artifacts. Level 3 houses the Medieval Europe gallery, including medieval treasures representing the divine, the royal and the working class. Also on Level 3 are the Mesopotamia galleries, which exhibit the development from small, agricultural communities into large, flourishing cities.
Do It In Two Days (Or More)
The convenient thing about museums in London is that, for the most part, they are absolutely free and only ask for a donation. You may find that coming to the British Museum several mornings in a row will suit your style better than taking it all in one go. You could take a whole morning in the Asia section, and leave for a separate evening activity. The next day, come back and enjoy the wonders of Africa or Ancient Greece and Rome. While it might be may be convenient for your travel plans to set aside a whole day for The British Museum, a day of walking on marble flooring will not be kind to your feet. You can always come back later — it’s free.
Take a Break
If you’re running on more limited time and have to take the British Museum in one day, take breaks consistently. The beautiful lobby of the museum, added in 2000 and called the Great Court, covers roughly two acres of space and offers areas to sit, read museum maps and pamphlets, or get lunch. There are benches located in most exhibit halls, so take advantage of these too.
Go Get Lunch
The British Museum is in a really convenient area for getting lunch. Shopping, cafes and restaurants abound. For Turkish cuisine, check out Tas Restaurant, located at the corner of the Museum. Wagamama’s, inspired by Japanese ramen noodle bars, is a two-minute walk down Great Russell Street. For a lighter fare, Tea and Tattle is a quaint and affordable tearoom and bookseller on Great Russell Street, a one-minute walk from the British Museum. Not only will lunch out give you a break from the Museum, it will also save you from the high prices of the Museum’s cafe.
How to Plan
Your trip to the British Museum is unique; everybody is interested in different things. Check out the British Museum website to most effectively plan your visit. You don’t need to map out your whole day, but you should note the exhibits or objects that you absolutely cannot miss. The “What’s On” section of their site is also helpful, which shows what special exhibits are on at the time.
Enjoy your visit to the British Museum!
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Photo credits:
British Museum: Heather Kennedy via Flickr
British Museum Mummies: bram_souffreau via Flickr
British Museum Parthenon Exhibit: bram_souffreau via Flickr
Tas Restaurant: ben dalton via Flickr
British Museum Great Hall: S D K via Flickr