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One of the world's oldest museums, the British Museum is vast and its collections, only a fraction of which can be on public display at any time, comprise millions of objects. First-time visitors generally head for the mummies, the Rosetta Stone, Lindow Man, the Lewis Chessmen and the Sutton Hoo Ship Burial.
'Enlightenment: Discovering the World in the 18th Century' is a permanent exhibition of around 5,000 objects chosen to cast light on the period between the mid-18th and the early 19th century, a time of great discovery and learning when the British Museum was founded by an Act of Parliament. It is displayed in the restored former King's Library - a huge neo-classical room built in the 1820s to house the books collected by George III.
'Living and Dying', a permanent exhibition in the Wellcome Trust Gallery, explores the ways in which peoples throughout history have diagnosed and treated disease and coped with death. The exhibition considers attitudes towards burial and mourning and festivals for the dead and features an installation on Western approaches to illness. The first galleries to open as part of the BM's programme of refurbishment are a new gallery of Ancient Iran, featuring masterpieces from the Persian Empire, and a gallery focused on the prehistory of Europe and the Middle East, examining the fundamental changes to human society brought about by the birth of agriculture.
The Great Court, which is open Sat-Wed 9am-6pm, Thur, Fri 9am-8.30pm, is a vast and beautiful covered piazza, designed by Foster and Partners, surrounding the free reference library in former Round Reading Room.
This display takes familiar, everyday objects from the museum's collection and shows how their prices and value have...
An exhibition about the Hajj - the pilgrimage to Mecca, which is central to the Muslim faith. The show examines the s...
A lack of 'fun' stuff, like cars and boats, apparently disappointed the six-year-old Grayson Perry on his first visit...
An exhibition featuring objects from the museum's collection, put together by the artist Grayson Perry. Perry's eclec...
As part of the London 2012 Festival, a chance to see the Olympic and Paralympic medals up close and uncover the crea...
German prints and drawings from the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries.
An exhibition about the Hajj - the pilgrimage to Mecca. The show examines the significance of the Hajj as one of the ...
An 'Object in Focus' exhibition, turning the spotlight on a single item from the museum's collection, in this case a...
A screening of David Lean's classic 'Lawrence of Arabia', starring Peter O'Toole as the young intelligence officer i...
One of the world's oldest museums, the BM is vast and its collections, only a fraction of which can be on public dis...
An exhibition of Picasso's 'Vollard Suite', which has been recently acquired by the museum. The suite comprises 100 e...
The influence of the horse in Middle Eastern history, the emergence of the Arabian horse and the importance of its in...
A trail enabling visitors to learn about the origins of the Olympic Games through a variety of objects. Highlights in...
The British Museum's major exhibition for summer and autumn 2012 looks at the world of William Shakespeare. Part of t...
This exhibition at the British Museum explores the emerging role of London as a world city as viewed through the pris...
Follow British Museum to receive updates on new events happening here.
What is 'following'?Transport Holborn/Russell Square
020 7323 8000, bookings 08445 791940
10am-5.30pm Sat-Thur; 10am-8.30pm Fri (selected galleries only, ring for details)
So much to see! you need at least 2 days to see it all. The exhibitions in the middle of the museum are fantastic, we visit most of them - join up and come along - www.cultureseekers.org
Without a doubt the best museum in the capital and FREE! Ta boot! what more could you want?....this place is so great its quoted in a song "A foggy day" and sung by old blue eyes himself...great! restaurant also!! Trust me you'll love it!!
Are you open on New Years Eve as i understand you are closed on New Years Day.
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