London

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. The first galleries to open as part of the British Museum'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 arrival of agriculture. The Great Court, which is open 9am-6pm Sun-Wed, 9am-11pm Thur-Sat, is a vast and beautiful covered piazza, designed by Foster and Partners, surrounding the free reference library in the former Round Reading Room.