British Museum

The British Museum was started in 1753 and opened in 1759. It was the first national public museum in the world. The first collection came from Sir Hans Sloane, who gave more than 71,000 objects. At the beginning, visitors needed a ticket to enter, but the museum was created to be free for people who wanted to learn.

The current museum building was designed in the Greek Revival style by Sir Robert Smirke. It was built between 1823 and 1852 on the site of Montagu House. One of the most famous parts of the building is the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court, designed by Lord Norman Foster and opened in 2000. It is the largest covered public square in Europe.

The museum is home to many famous objects, including the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon sculptures (also called the Elgin Marbles).

Itinerary