The British Museum

The British Museum is one of the greatest museums in the world, a vast and free collection tracing human history and culture across two million years and every continent. Beneath the stunning glass roof of its Great Court lie treasures from the Rosetta Stone that unlocked hieroglyphs to the Parthenon sculptures, Egyptian mummies, Assyrian reliefs and the Sutton Hoo hoard, a staggering, and sometimes contested, gathering of world heritage.

What you actually see

• The Rosetta Stone - the key that unlocked Egyptian hieroglyphs.
• The Parthenon sculptures - the marbles taken from the Athenian temple.
• The Egyptian mummies - the famous ancient Egyptian collection.
• The Great Court - the glass-roofed courtyard at its heart.

When to go

Year-round; a vast indoor museum, ideal in any weather, and free to enter. Go early or late to avoid the busiest hours, and focus on a few galleries rather than trying to see it all in one visit.

Honest expectations

It is free but vast, so pick a few highlights rather than exhausting yourself; it is very busy, especially around the Rosetta Stone and mummies. Some of its most famous holdings, above all the Parthenon marbles, are the subject of ongoing disputes over ownership.

Nearby

Bloomsbury, Covent Garden and the West End are a walk away; the British Library is nearby.