Daily, 10.00–17.00 (Fridays: 20.30)
The British Museum
Great Russell Street,
London WC1B 3DG
The 4 tube stations closest to the Museum are:
The British Museum first opened its doors in 1759. It was created through an Act of Parliament in 1753. At first, people had to apply for tickets to visit it. Therefore, it was only well-connected visitors who could visit the museum. But in 1830, the opening hours of the museum got extended and the museum became gradually more open and accessible to all.
We can say that the museum was created thanks to the physician and naturalist Sir Hans Sloane who was a passionate collector of printed books and manuscripts but also of natural history specimens and antiquities. Because he didn't want his collection to be scattered, he bequeathed it to King George II, for the nation. Then, the Act of Parliament establishing the museum was approved by the King so the collection of Sir Hans Sloane could be kept in a safe place.
Since then, the collection of the museum has been growing considerably. Today, even though the museum no longer houses collections of natural history and of books and manuscripts, it still holds eight million objects and curators still continue to acquire objects today.
Here are the departments that are available to you in the museum :
This major exhibition unravels how the journeys of people, objects and ideas that formed the Silk Roads shaped cultures and histories.
In this groundbreaking new show, Locke (born 1959) explores, questions and challenges narratives of British imperialism through objects from the British Museum collection, alongside specially commissioned new works.
For more events, check this page.