The most popular museum in London, the British Museum receives over 5.8 million visitors per year. Founded in 1753, the museum was the first national public museum in the world and has granted free admission to all ‘studious and curious persons’ since its opening on 15 January 1759. The museum’s original collection was established through the will of physician, naturalist and collector, Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753). Sloane collected more than 71,000 objects over his lifetime, and he left his entire collection to King George II for the nation in exchange for £20,000 to be given to his heirs. The museum’s collection has expanded to over 8 million objects spanning the history of the world’s cultures: from the stone tools of early man to twentieth century prints. Visitors can explore Egyptian Mummies, The Rosetta Stone, and Athen’s Parthenon Sculptures. The British Museum’s main building was designed in the Greek Revival style by architect Sir Robert Smirke in 1823, and the museum’s Great Court was designed by Foster and Partners in 1997. The Great Court is the largest covered public square in Europe and was opened on 6 December 2000 by Her Majesty, the Queen.
- The British Museum
- Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
- www.britishmuseum.org
- Underground: Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Russell Square, and Goodge Street