The British Museum in London
The museum was established in 1753 by the British Parliament on the basis of the collections of the physician Hans Sloane, Robert Cotton and Robert Harley. Soon other books, coins, engravings, medals and other artefacts were added to the collections of the museum and in 1759 it was opened to the public. Today the British Museum includes almost 100 themed rooms representing very serious work of generations of art historians. In fact, it combines several different museums, where collections of archaeology, ethnography and natural history, as well as engravings are kept. Unique historical and cultural heritage of Europe, Asia, America and Africa from different eras, which were brought to London from all parts of the British Empire and from many other countries, can be seen in the museum. Monuments of Ancient Egypt, Greek sculptures, Mexican masks, stone statues from India, bronze reliefs of African artists and much more can be seen in the museum.
You might need at least a week to see all the collections of the huge museum. Exhibitions are regularly renewed, that way attracting new and old audiences. Until 1972, one of the largest libraries in the world was part of the museum. Eminent scientists from around the world visited it. Now it is a part of the British Library. The museum also has a gift shop and a café; children between 5 and 12 years old are offered to visit master classes regarding different countries and eras.
The museum is located almost in the centre of London, in the old district of Bloomsbury, in a building with a grand façade built in the first half of the 19th century. Visiting of the museum is free, except for some usually temporary exhibitions. Children under 16 years old can always visit the museum free of charge. Each year, at least 5 million people visit the British Museum. Next to the museum you can find a lot of old coffee shops, bookstores and antique shops.
Nearest underground stations: Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Russell Square, Goodge Street. You can also take a bus: 1, 7, 8, 19, 25, 38, 55, 98 or 242 – stop on New Oxford Street. You can also use buses: 10, 14, 24, 29, 73, 134 or 390 – stop northbound on Tottenham Court Road, southbound on Gower Street; 59, 68, X68, 91, 168 or 188 – stop on Southampton Row.
