British Museum, London

 
by leffe3
 
  •   British Museum
    by leffe3
  •   British Museum
    by leffe3
  • The British Museum
      The British Museum
    by CatherineReichardt
  • The British Museum
      The British Museum
    by CatherineReichardt
  • Cat Goddess Bastet
      Cat Goddess Bastet
    by breughel
 

345 Reviews of British Museum

Sort by: Most recent | Most helpful

Write a Review
Parthenon Sculptures.
breughel profile photo

5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

breughel 1230 reviews
Parthenon frieze at eye-level.
3 more images

The Parthenon Sculptures in room 18, the largest of the museum, are certainly the best known highlights of the British Museum.
In another comment I expressed my position about the controversy by the Greek government concerning the Elgin Marbles. I'm definitively in favour of a status quo and this is my position for all museums. It would be a non sense to move all artefacts back to their country of origin.

Nevertheless on each of my visits, I found the display of the sculptures in the Duveen Gallery questionable because the original perspective is ignored.
The friezes, metopes and pediment came from the upper part of the Parthenon. The Doric columns are 10 m high so that the sculptures above them stood at a height of about 12 m as you can see from the figure on my photo n°2.
The perspective was therefore quite different from the present display in room 18 at eye-level (photos 1 & 3).
The Duveen Gallery is high and wide enough to recreate a perspective closer to the original one of the Parthenon.

In the next room 17 is a reconstruction of one of the sides of the Nereid monument, the largest and finest of the Lykian tombs found at Xanthos in south-west Turkey.
This reconstruction of the Nereid monument shows how the perspective of the display of the Parthenon sculptures could be improved.

Written Jul 20, 2009

Address: Great Russell Street, WC1

Phone: 0 20 7323 8299

Website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Related to:
 Museum Visits
 Arts and Culture
 Historical Travel

Was this review helpful?

British Museum
WorldRunner100 profile photo
WorldRunner100 31 reviews

As I've mentioned in some of my other posts, I'm a huge history fan. So if you're at all interested in history, you'll love the museum. Even if you're not into history, you'll probably love the museum. I did the "highlights" audiotour. Even that took quite some time as there is a lot of stuff. It can be kind of crowded though, so plan a good time, otherwise its not as enjoyable. I posted some photos and other London tips on my travel blog:
http://adams-travel-blog.blogspot.com/2009/06/first-couple-days-in-london.html

Written Jul 15, 2009

Address: Great Russell Street, WC1

Phone: 0 20 7323 8299

Website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Related to:
 Archeology
 Museum Visits
 Historical Travel

Was this review helpful?

British Museum
Riaiff profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Riaiff 38 reviews

We arrived in pouring rain at the museum and rented audio machines for ourselves. I think I need 5 days just to visit this place and explore it. There is so much here, but it is impossible to take it all in n one go. I will come back one day.

Written Jul 14, 2009

Address: Great Russell Street, WC1

Phone: 0 20 7323 8299

Website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Was this review helpful?

british musuem
moonrei profile photo
moonrei 2 reviews
1 more image

An outstanding musuem. One of the best musuems I have ever visited. Lots to look at, lots of depth and almost like walking back into the time of the Assyrians, Egyptians, Greeks and more.
Highly historical and educational.

Written Jun 30, 2009

Address: Great Russell Street, WC1

Phone: 0 20 7323 8299

Website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Related to:
 Family Travel
 Museum Visits

Was this review helpful?

A Pill or Two a Day Keeps the Doctor Away?
riorich55 profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

riorich55 471 reviews

In Room 24, Living and Dying at the British Museum is a unique exhibit called Cradle to Grave Pharmacopoeia. It illustrates (as the picture in this tip shows) two roles of perscription pills (one for female and one for male) that we take in a lifetime.

The exhibit shows with pills and pictures that the average British citizen takes 14,000 perscribed pills in a lifetime. Now, at first you may say, 14,000, no way, but think of it like this. If you take 1 perscribed pill per day starting at the age of 50 it will only take you 38 1/3 years to reach 14,000. With the average life expectancy continuing to increase that 14,000 number will undoubtedly go much higher as the years go by. Oh, and they add that if you add all the over the counter medication, aspirin, etc the number of pills is actually 40,000.

Written May 20, 2009

Address: Great Russell Street, WC1

Phone: 0 20 7323 8299

Website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Related to:
 Family Travel
 Budget Travel
 Seniors

Was this review helpful?

The British Museum
pieter_jan_v profile photo

4.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

pieter_jan_v 3564 reviews
The British Museum
1 more image

Strange to see a building in the middle of London, that resembles a Greek temple
The museum’s extensive collection spans two million years of human history. Visitors can ‘travel the world’ through the diverse collection of art and antiquities from ancient and living cultures. World-famous objects include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon Sculptures, and Egyptian mummies. In total there are 7 million objects in the museum.

Hours:
Daily: 10AM - 5.30PM

No admission fee.

Updated Apr 20, 2009

Address: Great Russell Street - London WC1B 3DG

Phone: +44-20-73238299

Website: http://www.britishmuseum.org/

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Arts and Culture
 Museum Visits

Was this review helpful?

The Rosetta Stone at the British Museum
cruisingbug profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

cruisingbug 370 reviews
Rosetta Stone, British Museum, London

Due to the British fondness for carrying home treasures from their vast empire, the British Museum is full of world-renowned artifacts. Among them is the Rosetta Stone, which upon its discovery in 1799, allowed archeologists to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics. The stone told the same story in the hieroglyphics, modern Egyptian, and Greek.
The famous Elgin Marbles, taken from the Parthenon and other buildings of the Acropolis, are also located here.
Entrance to the Museum is free, although you may drop a donation into the collection box.

Updated Jan 4, 2009

Address: Great Russell Street, WC1

Phone: 0 20 7323 8299

Website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Related to:
 Museum Visits

Was this review helpful?

The Best, period.
TexasDave profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

TexasDave 789 reviews
Main Entrance
4 more images

An absolute Must-See, there is an amazing collection of artifacts from every corner of the world, emphasizing the one-time scope of the British Empire. The museum is really overwhelming and cannot be seen all in one visit- not even close. The fortunate thing is that entrance is by donation only so you don't have to feel pressured to get your money's worth when you go. It's much better to make a few short visits, if your schedule allows, than one marathon visit after which everything melts together in your mind.

Written Dec 19, 2008

Address: Great Russell Street, WC1

Phone: 0 20 7323 8299

Website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Related to:
 Museum Visits
 Historical Travel
 Family Travel

Was this review helpful?

British Museum
Britannia2 profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Britannia2 791 reviews
Inside the British Museum
2 more images

The museum was founded in 1753 and its collection spans over 2 million years. The most impressive thing for me here was the actual building - re-built internally recently it is certainly very impressive inside.
My first visit was rushed and we very near closing time but the exhibits we did see were interesting and well presented.
The ground floor cafe does let the museum down and is reminisant of a school dining room - also very expensive food and drink so buy locally before or after your visit.
Free admission although special exhibitions are £8.
Good disabled access but pre-book car parking.

Updated Dec 15, 2008

Address: Great Russell Street, WC1

Phone: 0 20 7323 8299

Website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Related to:
 Museum Visits
 Archeology
 Historical Travel

Was this review helpful?

never enough time to see them all!
ukirsari profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

ukirsari 1840 reviews
the greek treasure (c) ukirsari

in british museum, time flies so fast. and it never be enough to spend a single day to see all of their collections. so reading the lists on the panel or souvenir book when entering the museum to decide where you'll leap to the section today.

so far we just covered egypt section [rooms 4, 61 - 66], rosetta stone [room 4], sutton ho treasure [room 41], greece [rooms 11 - 23], greece and rome [rooms 69 - 73, 77 - 85]

Updated Dec 5, 2008

Address: Great Russell Street, WC1

Phone: 0 20 7323 8299

Website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Backpacking
 Museum Visits

Was this review helpful?

Top 3 Hotels in London

The Montague On The Gardens  London

 5 Reviews and 1062 Opinions  The concierge was fabulous, the hotel very grand, and despite the rooms being small they were... 

 Hotels in London

41 Hotel  London

 2 Reviews and 690 Opinions  Hotel Ibis London Euston St Pancras Recommended by being the best location, nice rooms, modern and... 

 Hotels in London

Milestone Hotel Kensington  London

 1 Review and 461 Opinions  This 5 star hotel is probably my favorite in London because of it's location (across from Kensington... 

 Hotels in London

The Place

British Museum

Great Russell Street, WC1

British Museum tips and photos posted by real travelers and London locals.

  Write a Review  
Experience London
 

The People

14,590 Members Live Here
 
Our Members Say
 profile photo

 in british museum, time flies so fast. and it never be enough to spend a single day to see all of their collections. so reading the lists on the panel or... 

14,590 members live in London

 

Questions and Answers

Sunfluffy-77 profile photo

Q:  Hihi, Have anyone been to Bicester Village?( chic outlet shopping) worth to go? Any idea how to go from Alhambra hotel? Tx... 

tango_jd profile photo

A: It depends on your tastes. There are a lot of shops there and it can get quite busy. The shops are all designer-type shops with a few cafes in-between. If there is a... 

Read 3 Replies

postQuestion_button

Top London Writers

1

My Current Home

sue_stone profile photo

 I am a Sydney girl who has been living in London since October 2002, and I hope to stay for a few more years yet....well at least until I try all the restaurants in London ; ) London is a great base... 

2

Maybe it's Because I'm A Londoner....

Mariajoy profile photo

 CONGRATULATIONS LONDON!!! - OLYMPICS 2012 I was born in Hackney, in the east end of London but moved to Malta with my family a year or so later. I came back to London on various occasions as a child... 

3

Gor Blimey guv'ner...you'r having a larf......

sourbugger profile photo

 It has been a source of some pride that i was the No1 writer on VT for London for quite a while, before the estimable sue stone took over. The job offers have however failed to flood in...so back to... 

4

London, the capital of England

easyoar profile photo

 Whilst most people know that London is the capital of England, many foreigners to England get confused of the difference between England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom. Whilst England is in all... 

5

London, Misty Albion

kris-t profile photo

 Modern London is not one city that has steadily become larger through the centuries; it is a number of cities, towns, and villages that have, during the past centuries, grown together to make one vast... 

View all rated pages

View newest pages

Build your own London page

Travel Editors for London

KennetRose profile photo
planxty profile photo

London Members Meetings

Aug 04, 2012 
Olympics Meet!
Aug 10, 2012 
London Olympics VT Meeting

see all London member meetings