British Museum London England. UK museums

Nowhere except London, there is such a huge number of attractions, museums, exhibitions, constantly attracting tourists. There are numerous tourist facilities and exhibitions of almost any orientation. They are constantly open to visitors, whose flow does not dry out over time.

The main historical and archaeological museum in Great Britain and one of the largest in the world is the British Museum in London.

It is constantly in the top lines of the ranking in terms of attendance among the museums of the world. The British Museum is located in Bloomsbury, the historic district of London.

All visitors to the British Museum can see the historical and cultural values ​​located here free of charge. For tourists, 94 galleries are open, with a length of about 4 kilometers.

Naturally, it is impossible to get acquainted with such a number of exhibits in one or two days. Among the museum staff there are Russian-speaking guides who will help Russian tourists better understand historical facts, as well as cats.

6 cats are officially on the staff of the British Museum : they are decorated with yellow bows, behave with dignity in the halls and protect museum valuables from the invasion of rodents.

History of the museum

Like many other collections in England, the British Museum originated from a private collection. The famous English collector of antiquities, doctor and naturalist Hans Sloan, during his lifetime, made a will, according to which, for a nominal fee, his entire collection of more than 70 thousand exhibits was transferred to King George II.

Thanks to this, the English National Fund was significantly replenished. It happened in June 1753. At the same time, the antiquary James Cotton donated his library to the state, and Earl Robert Harley donated a unique collection of ancient manuscripts. The creation of a historical museum was approved by a special act of the British Parliament.

In 1759, the museum was opened to visitors in the Montagu House mansion. At first, only selected people could become visitors to the museum. For everyone, the museum was opened only in 1847, when the modern building of the museum was built.

The collection of the British Museum was constantly replenished. At the end of the 18th century, the museum acquired Greville's collection of minerals, W. Hamilton's antique vases, Townley marbles, and bought masterpieces from the Parthenon from Lord Elgin.

Some of the exhibits in the museum got almost criminally: until now, Greece and Egypt demand the return of some valuable relics (for example, the Rosetta Stone - a slab with text in ancient Egyptian), exported illegally from these countries.

In the 19th century, the British Museum in London began to grow and develop rapidly. At this time, it became necessary to divide the museum into departments, some of which were moved to another place. A numismatic department appeared, where medals and coins from different countries, belonging to different eras (including ancient Greek, Persian, ancient Roman) are collected.

The geological, mineralogical, botanical and zoological departments were separated into a separate Natural History Museum, which in 1845 was transferred to South Kensington. From 1823 to 1847, the Montagu House was demolished, and in its place a modern building in the classicist style, created by the architect R. Smork, appeared.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the number of exhibits from the Middle East increased due to archaeological excavations in Mesopotamia. Since 1926, the museum has published its own quarterly magazine, which covers the events taking place in the museum.

At the end of the 20th century, when they were preparing for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the museum, the exhibition halls were enlarged. Under the leadership of Norman Foster, the space was replanned: new premises appeared, galleries were updated, additional territory was glazed.

Museum expositions

At first, the museum was conceived only as a collection of antiquities from Greece and Rome, but gradually exhibits of various eras from other places appeared, for which new departments were organized:

• The Greco-Roman collection in the British Museum is located in 12 rooms. It includes luxury items dating back to the time of the Roman emperors, Lycian sculptures, sculptures from the temple of Apollo in Phigalia, the remains of the temple of Diana in Ephesus, etc.

• The Oriental section of the museum presents collections of sculptures, paintings, ceramics and engravings from South and Southeast Asia. There are Indian bronze statues of Buddha, monuments of hieroglyphic writing dating back to the 2nd millennium BC, ritual vessels of Ancient China and other ancient oriental treasures.

• In the department of the Middle Ages and Modern Times, you can see works of arts and crafts from the time of early Christianity to the 19th century. There are many cult objects, dishes and jewelry made of silver, knightly armor and medieval weapons, collections of ceramic and glass products of the 18th-19th centuries, church utensils and the world's largest collection of watches.

• The collection of drawings and engravings of the British Museum in terms of artistic value and size is on a par with the famous Louvre. This section contains paintings by Botticelli , Van Dyck, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Durer, Van Gogh, Raphael and many others.

• The number of medals and coins in the numismatics department exceeds 200 thousand copies. Here are coins from the 7th century BC to modern examples, as well as coins made of precious metals. The department also contains almost all the medals dedicated to important historical events of the country, including the medals of the London 2012 Olympics.

• In the department of ethnography, one can get acquainted with objects of everyday life and culture of the peoples of Australia, Africa, Asia and Oceania, America, starting from the discovery of these lands by Columbus, Cook and other famous navigators.

• The British Museum is also the largest library in the UK, with more than 7 million volumes of various publications, about 200 thousand manuscripts in European languages, more than half a million geographical maps and almost a million copies of music. About 20 thousand technical and scientific journals are collected here. The British Museum Library has 6 reading rooms for 670 visitors.

The museum constantly conducts themed tours, and on Sundays there is a children's club "Young Friend of the British Museum", for members of which access to additional interesting expositions is open. Popular here, as well as all over the world, held 4 times a year "Nights at the Museum". Each night is held with a specific theme, such as "Egyptian Night" or "Japanese Night".

Information for tourists

The museum is open daily, opening hours: 10-00 - 17-30. From Thursday to Friday, some departments work longer, until 20-30.

Now the museum's fund is replenished mainly through donations from patrons or collectors. Some exhibits are purchased with the money of Parliament. Entrance to the British Museum is free, but it is considered good form to leave a small donation, for which special boxes are installed in the museum.

The British Museum is huge in terms of area and number of exhibits, so you should not try to get around it in one or two days. It is better to choose one or two expositions that are most interesting for you and devote full time to them. Otherwise, visiting the museum will leave not positive emotions and new knowledge, but fatigue and a sore head.

The British Museum is the largest collection of antiquities in the UK! Undoubtedly, it is in itself the greatest monument of England during its colonial heyday. This place is a must-see not only because it is one of the most popular museums in the world (according to some reports, more than six million visitors annually), but also because many of the exhibits of the British Museum are known to you for sure, even if you did not know about their presence. right here. Agree, it's a pity to miss the opportunity to see such things live! So one day I planned to view this famous collection.

The first rule of visiting the British Museum in London is not to plan anything for the day. That is absolutely nothing! Not even “in the morning I’ll just look out of the corner of my eye at Big Ben, and then immediately to the British Museum.” Believe me, one day will not be enough for you, because the scale of the building is amazing.

The second rule, which follows directly from its size, is to wear comfortable, proven shoes. Personally, my legs hurt the day after his visit.

How to get to the British Museum

The British Museum is located in the fashionable Bloomsbury district of London, next to the bohemian Covent Garden. It is impossible to walk past it - the building occupies a whole block and is surrounded, respectively, by four streets: Great Russel Street (Great Russel Street), Bloomsbury Street (Bloomsbury Street), Montague Place (Montague Place), Montague Street (Montague Street). The main entrance is located on Great Russell Street and the secondary entrance is on Montagu Place.

As for the transport that will take you to the place:

• The easiest way to get to the museum is to take the underground to Tottenham Court Road stations at the junction of the Central line and the Northern line, or to Holborn station at the junction of the Central line and Piccadilly (Piccadilly line). From them to the British Museum you need to walk about 500 meters. From Russell Square station on the Piccadilly line and Goodge Street on the Northern line go a little further: 800 meters.
• Ground transportation is available. Buses No. 1, 8, 19, 25, 38, 55, 98, 242 go around the museum, you need a stop on New Street (New Oxford Street); Nos. 10, 14, 24, 29, 73, 134, 390 will take you to stops at Tottenham Court Road and Gower Street; No. 59, 68, X68, 91, 168, 188 and stop at Southampton Row.

As for fares, it is most convenient to use the Oyster Card - this is an analogue of our Troika (those who ride the subway and buses in Moscow understand). Oyster Card is valid for all modes of transport. You will be charged a fee depending on where you are going (the whole city is divided into six transport zones). The British Museum, like most attractions, is located in the first zone. The minimum amount that will be deducted from your travel card is 1.4 € (1.2 £).

Admission fees and opening hours of the British Museum

As with many other national museums in the UK, admission to the British Museum is completely free, unless it concerns any specific exhibitions. However, you also need to learn about them separately. In 2014, posters were hung all over central London promoting an exhibition dedicated to Viking jewelry and weapons. I was sure that to see such a large-scale project, they would probably charge a fee, but I was wrong - the entrance did not cost a penny. However, even without special exhibitions, the British Museum has something to see, so visiting it is a great way to spend time culturally for a tourist who does not want to spend a lot of money on vacation.

By the way, the exhibits of the main exhibition can also be photographed for free. Nothing will stop you from boasting to your friends about your photos of famous helmets from Sutton Hoo or ancient Egyptian mummies. Certain exhibitions may have their own conditions, but if photography is prohibited, the corresponding icon will certainly hang in front of the entrance to the hall - a crossed-out camera. Otherwise, you can safely be guided by the principle: "it is not forbidden, it means it is allowed."

Don't skimp on the audio guide, which can be rented from 10:00 to 16:30 and on Fridays until 19:30 at the family visit counter in the Great Courtyard (see below for where to find it). The service costs only €5.81 (£5) for adults and €5.23 (£4.50) for students, under 19s and over 60s. Why is it worth spending money on it? I explain. Firstly, it is also available in Russian. Secondly, it offers many options for visiting the museum that you would not have thought of, from full day excursions to galloping through the main attractions. Thirdly, from there you can get information prepared by the curators of the museum, which you will not find anywhere else. Fourth, this is an interactive map of the museum that will help you find your way around. And fifthly, at the end of your stay, you can send yourself an “electronic souvenir containing a list of what you saw” by mail. I personally did not use the last opportunity and do not really know what it is, but you can experiment.

The British Museum is open daily from 10.00 to 17.30. On Friday, most of the galleries are open until 20.30 (except Good Friday). Some galleries may be closed on normal days, for example, in connection with the preparation of exhibitions. Their list is published on the official website of the museum. The British Museum is closed on 1 January, 24, 25 and 26 December.

History of the British Museum

At the main entrance you can see a statue of Sir Hans Sloan. He was an outstanding physician and, what is more important for us, a naturalist, a traveler and a literally obsessed collector. He bequeathed to the nation 80 thousand works of art from his collection, which laid the foundation for the British Museum. The museum was established by a special act of Parliament in 1753, and it was Parliament that subsequently bought the exhibits from collectors to replenish exhibition assets.

A special role in the development of the British National Museum was played by the colonial rule of Great Britain, thanks to which treasures and works of art were brought literally from all over the world and often fell into museum property under very dark circumstances. This is how, for example, many Egyptian antiquities ended up in the museum. Even in the 19th century, there was an increasing interest in Ancient Egypt in Europe, which was facilitated, oddly enough, by Napoleon's army. French soldiers, officers, as well as scientists accompanying the army, took out cultural values ​​in huge quantities from the country in order to sell them later. Enough and adventurers-Europeans engaged in such a business. In fact, many evidence of the historical greatness of ancient Egypt were simply looted. However, later they still ended up in national museums of different countries, where everyone can get acquainted with them. Part of the Egyptian artifacts settled in the British Museum.

The museum opened its doors to visitors in 1759. Then it was open only for three hours a day. In those days, there was a special order to let only decently dressed people into the museum.

Soon the building of the Montagu House mansion, which housed the British Museum, was not enough for a rapidly growing collection, and in 1847 the construction of that gigantic building, reminiscent of an ancient Greek temple, which we can see today, was completed.

Under Queen Victoria, some collections were separated into the Museum of Natural History, and already in 1972 the British Library broke away from the British Museum, a reminder of which is the round Reading Room. It is located directly in the center of the building, so you definitely won't miss it. In 2000, architect Norman Foster redesigned some of the rooms, creating a mesh ceiling over the courtyard, which finally completed the look of the British Museum and gave it modern elegance.

Today, the collection of the British Museum contains 8 million exhibits, and it occupies an honorable second place (in the first place - the Louvre) in terms of attendance in the world. Isn't this another reason to get to the museum for you too?

Halls of the British Museum

After passing through the massive doors, you find yourself in a real labyrinth of stairs, halls, elevators, corridors and balconies. Although maps are hung everywhere and kind workers stand ready to suggest the way to the exhibit you are interested in, it is almost impossible not to get lost in the first second. However, the navigation of the museum is really thought out very well - the signs are even located on the floor, and they orient not only to the halls dedicated to a particular topic, but also to the most popular exhibits (which is especially convenient if you decide to just look at the Rosetta Stone).

An interactive map is included in the audio guide if you decide to rent one. Also, for a donation, you can take a small card at the entrance to the building.

The halls of the museum are divided into thematic sections:

• Ancient Egypt and Sudan;
• Near East;
• engraving and drawing;
• prehistory and Europe;
• Asia, Africa and North and;
• coins and medals;
• preservation and scientific research;
• library and archives.

Halls of the same theme are not always located side by side. For example, there are rooms dedicated to Ancient Greece and Rome at both levels 0 and -1.

In the center of the whole building is the so-called Great Courtyard, and in the middle of the courtyard there is a round Reading Room - the remnant of the British Library - which, by the way, was also visited by Lenin in his time.

There are cafes, shops and a large information desk in the Great Courtyard, where you will always be prompted to get to the gallery you are interested in or other information you need.

What is the British Museum famous for?

If you've already made it to the British Museum, there are a few must-see items that you must check out, otherwise it will be a shame to look friends in the eye when you return to your homeland.

rosetta stone

First (and "major") is the Rosetta Stone. If you didn’t listen well in fifth grade history lessons, let me remind you: the Rosetta Stone is a not-too-impressive granite (more precisely, granodiorite) slab, thanks to which ancient Egyptian writing was deciphered. Rosetta stone was named after the place of its discovery in 1799 - the city of Rosetta (now Rashid) near Alexandria in Egypt.

The same text on the slab (a thank you inscription praising King Ptolemy V Epiphanes) was embossed three times: twice in ancient Egyptian (hieroglyphic writing and demotic writing) and once in ancient Greek. It was due to the fact that the historians of that time knew ancient Greek that, more than 20 years after the discovery of the plate, they were able to decipher the meaning of the ancient language, which marked the beginning of Egyptology as a science. The stone has been in the museum since 1802. You can find it in the Egyptian Gallery in room number 4.

Sculptures of the Parthenon

Room 18 houses the so-called Elgin Bas-reliefs, sculptures and bas-reliefs brought from Athens in 1801 by Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin. At that time it was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, and the export of works of art was presented as saving the heritage of Western civilization from destruction by the barbarians.

Even then, some criticized this noble plunder of the Parthenon (in particular, Lord Byron was a fierce opponent of the export of bas-reliefs). Today, the Greek government is negotiating the return of sculptures to their homeland. So far, Britain is deaf to these demands, but hurry up: who knows, suddenly there will soon be no opportunity to admire the frieze of the Athenian temple up close?

Sutton Hoo Hoard

In 1938, a person named Edith Mary Pretty from Suffolk County became interested in the then fashionable spiritualism. During one of the sessions, she had visions of the ghosts of warriors buried in the hills of Sutton Hoo, along with numerous treasures, as the old residents used to say. To calm the spirits, the lady decided to start excavations and turned to the staff of the local history museum in Ipswich. Either spirits really visited Mrs. Pretty, or folk memory preserved information about untold riches, but the discovery of a treasure in the large mound of Sutton Hoo became one of the most significant archaeological finds in Britain.

The most significant exhibits are an Anglo-Saxon funerary ship built around 625, gold and silver jewelry, ritual weapons, and a lyre wrapped in a beaver skin. Edith Pretty bequeathed her treasures to the nation, and after her death in 1942 they moved to the British Museum, where they are exhibited in Room No. 41.

clock hall

You will not pass by this room number 44 of the British Museum. You will surely be attracted by ticking, ringing, music and other noise that only watches can make, of which there are a great many: of all types and sizes!

Particularly striking is the watch-ship, made in the 16th century in Prague.

The Man from Lindow

In Cheshire, during the development of peat in the Lindow peat bog, on August 1, 1984, a perfectly preserved body of a man was found who, as further research showed, died in 20-90 AD. e. Thanks to the special microclimate of the swamps, scientists even managed to find out what he ate before he was killed, breaking his skull and cutting his throat. Apparently a young man from a wealthy family was sacrificed during a religious ritual. You can look at the body of a person who suffered from druidic beliefs in room number 50.

Souvenir shops of the British Museum

Souvenir products in England are generally doing well. You can find a product for every taste and budget: from beautiful little things to useful and functional things, not only pleasing to the eye, but also of practical importance. Souvenir products of the British Museum are no exception. Almost certainly, having looked after something in the halls of the museum, you will be able to find for yourself a product with the image of this exhibit.

Gift shops are located on level zero: two in the Grand Courtyard, one at the west stairs near the alternative entrance from Montague Place, and another to the right of the main entrance.

In the Great Court, they sell mainly small souvenirs, and in two other shops you can find books and even sculptures. Basically, the souvenir part of the collection consists of replicas from various attractions of the museum and jewelry “based on” the exhibits. You can find yourself something to remember, even if you are limited in funds. But lovers of exclusive souvenirs have something to see. The price difference is big:

• A pretty backpack adorned with Rosetta Stone inscriptions will set you back €17.33 (£14.99).
• A nail file with the same hieroglyphic inscriptions will cost €2.33 (£1.99).
• The Sutton Hoo Viking helmet pommel cufflinks are available for €13.87 (£11.99).
• An exclusive silver bracelet designed by jeweler Nicky Butler inspired by Celtic jewelry is on sale for €190.8 (£165).
• A fridge magnet with a picture of the British Museum costs €4.05 (£3.50) on average.

Where to eat at the British Museum

If you get hungry (and you will certainly get hungry, you can guarantee it), you can have a bite to eat in the cafes located right in this city of antiquities and treasures.

Court Café has two branches - east and west. Both are in a large courtyard. The menu offers mainly appetizers, salads and desserts. Prices average €11.56–13.88 (£10–12) per dish. The Gallery Café is located on the lower floor. The prices there are about the same, the assortment is a little richer: there are, for example, soups and pastas. Under the mesh dome, on the roof of the reading room, there is the Great Court Restaurant. They already serve haute cuisine. Tables are recommended to be booked in advance.

Finally

When you leave the British Museum, don't be stingy and put a pound or two in the special donation box. Indeed, thanks to this money, millions of people from all over the world can enjoy the contemplation of the world heritage of mankind for free.

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The institution is rightfully considered one of the largest in the world and, of course, is of great importance not only for English, but also for world history and culture. This is an amazing part of London, which has become a favorite place for tourists and all connoisseurs of antiquity, along with many other attractions of the English capital. The halls of the museum contain samples of Greek, Oriental, Egyptian history, as well as other ancient cultures. The debate about whether the British have the right to possess artifacts from other countries of the world does not subside to this day. The demands of Greece and Egypt are regularly heard to return the historical values ​​once taken out by the British Empire from their territories to their homeland.

Construction work on the construction of the current building of the museum, carried out for more than 20 years, was completed in 1847. The project belonged to Robert Smerk, who decided to create a new building in the style of classicism. Until 1823, that is, before the construction of the new museum building began, the institution was located in Bloomsbury, and the aristocratic structure of Montague House served as its home. Until 1759, visiting the British Museum was closed to the general public.

Initially, the museum was famous for its library, which for a long time was considered the richest in all of England. In fairness, we note that even now it is of no less interest and represents one of the largest library collections. Its collection includes both a part of the cultural heritage of ancient civilizations and samples of later eras. In the 19th century, a whole building in the form of a rotunda was allocated for the reading room. Such prominent thinkers as Karl Marx and Lenin used to be frequent visitors to the hall, working here on their famous works.

The richest and most diverse collections collected over the long period of the museum's existence are divided into departments. So, for example, cash coins and medals of various countries and times can be seen in the numismatics department. It is interesting that several departments, which have a huge number of interesting exhibits in their collections, were separated from the British Museum during the reign of Queen Victoria and received their own - the Natural History Museum. It was located in 1845 in South Kensington.

Among the gems of the British Museum collection, perhaps worth mentioning are mummies and sarcophagi, a clay tablet describing the global flood, a Turkic divination book dating presumably from the ninth century, and a stone called Rosetta. How exactly he got into the museum is still under the cover of mystery, but these circumstances are considered very dark. This, of course, envelops it with an atmosphere of mystery and gives it a special touch.

The museum was created on the initiative of Sir Hans Sloan (1660-1753), a well-known physician, naturalist and collector. He wished that after his death, the collection, which includes more than 71 thousand artifacts, a library and a herbarium, remained intact. He bequeathed it to the people, but on the condition that King George II pay 20 thousand pounds sterling to his heirs. Otherwise, the collection would have been offered to educational centers abroad. A large and influential group of trustees were in charge of managing his property.
The King was not much interested in this offer, but the British Parliament, mainly due to the efforts of the Speaker Arthur Onslow, decided to accept such an exceptional gift. Soon an Act of Parliament was passed that established the British Museum. On June 7, 1753, the law was sanctioned by the king.
In addition to the collection of Sir Sloan, two more private collections became the basis for the formation of the primary funds of the museum: a huge collection of manuscripts of the politician and antiquarian Sir Robert Cotton (1571-1631), as well as a collection of manuscripts and books of the statesman Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford (1661-1724). In 1757, King George II donated the so-called museum to the museum. "Old Royal Library", collected by the British monarchs.
The Board of Trustees purchased a large 17th century mansion in Bloomsbury. for 20 thousand pounds sterling, owned by the Montagu family. Interestingly, the Council refused to buy the Duke of Buckingham's mansion due to the high cost and inconvenient location. Two years later, King George III paid 21 thousand pounds sterling for the mansion, and set up his residence there. Now this building is called Buckingham Palace.
January 15, 1759 The British Museum was first opened to the public. Since then, the museum has been closed only during the First and Second World Wars, when its funds were almost completely evacuated. Museum attendance has grown from 5 thousand people a year to 5 million people.
The predominance of books and manuscripts in the museum's funds became less noticeable after the acquisition of a collection of Greek and Roman vases from Sir William Hamilton (1730-1803), the British ambassador in Naples, in 1772. 1805). After the Egyptian campaign, the museum's collection was replenished with ancient Egyptian relics. In 1802, King George III presented the museum with the famous Rosetta Stone, the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics. The museum's funds were regularly replenished thanks to donations from famous collectors and the purchase of new exhibits.
The rapid replenishment of the museum's collection led to the fact that very soon the Montagu House building became very cramped. After King George IV handed over to the museum the library of his father (the so-called Royal Library) in 1823, it was decided to expand the premises of the museum. The architect Sir Robert Smerk (1781-1867) designed the new quadrangular building in the neoclassical style, the first stage of construction was completed in 1852. His brother Sidney Smerk (1798-1877) built the Round Reading Room in the courtyard.
Since 1840 "" Mr. museum staff take part in archaeological excavations around the world.
Due to the constant lack of space for new exhibits, a building was purchased in South Kensington, where in 1887 four departments of the museum were moved: zoological, botanical, geological and mineralogical. This event was the basis for the establishment of the Museum of Natural History.
In 1973, it was decided to separate the collection of books, manuscripts, scrolls, engravings, drawings, drawings, etc. from the structure of the museum into a separate organization. This institution was called the British Library. The government provided a building in St. Pancras for the library, the move to which was completed by 1997.
Today, more than 50,000 items are exhibited on an area of ​​about 75,000 m2.
Relatively small at the time of its founding, the museum's holdings have since grown to over 13 million items in the British Museum, 70 million items in the Natural History Museum and about 150 million items in the British Library.

The British Museum is the most visited in the United Kingdom. It is one of the top museums in the world. Here exhibits of different nations are kept from the most ancient eras to the present day. The ZagraNitsa portal has collected the most interesting facts about this iconic place and is sharing it with you!

The British Museum is the second most visited art museum in the world after the Louvre.

The museum's collection contains at least 8 million objects and covers two million years of human history.

In 2005, a well-known street artist surreptitiously placed a painting in the British Museum showing a caveman pushing a supermarket cart. Museum staff discovered and removed the canvas only a few days later, citing the fact that it was just a temporary exhibition.

In late 2013 - early 2014, the museum hosted an exhibition of Japanese artistic erotic art. In three months it was visited by almost 88 thousand people. It has become one of the most popular in the history of the British Museum.

The museum's extensive collection includes the Rosetta Stone with texts in ancient Egyptian, statues that adorned the ancient Greek temple of the Parthenon, and several mummified cats from ancient Egypt.

In 2004, a visitor stole earrings and other jewelry dating back to 700 AD from the British Museum by simply carrying them. And in 2002, it is not clear how thieves managed to steal a marble head from the Greek Gallery.

Before the current building of the museum was built, it was planned to be located in the Palace of Westminster, where the British Parliament now meets, and even in Buckingham House, known today as.

For a long time, the main treasury of the museum was its library. In the famous reading room, located in the rotunda building, the greatest minds not only of Great Britain, but of the whole world worked. In 1972, the library's collection became so large that it was decided to separate it from the British Museum and move it to a separate building.