The British Museum is an elegant, massive home for treasures from around the world. The challenge for the visitor spending a limited time in London is figuring out how to navigate the collections in the British Museum in a reasonable time. Allot at least a morning, knowing you will have to choose a few displays and artifacts and hope for a return trip in the future to see more.
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Want an hour-long overview of famous holdings of the British Museum? Yes, there’s an audio guide for that in many different languages. You can also choose a three-hour tour, a tour geared to children, and many other options. Study the web site before you go so you have a plan of attack before arriving.
Here are some highlights. 
There’s a famous chess set and clocks. 
The museum café has a nice selection of sandwiches and other lunch foods.
In the afternoon on the day of my visit to the British Museum, I took off for St. Paul’s Cathedral, an easy Underground ride away. I ended up climbing the dome (more than 500 steps) and took in the view of London from this well known viewpoint.
That evening, I rode the Underground to the West End and enjoyed Les Mis. The cast and all the musicians were outstanding This is such a moving show.
Dessert across the street from the theater – yes, thank you! 
This turned out to be a comfortable day’s itinerary. While you could spend days in the British Museum, the highlights tour gave me a taste of this fine – and free! – museum.
Practical Information
10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily; various programs may be available at additional times
Check out the vast offerings on the web site before you go to narrow down where you want to head when you get there.
Underground lines:
- Tottenham Court Road (500m)
- Holborn (500m)
- Russell Square (800m)
- Goodge Street (800m)’
Where I stayed in London
I’m a repeat guest at the boutique Lime Tree Hotel in the Belgravia area of London. The hotel, recently remodeled, gives you elegance and comfort in a former town home. And it’s in an upscale neighborhood but offers reasonable rates. You can easily walk to and from busy Victoria Station and also from convenient Sloan Square station. From these underground stations, you can basically get anywhere you want to go. Also, I’ve walked from the hotel to Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Churchill War Rooms.
Add to those plusses a delicious breakfast at the Buttery and a garden out back where you can sit and relax after a hectic day in the city. You are across the street from tempting Peggy Porschen Cakes. For dinner near the Lime Tree, try Sicily Restaurant right around the corner. I’m a repeat customer here, too. The food and atmosphere are perfect.
The Lime Tree Hotel is quite a find!
Check out availability at the Lime Tree Hotel when you’re traveling to London. You will be pleased you did.
26 Comments
We spent a good 5 hours there the day we visited! I just love the glass enclosed rotunda!
Wonderful photos of what was obviously a successful visit. You’ll just have to go back again to see the rest 😉 Dessert after Les Mis looks good!
splendid day in London. accompanied with beautiful photos.
Outstanding museum and I love the dessert!
You chose well at the museum. The chess set is one of my favourites.
Thanks for a lovely post and photos of the British Museum ~ It is rather awesome and free like most museums in London (was there in June 16) ~ thanks,
Wishing you a Happy and Peaceful Week ~ ^_^
Great shots.
Very cool! I love the shadows in the first shot and the half face!
The museum looks great but I never made it there. Too many places, too little time.
The British Museum is a truly great building
Mollyx
I spent days in the British Museum when I lived in London. It’s spectacular and it’s free. I can’t even say how much I love it – there’s always more to see and the tours are really interesting as well. #citytripping
Hello Sharon! My name is Sharon too and I also love to travel and I love photography. I enjoyed this post because I was just at the British Museum last September and I stayed near Russell Square just two blocks away. I have some very similar photos to the ones you posted in this story. In fact, I posted about that chess set on my travel blog http://sharonssojourns.blogspot.com/2016/10/king-queen-bishop-knight.html
I’ve been posting a lot about London recently because of my trip there last fall. I’ve bookmarked your blog so I can follow you regularly. You have posts from a lot of my favorite places!
Some interesting views and shots from round the place, like the ones looking down from St Pauls
Ah, for my next time in London:) Great post, Sharon as always – and thank you much for sharing it with ALL SEASONS!
Love the chess set! Always smile when I see the cover of Miserables. My then 14-15 year old son decided he was going to read that for a book report at school! You know how massive that book is?? He read day and night for a month. Little did we know he would have written his own first book 18 years later:)
Sometimes, I beat myself for not stopping by this museum during my visit to London. I was part of a group so it was difficult to make everybody move in the same direction. Great museums is one of the reasons I want to go back to London. #OurWorldTuesday
I have yet to visit London, and it is definitely on my bucket list. The British Museum reminds of the New York Metropolitan Museum as it is large and so full of exhibits. It is truly best to pick just a few exhibits or floors to see at one time. You highlighted soem wonderful ones!
Wonderful photos of wonderful place! I’ve been there twice or three times including Terracotta Army exhibition. Amazing, amazing place.
What lovely photos of the British Museum. It’s one of our favourite places in London. I love the Egyptian cat and we’re always fascinated by the Rosetta Stone. Like you say, it’s a good idea to allot a few hours and just see a few things at a time. #citytripping
Wonderful photos from the British Museum! It’s my favorite museum in London and always a pleasure to visit. Sounds like it was a great day enjoying what London has to offer. #CityTripping
That was the only museum I visited when I was in London! My son would have loved to see that chess set.
The British Museum was one of our favorites. We took a walking tour of it, with a guide, who really invested in our kids. They had a terrific time there. I wish we could have spent a few days in that museum.
I haven’t been to the British Museum in ages. I must go, it has such a stunning interior. Les Mis is a great musical to see. A delightful day. Thanks for linking to #citytripping
I agree, you definitely need a plan of attack before visiting the museum, I could spend days inside otherwise – it’s great with kids too. And love the photos of those London views too. #citytripping
Looks like a fantastic day! We were only able to spend a couple hours at the British Museum, so did not see everything of course. We did see all the popular items judging by the crowds clustered around everything. Wish I could have a bite of that lovely dessert.
The British Museum is my favorite place in London! Your post makes me miss exploring it; I feel like I could never spend enough time there. Great photos!
Great overview of the British Museum! I like the practical tips about planning ahead and using tours or audio guides—very helpful for first-time visitors trying to navigate such a huge place. London always feels like a perfect mix of history and culture in one day.