The British Museum is one of the world’s greatest repositories of human history and culture, housing over eight million works spanning two million years of civilization. From the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles to Egyptian mummies and Assyrian lion hunt reliefs, every gallery offers a journey through a different era and corner of the globe. The neoclassical Great Court, with its spectacular glass roof designed by Norman Foster, is an architectural marvel in its own right.

Founded in 1753, the museum was the first national public museum in the world and remains free to enter, making it one of London’s most accessible cultural treasures. Temporary exhibitions dive deep into specific topics and do require a ticket, but the permanent collection alone could fill days of exploration.

Pro tip: Head straight to Room 4 (Egyptian Sculpture) when the doors open, then work your way to the less-visited galleries on the upper floors — the Enlightenment Gallery and the clocks and watches collection are often nearly empty.