Best Thing about The British Museum
February 8, 2013 by Helen
Filed under Travel destinations
A museum of the world, for the world is how the British Museum in London, England brands itself. So, after literally spending two days exploring parts of this huge treasure-hold, it was a surprise when I realized what (for me) was the best thing about the museum.
After all within these venerable walls you can explore treasures from ancient Rome and Greece, ancient Egypt, Africa, China, Korea, Japan, the Middle East, the Americas, and..oh yes…Europe from 10.000 BC to the present time. Not replicas of artifacts from these places, but the real thing. So, wouldn’t that be the best thing? Not for me.
Artifacts from Mexico
The artifacts are ancient but the displays are modern. None of this dingy, closed-in feeling I had expected. The museum is bright and welcoming. Display cases are uncluttered, well lit and well labelled. Glass cases frequently have glass on all four sides so you can view from all angles. Wide aisles allow easy access for many people at the same time. So wouldn’t this wonderful design, attentive to both the comfort of the patrons and the purpose of the museum, be the best thing? Nope.
The British Museum is a perfect place to begin (or finish) a trip to one of the countries featured there. Years ago when my parents booked a group tour traveling to Greece they had a partial day lay over in London before the tour departed. What to do with that free time? My wise parents trotted off to the British Museum and spent time exploring the Ancient Greece rooms. What an introduction to the land they were about to visit! Surely that must be my best thing about the museum. No, but it is something to consider.
All publicly funded museums in London are free. Yes, free admission. That’s a huge plus! And it certainly allowed me to visit several times, coming and going as I pleased. Even though there is no admission charge I would strongly encourage you to contribute generously when you see the Donation boxes discreetly positioned throughout the museum. Think of what treasures and information you have access to here! But even that did not make it to the top of my best list.
No, for me, the BEST thing about the British Museum are the hands on desks. You know how one is not allowed to touch things in most museums (and understandably so). But sometimes being able to touch adds immensely to your understanding of the artifact…it’s almost a magical connection. At the hands on desks you can touch and hold real artifacts. Daily between 11:00 and 16:00 in select rooms volunteers manning these desks bring out trays containing up to eight small artifacts. I never did figure out if there was a regular schedule for these sessions, as the tray just seemed to “appear” from time to time. I eagerly headed to the desks whenever I saw them manned. The artifacts at a particular desk are not always the same but even if one or two of them are repeats the experience is always different as there is a new volunteer talking about them and there are new patrons asking different questions each time.
Explore artifacts with all your senses
It’s a difficult call, but for me the hands on desks are the best things about the British Museum.
Just one person’s opinion.
How to get to the British Museum
- Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
- Tube Station Holborn or Russell Square (signage on the tubes is excellent)
- Choose a hotel close to the museum and walk there. (I felt very safe walking on my own.)
Traveling to London, Enlgand
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Happy travels!
