The British Museum was founded in 1753, the first national public museum in the world. Visitor numbers have grown from around 5,000 a year in the eighteenth century to nearly 6 million today.
The Museum houses a vast collection of world art and artefacts and is free to all.
Open every day of the year except 24,25,26 December and 1 January. Hours are 10.00-17.30 (20.30 on Fridays except Good Friday).