MuseumSince 1753

The British Museum

Created by Act of Parliament in 1753 as the world’s first free, national, public museum, on Great Russell Street in Bloomsbury, with a collection of around eight million objects.

The story →Visit the museum.

The Great Court, with its glass roof and the Reading Room

1753Created by Act of Parliament

8 millionObjects, around

1759First opened to the public

FreeEntry to the permanent collection

The Great Court, with its glass roof and the Reading Room

The story

A museum for everyone.

The British Museum was created by Act of Parliament in 1753 as the world’s first free, national, public museum. Its founding collection was that of the physician and naturalist Sir Hans Sloane, bought for the nation.

It first opened to the public in 1759 in Montagu House, a 17th century mansion on the present site. The Greek Revival building that stands today was designed by Sir Robert Smirke and completed in 1852.

“The first national public museum of the world.”The British Museum

The Queen Elizabeth II Great Court, designed by Foster and Partners, opened in 2000, a covered public square roofed with glass and steel around the former Reading Room. The collection holds around eight million objects, among them the Rosetta Stone, presented by George III in 1802, and entry to the permanent collection is free.

The museum

The world under one roof.

A collection, a building and a court of glass.

Sir Hans Sloane

The founding collection, bought for the nation.

Greek Revival

The Great Court

Glass and steel, around the Reading Room.

Free entry

The permanent collection, open to all.

The collection

Stone, bronze and gold.

From the Rosetta Stone to the Lewis Chessmen.

The British Museum, The museum building from the air — The museum building from the air

The British Museum, The Rosetta Stone — The Rosetta Stone

The British Museum, The Sutton Hoo helmet — The Sutton Hoo helmet

The British Museum, The Lewis Chessmen — The Lewis Chessmen

The British Museum, The Royal Game of Ur — The Royal Game of Ur

The British Museum, Brass head with a beaded crown and plume, Ife, Nigeria — Brass head with a beaded crown and plume, Ife, Nigeria

The British Museum, Black figured amphora signed by Exekias — Black figured amphora signed by Exekias

The British Museum, The Lycurgus Cup — The Lycurgus Cup

The British Museum, Double headed serpent mosaic — Double headed serpent mosaic

The British Museum, Counting geese, from the tomb chapel of Nebamun — Counting geese, from the tomb chapel of Nebamun

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History

From Montagu House to the Great Court.

Four moments in the museum’s story.

1753

An Act of Parliament

The museum is created, on Sir Hans Sloane’s collection.

1759

Montagu House

The museum first opens to the public.

1852

Sir Robert Smirke

The Greek Revival building is completed.

2000

The Great Court

The address

Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury

The world’s first free, national, public museum, on the same Bloomsbury site since it first opened in 1759.

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