The British museum is an amazing experience and no matter how many times I visit I cannot help but be impressed, it is without doubt one of the highlights of London. In truth I can’t help but also feel it represents the villainy of a proud nation, exhibiting the wonder plundered from around the world. Not a totally fair comment but I am sure there are many Greeks amongst others who would agree. Particularly poignant I remember a guy on Easter Island, a fascinating place governed by Chile, getting worked up as he told me how the British came and dragged of a famous moai threatening to shoot anyone who came near. (The maoi are the iconic stone heads and bodies, that were found all over the island). Please do note that I do not know if this was true but this was what the local told me, the British museums own records indicate that the islanders helped to move the 4 ton statue on to the boat.

All said and should you be able to look over that minor issue and ignore the arguments for returning or keeping may of the artifacts, then you cannot help but be impressed by one of the best museums in the world. The first impression is wow as you approach this gigantic Greco-Victorian building with its stunning columns and make your way up the steps. Inside you will find the most amazing artifacts from the Elgin marbles (part of the frieze taken from the Parthenon in Greece), to the Rosetta stone (this stone allowed a French Egyptologist to begin to decipher the Egypt’s ancient form of writing, hieroglyphics) and the earlier mentioned moai from Easter island, the only one with a smaller figure on it’s back although this may have been added later. The British museum offers all and more with a collection of artifacts from every age, upstairs are the ever popular mummies, the Sutton Hoo treasure which is a collection of Anglo-Saxon goods including a magnificent helmet, taken from two cemeteries. In the basement we find a fantastic collection of Greek and Roman pottery and vases from all over the Greco-Roman world. In fact just about every culture has some kind of representation here and it can be an eye-opener as to the riches that each culture has to offer.

The museum also has regular exhibitions, the main one at the moment and until April is on China and shows the largest number of terracotta warriors displayed outside China. To see the terracotta army you will need to buy a ticket although the museum itself is free, there are only 500 issued every day, they cost 12 GBP.

If you find yourself in London, failing to visit this amazing museum would definitely be a mistake and you would definitely miss one of London’s highlights. The museum is open from 10 till 5.30 but opens late on Thursday and Friday. As I said before the museum itself is free but charges may be made if visiting certain exhibitions. To get to the museum is simple as are several underground stations nearby. The easiest are Tottenham Court road (Central & Northern line) and Holborn (Central and Piccadilly line) also offers good access. The museum’s main entrance is on Russell Street. It is also a great idea to get here early as I always seem to run out of time, there really is so much to see.