British Museum Questions

Favorite sections: Rosetta Stone, Assyrian Lion statues, Egyptian area, Elgin Marbles

I would not plan to spend my time inside a museum on arrival day. Staying outdoors (one hopes in the sun) helps your body become aware of what time it is and should speed your recovery from jetlag. (That said, I admit I tend to crash indoors, myself; I just wouldn't go to an indoor attraction if I could remain vertical.)

The British Museum is free/donation requested. I think it is always seriously busy (crowded). That doesn't necessarily mean there will be a long line to get in. No one is buying tickets; they're just putting bags through an X-ray device etc.

My LondonWalks tour guide said the museum is busiest on rainy days, and the Egyptian section is the most crowded (I guess all the time). The museum has both the real Rosetta Stone and a copy, so you have two shots at seeing what it looks like. I think you'll find the second floor less mobbed than the first; that's pretty typical in museums, in my experience. You can find a floor plan on the museum's website and plan some alternative options ahead of time.

In the past I would have suggested you just plan to do a LondonWalks walking tour (or two) on arrival day. You used to just show up at the designated Underground Station, pay your fee and go--no planning required. It was great, because you could take a look at the weather before making a decision. Since the pandemic, the company has been requiring reservations. I hope that requirement will disappear fairly soon, but at this moment it is still in place. (And the British Museum tour isn't being offered at this time.) They are limiting the number of people on each tour and cancelling tours that don't have enough sign-ups, so I don't know whether you'd be able to sign up for an arrival-day tour after you land in London, can check out the real-world weather and know what sort of physical and mental condition you're in. You could email the company and ask about that. The LondonWalks tours are really good, and they'll keep you moving around outdoors.

The walk fee is 15 GBP per adult, so I guess it's not all that risky to make a reservation a few days ahead of time.

Our approach is somewhat different. We would not book any inside activities on our arrival or any sit down activity like a bus or boat tour. I would find a couple of walking tours that keep you outside, in the sun, and active. We would also plan a two hour nap (1-2, 2-4) in the afternoon. We have given up on the sometimes standard advice to stay awake till you drop. For us a 90 minutes till 2 hour nap is recharges the batteries to get through a normal evening dinner and reasonable bedtime.

PS -- Posting same time as Acraven -- good advice.

Favorite section: The room containing the Lewis Chessmen (Room 40 on the Upper floor) and the room next to it containing the Sutton Hoo collection. Amazing helmet!

https://www.britishmuseum.org/visit/museum-map

No suggestion as to timing as I've not been since the pandemic. Previously it would not have been an issue as there were no timed entries and the museum was free (donation requested). I am looking at the booking page for tomorrow and see time slots open all day long. That is also true for the 24th and 31th if those are your days. I'd keep an eye on availability on the calendar but at present it doesn't look like a huge issue to walk up.

https://tickets.britishmuseum.org/ui/day/?eventconfig=407&_gl=1*1wdlnh8*_ga*OTk1MTQ1NjE4LjE2NDY4NTAzNjc.*_ga_08TLB9R8X1*MTY0Njg1MDM2OS4xLjEuMTY0Njg1MDU3MS4w

I also don't suggest 4-5 hours in a museum on arrival day. I usually do better with jet lag if I can get some sun in my face. I love museums but I've found I burn out after 3 hours or so and that is touring on my own. You might also decide to head for one of the big parks, depending on where your hotel is located. Regents Park, Green Park or Hyde Park may be within reach but there are lots of smaller parks dotted around. I understand not wanting to be too far away from your hotel as well.

If you decide you want to tackle a smaller venue, the British Library is not too far away from the British Museum. The collection on view there is much smaller but quite an interesting variety.

As others have said, inside on an arrival day from an overnight flight is not good idea. Get out and walk. Walk to Piccadilly. Walk to wherever.

And remember, if you do get tired, there is an alternative to walking back to the hotel if you are more than a few blocks away. Its called a taxi.

Might I offer an alternative

As I read your post you are arriving at 7am but don’t say from where. If from the states there will be the inevitable jet lag so IMHO best to stay outside to let your bodies and state of mind adapt to the hustle and bustle of London.

The pandemic has impacted travel. No one can predict now that Covid restrictions have eased, how crowds will be anywhere. March isn’t a huge tourist month in London BUT it’s London….a popular tourist city any time of the year.

You can gamble. Your choice. Personally with 4 people I’d take a poll after you’ve all unpacked. Everyone energized?

If so you’ll all need Oyster cards ( or contactless CC ) so head to Russell Square Underground. Get your Oyster Cards ( each of you will need one. Put 10 £ on each) Look at the Tube Map on the wall. You’ll want the dark blue Piccadilly Line to Kings Cross St Pancras. Mind the Gap, board the train and take it one stop. Exit and follow signage that says Pancras Road, Regents Canal, Busses.

Once outside, take a moment to orient yourselves Using Pancras Road and keeping St Pancras terminal on your left follow Pancras Road to the Regents Canal. Basically head towards the cylindrical gas towers ( now condos). As you come to the green area you’ll be at the Camley Street Park. At those gas tower condos head to Coal Drop Yards. This area used to be stables and a rather unsavory spot of town . Enjoy the conversion and head to Dishoom at adjacent Granary Square. Good food in a wonderful setting. It will be crowded. Popular spot.

Lastly, if all that is too much then pop into St Pancras Renaisannce hotel and head to the Booking Office for a spot of tea, a meal or a cocktail. Place is gorgeous!

EDIT: Reading now you are staying at The Montague.
Definitely walk to Granary Square. If you need coffee enjoy the Russell Square Cabman’s Shelter. Fingers crossed it survived the lockdown and remains in business. Brilliant conversion!!!

7AM arrival is rough. I know people say to stay awake and walk around, but when we have been so tired to the point of not being able to think straight (making us more vulnerable) we have taken a quick nap (We are west coast) and then gotten outside to explore our neighborhood, get some groceries, a bite to eat, and in bed at a normal time and have never had jet lag at our destination. Things take a lot longer than you would think!
I agree with others to look at the London Walks schedule and pick one that interest you as a Plan A, since there is no pre-payment, you just show up and we always pay with cash but it looks like they take cards, nothing lost if it just does not work out.

Since you are arriving so early, I also vote for a nap after eating. Set an alarm. Then go our and walk. Can I ask which hotel you are staying at. Our cancelled trip was for the Hilton near the Museum. We wondered whether that was too far from other sights. Maybe after you arrive home you could do a quick trip report. Thank you.

Sorry I guess I should have prefaced this by saying I used to travel 200k per year on business plus additional for vacations. I have had to land after overseas flights (some 10-15 hours) and go straight to 6-8 hours of business meetings so for me being inside at a museum, especially after shower/change and walk for breakfast is no problem. For some of my family it might but the 40 something’s get in the day before and the 20 somethings arrive with me. However this is why I wanted to do something near hotel in case someone needs to bail. We are staying at Montague so literally across the street.

Sounds encouraging to be able to walk up and in. Appreciate also the tips on sections. Any additional thoughts on walking up or sections that you like, please send along. Much appreciated.

The podcast series, A History of the World in 100 Objects is excellent and a great way to experience the museum. You don't have to hit all of them the first day. ;) But I'm also in the walk-around-outside camp, so what do I know.

As an aside, we’re all different. Never had trouble on day 1. Jet lag always hits me day/night 3. Never fail.

Anyway thanks for the tips! They have a map online so will try to plot based on some of the suggestions here and let my family know of your ideas. For a family trip I like museums because you can all spit up and see what you want and then rendezvous later.

I know it wasn't your original question, and you sound like a seasoned traveler. But make sure your hotel knows you won't arrive until the next morning. Unless they see you as a no show by late evening and give your room away to someone else.

All helpful. Anyone eaten at the Museum itself? Lunch or snack? All those years of business travel was easier for me to keep going as long as I kept eating. Lol.

Is seeing the Rosetta Stone like the Mona Lisa at the Louvre? (Crowded, ok but tons more other cool stuff to see)

The museum displays both the stone itself and a replica--I think on two different floors. I can't for the life of me remember which was mobbed, but I assume it was the real one. It's small enough that it's not easy to see anything if it's surrounded. Some of the other Egyptian artifacts are larger or mounted higher, so they are more visually accessible. Ask at the information desk about the location of both versions. And definitely pick up a floor plan or download one to your phone.

The best place to see the writing on the Rosetta Stone is in Figeac, France, the home town of Jean-Francois Champollion, who decoded it. There's a small square in Figeac with an enlarged version of the Stone mounted in the pavement: https://greekreporter.com/2021/09/22/rosetta-stone-discovery-shed-light-on-ptolemaic-dynasty/. It was really cool to stumble upon it, not knowing it existed.

I hope I'm wrong, but with the dumbing down of at least U.S. schools, I doubt most US tourists even recognize the significance of the Rosetta Stone, so maybe won't have crowds like the Mona Lisa.

Well I live in California. 😎

Speaking of dumb...

I've been to at least two museums in France that had Egyptian artfifacts labeled as belonging to dynasties with no indication of the span of years covered by said dynasties. I take it that the French are far better educated in such matters than I am.

California 6th graders learn about the Rosetta Stone - or at least it was part of the curriculum when I taught 6th grade social studies.

@cchapin100

We California natives are not dumb.

CAL, Stanford, USC, UCLA, UC Davis. Cal Poly. State College System.

We are blessed with mountains, beaches, deserts, the Central Valley. Giant Sequoias, Joshua Trees. Artichokes, grapes, almonds, avocados and cannabis. Good weather.

San Francisco, Hollywood, San Diego, Monterey, Half Moon Bay, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, Jackson,
Lake Tahoe Yosemite. Alabama Hills.
Mt Shasta and the original Mouse House a.k.a. Disneyland are just a few spots of interest

Should I mention Silicon Valley or as I knew it when growing up there, The Valley of The Hearts Delight. All agricultural….now the only fruit trees might be in someone’s yard.

Woz and Steve and Packard and Scully…..changed the world.

This is the state you live in. Appreciate it.

I wouldn’t live anywhere else. Left Seattle after 25 years and now SoCal and never looked back. 5th largest economy in the world. Diversity in all ways including geographically.

Anyway folks thanks for the tips.