My 20-yr-old daughter and I have three days in London and initially The British Museum didn’t make the cut. However, the timing of the Bayeux Tapestry is coinciding with our visit and I booked two tickets. While I know there is plenty to see at the museum, we really only have time to visit the Tapestry and a few highlights. We aren’t looking to spend more than 2 to 2.5 hours max. I’ll probably just put together my own “tour.” However, I am open to suggestions on the best way to maximize our time - a guided tour?
Posted by
Virginia
830 posts
Get a map and scout out most efficient route to Rosetta Stone (Egypt), Assyrian palace reliefs, Parthenon marbles (Greece), Standard of Ur (Mesopotamia), and Mildenhall treasure and Portland vase (Roman Britain) to see the most world famous things. Sutton Hoo treasures and Lewis chessmen would be on this list but I understand they are being lent to France in exchange for Bayeux Tapestry.
Posted by
Chicago
1421 posts
The museum is large and it is not difficult (from personal experience) to get turned around,
but keep a map and your wits handy and you should be able to see everything Slate has
noted. If I recall correctly, the mummies, which Slate did not mention, are on the second
floor?
Posted by
Land of La
10242 posts
Check the London Walks site’s Friday night
indoor tour coincides with your travel dates.
Might also find other walks that might interest you.
Great city. Enjoy it!
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
712 posts
The museum has various tours they offer on their website. For example “Around the world in 90 minutes tour” which covers a range of objects or other more specialized tours. I did once the Egyptian tour and another time the Roman Britain tour. I think they call these now “eye-opener tours”
Posted by
3537 posts
We took the London walks British museum tour. I don’t know if you can get it to sync with your other reservation, but I thought it was very worthwhile. We spent about 2.5 hours altogether in the museum (including some wandering around after).
It would save you having to plot it all out and the information given enriches your experience.
Posted by
Pennsylvania
450 posts
We used the Rick Steves audioguide for the British Museum that’s on his Audio App.
It takes you some highlights, it’s free, and without it (or some other guidance) I think we would have been overwhelmed.