British Museum March 25, 2008
Posted by hiddennotespresents in Uncategorized.comments closed
Location: Great Russell St., Bloomsbury. Rear entrance on Montague St. Contact: 7323 8000; www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk. Tube: Tottenham Court Rd., Russell Sq., or Holborn. Audioguides: £2.50. TOURS: Start at Great Court info desk; free. Highlights Tour (90min.): M-Sa 10:30am and 1pm; Su 11am, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 4pm. Advanced booking recommended. £7, concs. £4. Focus tour: (60min.): M-W and Sa 3:15pm; Th-F 3:15, 5:30, and 7pm; Su 4:30pm. £5, concs £3. Open: Great Court M 9am-6pm, Tu-W and Su 9am-9pm, Th-Sa 9am-11pm. Galleries Sa-W 10am-5:30pm, Th-F 10am-8:30pm. Admission: Free; £2 suggested donation. Temporary exhibitions around £7, concs. £3.50.
The funny thing about the British Museum is that there’s almost nothing British in it. Founded in 1753 as the personal collection of Sir Hans Sloane, in 1824 work started on the current Neoclassical building, which took another 30 years to construct. With 50,000 items, the magnificent collection is somewhat undermined by a chaotic layout and poor labelling, especially in the less popular galleries, while staff shortages mean that even famous galleries are frequently and randomly closed to the public.
