Their Egyptian exhibits are among the best in the world, and the Greek and Asian rooms are fabulous as well. Actually, there isn’t really anything to complain about, unless you just don’t like museums! Some highlights from my recent visits are Cleopatra’s mummy, the Portland Vase, the Chessman pieces, and of course, you can’t leave out the Rosetta Stone. It’s worthwhile to visit their website before you go at The British Museum, where you can read about the permanent exhibits, find out what’s coming, and print out floor maps to help plan your time.

The main reason people go in the masses to the British Museum is to see the Rosetta Stone, the beautiful mummy cases, and basically the most important part of the Parthenon, The whole top of the Parthenon was a wonderful carved story that Lord Elgin basically stole from the Acropolis when he discovered it. I went to Athens to see the acropolis, and I must admit, it was anti-climatic seeing that the better part of the Parthenon was in the British Museum in London, but that's besides the point.

The crowds in these most popular parts of the museum, especially around the Rosetta Stone, never go away, so you just have to bear the hoards of students and tour groups and move on. I also enjoyed The King’s Library, as it has the most fascinating collection of first-edition books and stuffed extinct birds, reptiles, and even fish. There are also many interesting inventions, including different timepieces, a variety of measuring instruments, and much more.

Please don't miss the other parts of the museum. They have a wonderful display of Korean artifacts, things that you cannot find at any museum in America. They also follow the trail of the Silk Road trade industry, which is really quite fascinating. I really encourage you to take the British Museum in snippets. If you're in London for a week, maybe you could visit the museum in 2-hour increments two or three times that week. If you try it in one day, it could be quite overwhelming because there's such a great deal to see.

And after you've seen enough ceramic vases and ancient coins to last you a lifetime, go out and buy those famous sausages topped with grilled onions from the illegal vendors outside of the museum gates, have a seat on the steps of the museum, and take it all in. You really won't be disappointed.

Don't try to narrow it down to highlights, either. You may walk through the main entrance saying "First the Rosetta Stone, then the Elgin Marbles, then...," but I guarantee that you'll see the Easter Island statues in the lobby and stop for those. Then on your way toward the Elgin Marbles, you'll stop and meander through another exhibit, and another. By all means, walk in with a general plan of things you MUST see, but the best idea is just to wander and get overwhelmed by the things you had no idea were there.

That said! The bowling-over starts on the outside. The building itself is impressive enough, especially with the striking half-face statues in front. Now go ahead, walk through the doors,and, WHAM, you're in the Great Court, the largest, covered public square in Europe. Look up at the ceiling - it's striking.

From here, go where you will, but some of my personal favorites:
The Elgin Marbles - these make the highlights lists, sure, but to see them in person is really something. These are bits of the Parthenon, from the frieze. Take some time to examine the detailing - it's breathtaking. And once you're done seeing the Marbles, learn a bit about the controversy surrounding them and their place in the museum instead of Greece, a modern-day colonialist conflict.

The Egyptian Collection - this entire section is engrossing. It doesn't matter if you don't know anything about Egyptian history, because this exhibition will teach you what you need to know. This is the history of one of the most powerful civilizations ever to grace the face of the earth, laid out in a museum wing. Oddly, the Rosetta Stone, for all of its historical significance, doesn't have a whole lot of impact in person - I walked past it three times before I realized what it was, and I was LOOKING for it.

The British Isles, Viking, and Celtic Exhbits - I ended up spending more time in this area the second day than the first. This is Stone- and Bronze-Age history laid right out for you, in artifact after artifact. Especially interesting, I thought, was a large, tiled panel featuring an intricate design (see photo).

All in all, the British Museum makes a "Brief History of Time" under one roof, an experience to remember. Wander through slowly, take your time, and you won't regret it.

There is, though, something fascinating about death, be it in the form of mummies or the Lindow man. These exhibits seem to capture the fascination of all who visited the museum.

I also found the North American gallery interesting. Having grown up on a diet of Westerns where the Indians were always bad, it was interesting to see the cultural relics that had been collected over the years. It showed a different perspective of the North American Indians.