What a joy to take children to the British Museum. I insisted we start with the Rosetta Stone, the Egyptian Hall full of granite statues, the Assyrian Gates and the Elgin Marbles. After I felt they had seen things they would later be glad they had seen, off they went to see the Egyptian mummies. They were fascinated, as were the adults, with the exhibit.

We got a peek at the Roman Britain section before we had to dash off to see Lion King. We made promises to each other to return another day, but alas, our time in London ran out before we could.

The British Museum is best taken in small increments. There is so much to see, so many interesting things, that it all begins to blur if you try to see it all. I recommend picking a section .. the Greeks, perhaps .. and spending time really absorbing what's there. And then plan your next visit.

Admission is free but please leave a donation in the box at the entrance.

This museum is very, very large and filled with exhibits. Going into each room is like going into another country in a different age. There are extensive collections of Roman and Greek sculpture, ancient art from places like Mesopotamia, and Egypt. There are also non-art things like mummys, ancient tools, and various household goods, some of which are several thousand years old.

Since the museum is so huge, it is probably best to either allow two days if you are a die-hard, or limit yourself to seeing just things you are particularly interested in.

If you are taking the Underground, get off at Russel Square. It is the closest station, no matter what they tell you.

The British Museum is the Smithsonian of the U.K. When first walking into the museum, you know you are in for a treat by the decorative carvings on the roof of the entrance.

The museum is one of the very few freebies in London. Combine that with the unparalleled collection of antiquities and this is a must see. If you have limited time, then I would suggest seeing the Greek/Roman exhibit and the Egyptian exhibit first. Otherwise, if you plan on making this a multiday event, then please take your time and enjoy everything the museum has to offer.

I found the Roman/Greek exhibit to be flat out, awe-inspiring. There are hundreds of marble statues on display, many of which depict politicians and characters from mythology. Hercules, Pericles, Athena, and Pan are a few of the representations you will see. Look for the majority of the busts and statues in the basement of the museum.

Among the other sites in the Roman/Greek exhibit, are the Acropolis, the front entrance to a temple and numerous pieces of jewelry and pottery.

The Egyptian exhibit was what I really came to see. I had always heard the British had an astounding collection and I was not let down. Statues of ancient god-kings, sarcophagi, the Rosetta Stone, stone tablets, jewelry and mummies are many of the pieces that will catch your eye. I found it amazing that the Egyptians could construct many of these items with simple bronze tools, water, natural elements and simple mathematics.

Besides those exhibits, the museum has exhibits dedicated to the Assyrians/Babylonians, Africans, Orientals, Eastern Indians and Middle Easterns. The bulk of the Oriental/Indian exhibit was pottery and earthenware, all of which I skimmed through. The Assyrian/Babylonian exhibit had a nice display of ancient furniture, altars, weaponry and statues.

Anyone visiting London should make this a "must see" when in the city. It’s truly the experience of a lifetime.

This was our first stop after arriving in London. None of our group had ever visited the British Museum before and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Although a bit disappointed that with a name like "The British Museum" there wasn't more British history represented here, the experience was comparable to visiting the Smithsonian. Although there are prize attractions like the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles (sculptures and carvings from the Parthenon), these seemed to be very crowded areas of the museum, and we found that there were other exhibits that were just as interesting. Visit the Egypt wing while you're there. I found this section of the museum to be perhaps the most interesting overall with a wide array of mummies and ancient Egyptian paraphenalia as well as displays detailing important aspects of Egyptian life. The museum is quite large, so allow plenty of time to visit and definitely pay a visit to the new, enclosed courtyard that houses the reading room that just reopened in 2000. You won't find a better price (free) for this many hours of entertainment and education.

The British Museum is a Mecca for historical enthusiasts everywhere. It houses the finest collection of archaeological and historical artefacts in the World, covering cultures from every corner of the Globe.

Despite some of its best known exhibits having been collected from abroad, notably from the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and North Africa, the Museum also displays the finest and most historically important artefacts discovered across Britain, and especially England. One of the major exhibits of the Egyptian department is the basalt slab known as the Rosetta Stone. The Greek treasures include the Elgin Marbles and a caryatid from the Erechtheum.