British Museum

Lonely Planet review

One of the world's oldest and finest museums started as royal physician Hans Sloane's 'cabinet of curiosities' - which he later bequeathed to the country - and carried on expanding its collection (which now numbers some seven million items) through judicious acquisition and the controversial plundering of empire. It's an exhaustive and exhilarating stampede through world cultures

There are galleries devoted to Egypt, Western Asia, Greece, the Orient, Africa, Italy, the Etruscans, the Romans, prehistoric and Roman Britain and medieval antiquities.

The museum is massive, so make a few focused visits if you have plenty of time, and consider the choice of tours. There are nine free 50-minute eyeOpener tours of individual galleries throughout the day, and 20-minute eyeOpener spotlight talks daily at 13:15 focusing on different themes from the collection. Ninety-minute highlights tours (adult/concession £8 / £5 ) leave at 10:30 , 13:00 and 15:00 daily. If you want to go it alone there is a series of audio tours ( £4 ) available at the information desk, including a family-oriented one narrated by comedian, writer and TV presenter Stephen Fry. One specific to the Parthenon Sculptures (aka the Parthenon Marbles or Elgin Marbles) is available in that gallery. You could also check out Compass, a multimedia public access system with 50 computer terminals that lets you take a virtual tour of the museum, plan your own circuit or get information on specific exhibits.