The British Museum

Founded in 1753, the British Museum is Britain's most-visited attraction and, for our money, the best free thing to do in London. Free general admission covers a collection so broad it is genuinely overwhelming: the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon (Elgin) sculptures, Egyptian mummies, Assyrian reliefs and the Sutton Hoo treasures among them. The Great Court, Europe's largest covered public square, is a spectacle in itself. A free timed ticket booked in advance is strongly recommended at weekends and during school holidays, though you can often walk in on quieter weekday mornings; late Friday openings run to 20:30 (last slot 19:00). Blockbuster exhibitions are ticketed and paid — the Bayeux Tapestry loan, on show from 10 September 2026 to July 2027, is a separate paid ticket that sells out well ahead.