Not Alton Towers or Tower of London – Brits name UK’s best day out | UK | Travel

The British Museum has been hailed by Tripadvisor as one of the UK’s best days out – with visitors praising its world-class exhibits and free entry. According to the website’s “Top Attractions in the UK” rankings, the iconic London museum, just a short walk from Covent Garden and Euston, continues to stand out among thousands of experiences across the country, thanks to consistently glowing visitor reviews and its vast collection spanning human history.

Home to more than two million years of history and eight million objects across 990,000 square feet, the museum features over 60 galleries covering ancient civilisations from Egypt, Greece and Rome to medieval Europe. Among its most famous treasures are the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies – draws that continue to attract millions of visitors each year. Yet, one of its biggest draws is that it will not cost anyone a penny to get in. Unlike many major attractions, general admission to the British Museum is free, making it an ideal day out for families and tourists alike.

In fact, make a weekend of it, as, according to Visit London, you could “spend a week” and still not see everything. Although the British Museum is free to enter, you must book a timed-entry ticket in advance to guarantee admission. Paid-for British Museum tickets are usually also required for key exhibitions.

Tripadvisor rankings are based on millions of traveller reviews, with the British Museum consistently earning high scores – averaging well above four out of five.

One recent visitor wrote on the website: “You could spend the day in here and not see everything. Stunning building, fantastic layout and exhibitions […] Grab a map or take pictures of it as it’s huge, you couldn’t find things without it. The room numbers are clearly displayed so navigation is easy.

“We started at the top and worked down. Was lovely and peaceful. Within an hour it was so busy. Some areas were a little crowded but still enjoyable.”

One of the most famous artefacts in the world and the most visited item at the British Museum is the Rosetta Stone. The stone, once part of a much larger slab called stelae, has a message carved into it in three types of writing which allowed experts to learn how to read hieroglyphs, opening up a trove of knowledge of ancient Egyptian civilisation. The Parthenon Marbles, also called the Elgin Marbles, were removed from the Parthenon in the early 1800s by Lord Elgin and are now displayed in the museum, where their ownership is still disputed.

The museum was established in 1753, largely based on the collection of physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane. When he died, he left more than 70,000 objects – including books, manuscripts and natural specimens – to the nation. Parliament accepted the bequest and created the museum through the British Museum Act 1753, making it the first national public museum in the world. It officially opened to visitors in 1759 at Montagu House in Bloomsbury. From its opening in 1759, admission was free of charge

The British Museum is open daily, from 10am to 5pm. However, some visitors note that it can get extremely busy, especially during peak times and advise arriving early or booking timed entry slots.