Welcome to the British Museum!
Experience cultures across the globe, from the dawn of human history to the present.
Explore the Great Court
Discover two million years of human history and culture.
Free entry – book online!
Open today: 10.00–20.30
Last entry: 20.15
Exhibitions and events
| Event | Date | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaiʻi: a kingdom crossing oceans. | 15 January – 25 May 2026 | Book now |
| Samurai. | 3 February – 4 May 2026 | Book now |
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Walk through two million years of history and culture across more than 50 galleries.
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What's online...
The Tudor Heart appeal
Discover the one-of-a-kind gold pendant associated with Henry VIII on display in Room 2 – and how you can help secure it for the nation.
Learn More
Shark-tooth swords and coconut cuirasses
Explore the incredible armour and weapons of Kiribati islanders, revealing a fascinating story of human creativity and cultural tradition.
Discover
Who were the samurai?
Prepare for our upcoming exhibition by finding out how samurai served as warriors, administrators and artists over their 1,000-year history.
Get ReadyFrom relic to replica
Take a peak inside Waddesdon Manor and explore the story of the Holy Thorn Reliquary, a medieval masterpiece with a 19th-century copy.
Peek Inside
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UK and the world
Research
Driving the care, display and understanding of the collection, find out about projects, studentships and publications.
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Learn about our research departments, outreach, training, study rooms and access to the collection.
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Find out how the Museum shares expertise and the collection across more than 250 UK cultural organisations.
National PartnershipsInternational
Loans, research and touring exhibitions are some of the many ways we build ties internationally. See our current collaborations.
Global Ties
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From the Rosetta Stone to Japanese netsuke, discover a wealth of information about Museum objects in our searchable database.
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