Throughout the Golden Years of the British Empire, the museum collection increased considerably in size. Today the total amount of exhibits held here is nearing seven million. The displays are shown in 94 galleries, from the smallest to largest pieces, which now span over two million years of history and culture. It is difficult to view everything the museum has to offer in one single visit, so it is advised you plan your visit.

The British Museum features top of the range collections of both ancient and modern antiquities from places such as Egypt, Western Asia, Greece, and the Roman Empire as well as Prehistoric and Romano-British, Medieval, Renaissance, Modern and Oriental collections. Coins, medals and banknotes are on show, some of the collection is from around seven BC, mixed with modern currency. The British Museum has the world’s largest collection of Egyptian artifacts outside of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The main strengths of the fantastic Egyptian section includes a caryatid from the Erechtheum, the famous 2,200 year old large granite slab called the Rosetta Stone, which helped to decode the hieroglyphic script and a fascinating collection of Egyptian mummies. The Rosetta Stone is 114cm high, 72cm wide, and weighs 760kg. It has been at the centre of the Egyptian collection, since its discovery in 1802.

Amongst the collection of Greek artifacts is the controversial Elgin Marbles or otherwise known as the Parthenon Marbles. These marble tableaus are a collection of sculptures that initially decorated the Parthenon and other buildings on the Acropolis of Athens. They around 247 feet long and depict famous Greek battles and Gods. It has been said these where the marbles which the Earl of Elgin bought, or as some maintain “stole” in 1806. The British parliament had originally agreed to return the marbles in 1816, to complete the piece but decided against this because Egyptian stone robbers had already destroyed much of the original marble.

In addition to the collections of archaeology and ethnography, the museum has a fine collection of prints and drawings, highlighted by Rembrandt's image of a 'Woman Siting in a Chair.' The British Museum also holds a unique collection of the original treasure from the Sutton Hoo Ship Burial, which includes ivories and innumerable clocks and watches. The collection is ranked third largest in the world.PAGE_BREAK The museum’s Department of Africa, Oceania and America now hold over 350,000 artifacts, sculptures, drawings and equipment. The majority of the collection is contemporary, archaeological and historical. This section is more up to date than others, most of the items being received during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Other items of interest are the Easter Island Statue, the cartoon collections by Lewis Chessmen and Michelangelo. An unforgettable part of the visit is a walk around the building’s amazing inner courtyard. Found in the centre of the museum there is the majestic Round Reading Room, where historical icons like Mahatma Ghandi, George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, Arthur Conan Doyle, Rudyard Kipling, T.S. Elliot, W.B. Yeats, Mark Twain, Virginia Woolf, V.I. Lenin and Karl Marx once busied themselves with books. The museum offers a wide amount of events and special exhibits all year long, and of course entry is free.