The British Museum in 2 hours: the essential route
Quick answer
In 2 hours you can see the British Museum's essentials in this order: Rosetta Stone (room 4), Parthenon sculptures (room 18), Assyrian lion hunt (room 10), Egyptian mummies (rooms 62–63), Sutton Hoo (room 41) and the Lewis Chessmen (room 40), with about 10 minutes to spare.
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The route: 8 stops in 2 hours
Room numbers reflect the current layout; galleries can close or be rearranged, so confirm on the floor plan at the entrance. Timings are approximate and include walking.
- 1
0:00 · Room 4 · ground floor
The Rosetta Stone
Start with the museum's most visited object. This 196 BC stele repeats the same decree in hieroglyphic, demotic and Greek, and allowed Champollion to decipher Egyptian writing in 1822.
- 2
0:15 · Rooms 4–10 · ground floor
Monumental Egyptian and Assyrian sculpture
Walk among Egyptian colossi and Assyrian winged bulls. Spend a few minutes on King Ashurbanipal's lion-hunt reliefs (room 10), narrative art of extraordinary power.
- 3
0:35 · Room 17
The Nereid Monument
A tomb-temple from Lycia (modern Turkey), rebuilt in the museum. A good appetiser before the Parthenon.
- 4
0:45 · Room 18 · ground floor
The Parthenon sculptures
Friezes and pediments from Athena's temple on the Acropolis, 5th century BC. Their ownership is debated; the AnyArt app tells their story when you point the camera at them.
- 5
1:05 · Rooms 62–63 · upper floor
Egyptian mummies
Head upstairs. This is the busiest gallery: human and animal mummies, painted coffins and funerary objects three thousand years old.
- 6
1:30 · Room 41 · upper floor
Sutton Hoo
The treasure of a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon ship burial, including its famous helmet, found in Suffolk in 1939.
- 7
1:40 · Room 40 · upper floor
The Lewis Chessmen
12th-century walrus-ivory pieces found on a Scottish island. Kids and Harry Potter fans spot them instantly.
- 8
1:50 · Great Court
Finish in the Great Court
End in the covered atrium designed by Norman Foster, a good place to sit and flip through the plan for a future visit.
Tips to make the most of it
- Arrive at 10am: the Parthenon and mummy rooms fill up early.
- If you only have 1 hour, do the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon and mummies.
- On Friday evenings, with opening until 8.30pm, there are fewer tour groups.
- With AnyArt you can identify any object not on this list and hear its story instantly.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see the British Museum in 2 hours?
Yes, if you focus on the big icons. This route covers the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon, mummies, Sutton Hoo and the Lewis Chessmen.
What about 1 hour?
Prioritise the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and the Egyptian mummies.
Which entrance should I use?
The main entrance is on Great Russell Street. Check the official website in case other entrances are in use.
Is Friday evening worth it?
Yes: the museum is open until 8.30pm and is usually less crowded. Book a timed slot.