Pocket Guide to the British Museum

📍Room 4

Travel back through 3,000 years of Egyptian history and come face-to-face with objects that represent three millennia of pharaonic history. The key highlight in the Egyptian sculpture gallery is the Rosetta Stone that is famous for being the key to deciphering the ancient Egyptian language and hieroglyphic script. Other highlights include the largest Egyptian sculpture in the British Museum that represents one the ‘ruler of rulers’, Ramesses II, and the sarcophagus of Nectanebo II, Egypt's last true pharaoh.

For more information: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/galleries/egyptian-sculpture

📍Rooms 62-63

Mummification is iconic of the Egyptian afterlife. In this gallery, the objects on display are representative of the mummification, magic, and rituals significant in the death and afterlife of the Egyptians. You will get to see mummies, coffins, funerary masks, portraits and other items designed to be buried with the deceased.

For more information: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/galleries/egyptian-death-and-afterlife-mummies

📍Room 24

This gallery explores the different strategies that people adopt to deal with the challenges of life and death. The displays explore different approaches to the challenges we face as human beings, and focuses on how different cultures seek to maintain their wellbeing. One of the key highlights of the gallery is the Hoa Hakananai’a originating from Easter Island. Moai are megalithic statues often placed upon ceremonial platforms, and are said to be the living faces of the ancestors.

For more information: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/galleries/living-and-dying

📍Room 18

The Parthenon was built as a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. The temple was decorated with sculptures representing episodes from Greek mythology, while inside the building stood a colossal image of the goddess Athena, constructed of gold and ivory. Room 18 features sculptures that once decorated the outside of the temple, along with pieces of the architecture.

For more information: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/galleries/greece-parthenon

📍Room 70

The exhibits in Room 70 cover a period of about 1,000 years, illustrating the rise of Rome from a small town to an imperial capital. Objects on display range from stone and metal sculptures to jewellery, silverware, and pottery, reflecting both its vast scale and its diverse geographical, cultural and ethnic nature. Some of the key highlights include the Portland Vase and Warren Cup.

For more information: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/galleries/roman-empire

You can check out the object trails curated by the British Museum to help you plan your route. These object trails are a great starting point for you to plan your own route — or to simply follow the route as listed in these themed trails.

The British Museum has curated a number of self-guided audio tours that can guide you through your visit. Each tour has a theme, so you can pick one that you are most interested in. The themed tours are priced between £1.99–£2.99 each. To use the audio guide, you can download the British Museum Audio app from either the App Store or Google Play.

The museum also offers various guided tours to help you explore the museum. From a quick eye-opener tour to tours that introduces you to the most popular objects on display, you will be able to find a tour that is suitable for you. Tours are limited in capacity, so it is recommended that you book in advance. Find out more about the tours and their schedules to help you plan your visit.

If you are unable to book a tour from the British Museum, you can also look to sites like Viator for guided tours of the British Museum.

The out-of-hours tours organised by the museum allows you to tour and visit the museum before it opens to public, and is great for those who want a more private tour of the museum. There are 5 different tours that you can choose from and you will have to book a slot in advance.