During our recent summer trip to London in 2024, we, of course, visited The British Museum. This museum is at the top of any London travel list, although coming here is more than just viewing all sorts of antiquities and artifacts from all over the world. While doing so, you are also forced to reckon with the question of why are all of these things here in London? There is a funny meme that asks, “Why are the Pyramids in Egypt? Because they were too heavy to carry to the British Museum!” The problem is that so much of what is in the British Museum probably shouldn’t be there, as it is a result of illegal conquest and brutal colonization.

I was especially astounded by the display of large chunks of the Greek Parthenon within the museum itself. The explanation indicated that a group of British folks simply decided that it would be ok to drag these chunks of this building back to London for display. Simple as that.

It’s truly astounding how much stuff is actually here, and you really cannot, nor should not visit, without asking lots of questions as to whether or not it’s appropriate that it’s still all there, whether it should be returned to where it came from, or whether we should in any way support this museum.

That said, admission to the museum is free, and we didn’t spend a single dime here. I would highly recommend booking a timed ticket online in advance, especially during the summer. They do suggest a 5 pound donation, “to help preserve 2 million years of history,” but there is an option to not pay anything at all, so we didn’t.

Note that when you arrive, if you come near opening time, there will be a very long queue around the entire block that seems daunting, but it does move quickly. We spent about three hours here viewing the different artifacts, and the place was totally jammed with people. It does have a very cool atrium that contains a few cafes and the very large central gift shop and library, but this place is anything but peaceful. Much like the Louvre, the museum is overcrowded with tourists.

Afterwards, I would highly recommend having lunch at the Museum Tavern, right across the street. It’s a very very old English pub, the oldest in the Bloomsbury Neighborhood, in fact, with nice pub food and beers, and is surprisingly not too touristy. You definitely need a reservation though, since it does get busy around meal times.

I would recommend a visit to the British Museum, and you don’t have to feel too icky about supporting colonialism and stolen artifacts since it’s free to get in. I would suggest, though, being mindful of the cultures and peoples from whom the sensational displays were taken while viewing.