Free Things to Do at the British Museum

The British Museum is free to enter, and its permanent galleries span around two million years of human history. Here are the best free things to do there, and a free audio guide to bring along.

Special exhibitions are ticketed, but everything on this list costs nothing.

Free things to do at the British Museum

  • Walk into the Great Court, the glass-roofed courtyard around the old Reading Room and the largest covered public square in Europe.
  • See the Rosetta Stone and the colossal bust of Ramesses II in the Egyptian sculpture gallery (Room 4).
  • Head upstairs to the Egyptian mummies (Rooms 62–63), some of the most visited rooms in the museum.
  • Stand beneath the Assyrian winged bulls and follow the lion hunt reliefs (Room 10).
  • Explore the Enlightenment Gallery (Room 1), the grand former King’s Library, laid out the way 18th-century collectors saw the world.
  • Listen to free commentary on over 1,000 objects with Audioguide.London, by photo or by audio number.

Admission is free, but the museum encourages booking a free timed entry ticket in advance. Special exhibitions are ticketed separately.

A free audio guide, too

New, in beta. British Museum support has just launched and is still improving: over 1,000 objects so far, with more added all the time.

The museum’s own Audio app charges £6 per language for its full guide. Audioguide.London covers every object in it for free, plus many more, in 6 languages. See the free British Museum audio guide.

What to see

Short on time? Start with the British Museum must-see highlights.

Frequently asked questions

Is the British Museum free?

Yes. General admission to the permanent collection is free for everyone. Special exhibitions charge separately.

Do I need to book to visit the British Museum?

Entry is free, but the museum encourages booking a free timed ticket online, especially at weekends and in school holidays. Check the museum’s website for the current arrangements.

Is there a free audio guide for the British Museum?

Yes. Audioguide.London is free, works in your phone’s browser and covers over 1,000 objects in 6 languages. Photograph an object or type the audio number on its label. It is new and in beta, so it is still improving.

More about the British Museum