How much is the admission fee for the British Museum, and is advance booking required?

Admission to the British Museum is free. While walk-up entry is possible, we recommend booking in advance through the official website due to long wait times. If you are taking a guided tour, a separate reservation is not required.

How long is the wait time to enter the British Museum if I visit in the morning?

Even if you have booked in advance, you will still need to queue. In the morning, it takes about 30 minutes to enter. Since there is a bag check at the entrance, it is best to minimize your belongings or bring only a small bag.

Where is the Egyptian collection located in the British Museum, and what are the main exhibits?

The Egyptian collection is located in Room 4 on the 1st floor and Rooms 61–66 on the 2nd floor. As it gets very crowded, we recommend starting your viewing from the 2nd floor. Key exhibits include the Rosetta Stone, which was the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs, as well as human and cat mummies.

What artifacts are exhibited in the Korea Gallery located in Room 67 of the British Museum?

The Korea Gallery can be found by taking the elevator from Room 33a and passing through the China Gallery. Exhibited here are Joseon white porcelain moon jars, Goryeo celadon, and metal movable type, along with a replica of a traditional Korean Hanok structure provided directly by South Korea.

British Museum Review 2026: Booking & Mummy Exhibits

Alongside the National Gallery, the British Museum is easily one of the absolute highlights of any trip to London.

Even if you aren't typically a museum enthusiast, this iconic institution is a must-visit. The sheer scale of history housed here is mind-blowing.

- Booking Site: Official British Museum Website

- Admission: Free (Donations welcome)

- Recommended Entry Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

- Estimated Visit Time: 3+ hours

- Walk-ins are allowed, but booking is highly recommended

- No separate entry booking is needed if you book a guided tour

- Book a Guided Museum Tour

How to Book Tickets

Official British Museum Ticket Booking

While admission to the British Museum is free and you can technically get tickets at the door, securing an online timed-entry ticket in advance is highly recommended if you aren't joining a guided tour.

The crowds here are massive. If you show up without a reservation, you could find yourself waiting in a painfully long line just to get to the entrance (and even with a ticket, expect a short wait for security).

Once you book on the official site, you'll receive an email confirmation with a QR code. Simply show this on your phone at the gate for entry.

Getting Inside

Unless you hold a membership or have booked a guided tour, everyone must join the main queue—even with a pre-booked timed ticket.

I arrived during a supposedly "quiet" morning slot, yet the queue already snaked all the way around the block.

Trying to get same-day tickets on-site combined with waiting in this line will eat up a huge chunk of your day. Even with my pre-booked ticket, it took about 30 minutes to finally step inside.

Honestly, seeing the length of the line made me regret not booking a guided tour that includes fast-track entry privileges!

British Museum Guided Tour (Morning/Afternoon Sessions Available)

There is a quick security bag check at the entrance. If you only have a small bag, they usually wave you through pretty quickly.

The line for heavy bag checks is much longer, so do yourself a favor and travel light when visiting!

Once you pass security, you are greeted by the magnificent Great Court. The famous glass-and-steel roof floods the entire central courtyard with beautiful, soft natural light.

The Egyptian Gallery

The Egyptian collection is easily the most popular section of the museum. Because it gets incredibly crowded later in the day, I highly suggest making this your very first stop.

The collection spans Room 4 on the Ground Floor and Rooms 61–66 on the Upper Floor. Starting upstairs and working your way down is a great way to beat the flow of the crowd.

The sheer scale of the massive stone sculptures and intricate hieroglyphic tablets is absolutely breathtaking.

The crown jewel here is the Rosetta Stone. Without this single artifact, we might never have unlocked the secrets of Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Since my husband and I explored without a guide, we actually walked right past it at first because of the dense crowd! It made me realize just how much context you miss out on when you don't have an expert guide leading the way.

The mummy exhibits are fascinating, if a little eerie, to see in person.

Alongside the human mummies, you can view the ornate jewelry buried with them, and even mummified animals, like cats, which held deep spiritual significance in ancient Egypt.

The Japanese Gallery

Next, we headed to the East Asian collections, starting with the Japanese Gallery.

It is an impressive, spacious gallery. The display of authentic samurai armor and beautifully preserved katana swords was incredibly striking.

I was hoping to see Hokusai’s famous woodblock print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, but learned that it is only displayed once every few years to protect the delicate paper from light damage. A bit disappointing, but completely understandable!

The Korean Gallery

The Korean Gallery can be a little tricky to find as it sits in a quieter corner of the museum.

To get there, head to Room 33a, take the lift up through the Chinese Gallery, and you will find Room 67, which houses the Korean collection.

Though smaller than some of the other galleries, it is beautifully curated and offers a wonderful introduction to traditional Korean artistry for international visitors.

The exhibit features everything from iconic Joseon Dynasty white porcelain Moon Jars and delicate Goryeo celadon to early metal movable type blocks.

They have even reconstructed a traditional Hanok (Korean scholar's study) inside the gallery, built using authentic materials sent directly from Korea.

With over 8 million objects in its collection, it is physically impossible to see everything the British Museum has to offer in a single day.

Even though we walked through at a brisk pace without stopping for every description, we easily spent over 3 hours wandering the halls.

Make sure to plan ahead, pick your must-see galleries, and definitely include the Egyptian, Greek, Japanese, and Korean sections on your list!

Don't forget to stop by the massive gift shop on the ground floor before you leave for some unique souvenirs.

Our visit to the British Museum was absolutely unforgettable. Seeing the ancient mummies in person lived up to all the hype, and exploring the diverse cultural galleries was incredibly rewarding. Put this at the very top of your London itinerary!

📍 British Museum
Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG, United Kingdom

🔻More London Travel Guides🔻

London National Gallery Booking Guide & Must-See Masterpieces

Westminster Abbey Booking Guide, Tickets, and Insider Tips