World-class collections from civilisations across the globe are exhibited at the British Museum in Bloomsbury. Its mission is to "illuminate the histories of cultures for present and future generations", with popular galleries devoted to the Assyrians and the Ancient Greeks.
As you enter, the museum's airy, spacious Great Court - a glass-covered atrium designed by Lord Norman Foster - is a spectacular sight and an excellent place to rest your legs between trips to the different galleries.
The material culture of every continent is covered by the voluminous collections, which are exhibited by geographical area. Highlights include one of Europe's finest and most comprehensive collections of Japanese archaeology, sculpture and decorative arts, one of the finest collections of Chinese antiquities in the West, paintings and porcelain from the Neolithic period to the modern day and the largest and most comprehensive collection of ancient Egyptian material outside Cairo, including the famous collection of mummies and coffins.
The museum also stages regular temporary exhibitions, and recent blockbusters such as The First Emperor (2007/08) and Shah 'Abbas: The Remaking of Iran (2009) have brought a new wave of visitors and popularity.