British Museum

It is easy to understand how this museum attracts millions of visitors each year. Since the early 1810’s it has housed some many of the World’s finest treasures. The museum is home to some 70,000 objects and originally 20,000 books. The books have now been moved to the National Library from their original home in the museum’s courtyard.

The courtyard was covered in 2000 for the Millennium. Since the central library is slightly off center each piece of glass measures a different size. Today the courtyard is a perfect escape from London’s ‘drippy’ weather.

The Louvre has the Mona Lisa. The British Museum has the Rosetta Stone. Luckily the stone has been placed in a larger space to accommodate the crowds. Discovered by Napoleon’s army, the stone (it was used as a corner stone in a Fort) would ultimately provide the key to Egyptian hieroglyphs. The English won the battle and … the stone.

For me – the Egyptian wall paintings (room 61) made the trip.