My Favorite Museums In London

The British Museum:
Established in 1973 The British Museum now houses over 13 million artifacts and houses the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of Egyptian antiquities outside the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. My favorite department houses artifacts from Egypt and the Sudan. The most notable object being the Rosetta Stone. Other departments of interest are the department of Greek and Roman antiquities and the department of the Middle East. Something important you should keep in mind as you tour the British Museum is that it has come into a bit of controversy over the years. There is a great deal of debate over whether the museum should be allowed to posses prized antiquities from other countries. The Elgin Marbles, Benin Bronzes and the Rosetta Stone are among the most disputed objects in its collections. Many organizations have been demanding that these items be returned to their respective countries of Greece, Nigeria and Egypt respectively.

National Gallery:
Founded in 1824 the National Gallery houses over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. What's great about this museum is that it not only features British artists but artists from all over Western Europe. It is equally fascinating to see the change in painting styles from each century and the variations between different countries. The museum is located in Trafalgar Square- the most famous square in the United Kingdom. If you're lucky enough to be there on VE Day, Christmas, or New Years you can watch concerts, fireworks, and other ceremonies.

While these two sites aren't quite as generic for a trip to London as the Tower of London, they are both free of charge which is perfect for a student on a budget.