| December 2007 The British Museum A treasury of classical art in London
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The British Museum is perhaps the second most famous museum in the world after the Louvre. Located in downtown London within walking distance of the Thames, Westminster Abbey and many other museums such as the National Portrait Gallery; the British Museum is a must visit whenever in London. This fact poses one of the few distractions to visiting the British Museum (or BM for short), this is a remarkably crowded museum. The British Museum is a treasure trove of classical art, The Museum's collection contains works from the Mediterranean, the near east and Egypt so complete that entire Egyptian, Assyrian and Greek temples are set up in the galleries. As a historical museum the collection also contains Chinese, Indian, Meso-American art as well as Anglo-Saxon work such as the Sutton-Hoo treasure, making it, perhaps, the most complete collection of historical art and artifact in the world. Previously the facility also contained the British Library with works from the Anglo-Saxons through to John Lennon of the Beatles, today the British Library is stored in a new building with expanded exhibit space and more room for scholarship and conferences.
So vast is the collection that in a museum with less space, many of the artworks on display would be forced into the archives, but at the British Museum these artworks can be on display as a result of the vastness of the space available. To properly see this museum at least one entire day should be devoted to it.
The British Museum is also one of the most crowed museums in the world, which does tend to slow down any proper tour as one must wait in line for an opportunity to see some of the most popular artworks. But the artworks are amazing, the collection of the British Museum includes the Rosetta Stone, now in an acrylic case, the stone discovered by the French under Napoleon that permitted the translation of the Egyptian Hieroglyphics, the gates of the palace of Shalmaneser III rebuilt with the original bronze bands from the gate, a cedar gate guarding the entrance to an Assyrian city over 22 feet high and the Elgin Marbles.
The Elgin Marbles were cut from the Parthenon in Athens by Lord Elgin and brought to London. These friezes are very fine artistic carvings of events in Greek mythology. The work is exquisite and finely detailed, originally displayed around the top of the temple, the work is now at eye-level in a dedicated room ordered as they were originally in Athens. The Greek government is requesting the return of this work and has already built a room in an Athens museum to host the marbles, so keen are they in taking possession of this artwork.
The center courtyard of the museum contains a gift store and fine restaurant.
The British Museum is best reached by the London Underground, with the Nottingham Court station and Holborn station closest to the front entrance. Admission is free everyday. Eating options are many with a fine destination restaurant in the center court the "Court Restaurant" as well as cafes in the courtyard and on the first floor of the museum. Tea is served in the Court Restaurant in the mornings and afternoons. The museum is surrounded by gastro-pubs and ethic restaurants in the neighborhood. For the vegan or vegetarian, Covent Gardens is nearby with Neal's Yard containing several fine vegetarian restaurants.
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