February, 2013 – Graham Miln

British Museum - London Highlights

The British Museum is a showcase of treasures from the once expansive British Empire. As with many of London’s attractions the building itself is worth a visit to see. The central courtyard has been enclosed in panelled glass. The space below is large and turned over to seating, two small food vendors, and a shop circling the central Reading Room.

Grand portico entrance of the British Museum
Grand portico entrance of the British Museum

Covered courtyard of the British Museum
Covered courtyard of the British Museum

The exhibits span from the earliest fragments to pieces created in the last one hundred years.

Early human tool
Early human tool

Egyptian artwork
Egyptian artwork

Egyptian mummification
Egyptian mummification

Pacific island statue
Pacific island statue

Preserved human skeleton
Preserved human skeleton

Pieces of the past on display far from their origin
Pieces of the past on display far from their origin

Crown of gold leaves
Crown of gold leaves

Battle helmet of a Saxon era warrior
Battle helmet of a Saxon era warrior

We had particular fun exploring the clock exhibit. The exhibit demonstrated how mechanical clocks worked with simplified examples. While all around were stunning examples of beautiful time pieces. Impressively all the clocks read the same time and chimed in unison – someone must get a kick out managing such a feat of patience and synchronisation.

Clock resembling a ship of war.
Clock resembling a ship of war.

The Africa gallery was more artwork based that I expected. The exhibits tended to focus on the blood shed over the continent’s history. Many of the more arresting pieces hinted that such times are now firmly in the past.

Chair made of guns in the Africa gallery
Chair made of guns in the Africa gallery