- Duration
- 3 hours
- Location
- London
- Explore the British Museum in the company of an archaeologist or art historian
- Includes entry one hour before the museum opens to the public
- British Museum
Sites Visited
- British Museum
Included
- 3 hours with a PhD or MA level guide
Itinerary Details
- The Enlightenment Room: trace Sir Hans Sloane’s founding collection and its extraordinary journey to the present. Discover some of the collectors who have shaped the museum over the past four centuries.
- Ancient Egyptian afterlife: from mummification to magic and ‘immortalizing’ animals, you will be able to navigate the history and significance of death and the afterlife in ancient Egypt. (Also, the museum’s world-renowned collection of coffins, tombs, portraits and amulets & fabled Book of the Dead)
- Ancient Egyptian Sculpture: statues of kings and gods, monumental tomb architecture and ancient tomb reliefs spanning 3000 years, including the colossal bust of Ramesses II and the Rosetta Stone.
- China and South Asia: explore the development of these civilizations from 5000 BC to the present day, through objects ranging from Ming Dynasty porcelain to South Asian sculpture.
- Japan: from Samurai architecture to contemporary manga, discover the breadth and beauty of Japanese culture and how both continuity and change have shaped Japan’s past and present.
- Ancient Greece: venture into Ancient Greece from the Bronze Age through the conquests of Alexander the Great to the last of the Hellenic kingdoms to fall to Rome. Uncover fascinating finds from Mycenaean and Greek pottery to iconic sculptures, including the monuments of the Athenian Acropolis.
- Ancient Rome: explore this extraordinary culture from its relatively humble origins to its zenith as one of the most powerful empires in the world. Discover the impact of Ancient Greece and the reigns of emperors including Augustus and Hadrian, through this collection of mosaics, pottery, jewellery, coins, bronzes and marble statues.
Interested in the a different museum in London? Check out out Churchill War Room Tours or our Tate Modern Crash Course Tour.
FAQ
After a very happy time leading walks for Context in Rome, Caroline returned to her native London to complete a Ph.D at King's College London which conisdered the acquisition of Roman antiquities - and primarily Latin inscriptions - by the Grand Tourists of the 18th century. The project was closely connected with the British Museum, which is also conveniently one of her favourite London destinations. When not leading walks for Context, Caroline can usually be found in the British Library, teaching Undergraduate courses in the Classics department at KCL, or in one of London's many lovely parks with her dog.
Lawrence travelled and excavated extensively in Israel, Jordan and Egypt before attending the University of Durham where he studied archaeology. He specialised in ancient human remains during his Masters' at Liverpool University Medical School, followed by a year of travel and excavation in the UK and Africa. He won a scholarship to attend University College London, where he wrote his Doctorate on ancient populations of the Western Mediterranean basin and the Canary Islands. He currently lectures at Birkbeck College, University of London. He carries out research at London's Natural History Museum and spends several months each year working on a major archaeological project in Peru. He is also connected with excavations in Egypt, Bolivia, California, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Spain, where he works with a forensic unit recovering the fallen from the 1936-1939 Spanish Civil War. In addition to his research, he has interests in the classical world, ancient Assyria, geology, palaeontology, twentieth century art history and the history of London.
Born in London, Ruth has also lived in Israel for many years. She trained at the Rubin Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem, where she studied Voice and Piano and received a degree in performance in both instruments. She is a qualified music teacher and for many years taught music to children and adults of all ages. Returning to London in 2000, Ruth undertook a number of intensive courses learning about the history of this great city which she loves. She has recently earned an MA in Art History and enrolled in a Ph.D. program. Ruth also has a particular interest in Jewish London and a keen interest in the artistic and musical history of London.