British Museum History: A Museum For The World
Established in 1753 and opened to the public in 1759, the British Museum was the first of its kind: a national museum for the world. Imagine its revolutionary purpose: to be open to all curious minds.
Private & personalized tours - just for you!
The best stories aren’t found in guidebooks. Skip the crowds and unlock the hidden gems of British Museum with a private, personalized experience led by a local.
Make your stay in London complete with these things to do
Reviews from guests about our tours and locals
"I just had an amazing experience at the British Museum with Rosa as our guide. She totally tailored the tour for my daughter, who’s studying classics, and made everything super interesting. Rosa really knows her stuff and has a way of bringing history to life with her stories. Plus, she’s hilarious! We were all engaged the whole time, and she went above and beyond, even staying overtime to make sure we saw everything we wanted. It felt more like hanging out with a friend who’s really knowledgeable than just a regular tour. If you ever get the chance to tour with Rosa, do it! Thanks for a fantastic day, Rosa!"
"The British Museum is a must-see stop for London visitors and while I have visited in the past, this was my husband's first visit. The best booking we made this trip was with our guide Rosa, whose delightful, warm and engaging personality held a superpower - she possesses a storyteller's gift for sharing her incredible depth of knowledge about the many art treasures and culture inside this landmark collection. She personalized the tour by asking us many questions about our interests and never rushed us - her great sense of humor and patience made for our favorite London museum experience ever! "
"We had an awesome day touring the British Museum with Rosa, who was very kind and attentive to our unique needs and interests. We have gained a new appreciation for ancient art and architecture thanks to Rosa's unique insights and knowledge of the museum exhibits and would definitely book again!"
Learn about their personal stories and find out how you can explore London with locals
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Discover experiences based on your interest
Feel the pulse of human history at the incredible British Museum. Don't just wander aimlessly; a private British Museum tour with a local guide turns a visit into an unforgettable story. Here's a glimpse inside.
Established in 1753 and opened to the public in 1759, the British Museum was the first of its kind: a national museum for the world. Imagine its revolutionary purpose: to be open to all curious minds.
The Rosetta Stone is the key to understanding ancient Egypt. This single stone, with its three scripts, unlocked the mystery of hieroglyphs. Let a local guide reveal the thrilling story of its discovery.
The breathtaking Parthenon Marbles are a highlight of the British Museum. These ancient Greek sculptures tell epic tales of gods and heroes. A tour can explain the stories and controversies behind them.
The British Museum's collection began with one man: Sir Hans Sloane. A physician and naturalist, his 71,000 items formed the foundation. A private tour can show you the spirit of his original collection.
In the vast British Museum, do as Londoners do: take a break! The Great Court is perfect for a coffee or tea. It's a chance to chat with your guide about the wonders you've just discovered together.
Why wander lost when you can be guided by a storyteller? With a private British Museum tour, you'll see the masterpieces and hidden gems tailored to your interests. Feel history come alive. Tour slots with our top guides are filling fast, so book your unique adventure today!
Always private. It’s just you and your local host. No strangers, no groups.
Let your local host tailor the experience completely to your wishes.
Our tours are designed with people, places, and the planet in mind.
"Rosa was an excellent tour guide for the British Museum. She is eminently qualified, knowledgeable and made the time at the museum even more interesting. She had a great sense of humor and was able to answer any questions that we had. I would highly recommend her!"
"We recently had the pleasure of having a tour at the British Museum with our guide, Rosa, and it was an absolutely delightful experience. Rosa was incredibly knowledgeable, providing us with fascinating insights into the exhibits. She had a wonderful sense of humour and was quite witty, making the tour both educational and entertaining. What truly stood out was how great she was with the kids—engaging them and keeping their attention throughout. "
"Our tour of the British museum with Rosa exceeded any expectations I could have had. Rosa is extremely knowledgable and deeply passionate about art and archeological history, which made for a fascinating tour as we covered a broad selection of galleries in the museum. She made sure to check in with us about our interests and any questions we had. She was extremely generous with her time, as she was invested in ensuring that we had a great experience with the museum. She is one of the best guides I've ever encountered!"
"We had a perfect tour of the highlights of the British Museum with Rosa. She is extremely knowledgeable and funny and kept our family (2 adults, 2 teenagers) engaged for over 3 hours. We would highly recommend this type of tour to make the most of your visit to the British Museum. "
"We had a 2.5 hour private tour with Rosa of the British Museum and could have done many more hours! She was so interesting and informative about the exhibits we visited. Her sense of humor and insight was captivating. Highly recommend! A great overview of the museum for first-timers. "
"To say Rosa's tour of the British Museum was informative is an understatement. It felt like a tour with your favorite professor! Rosa is not only extremely knowledgeable, but personable, funny down to earth. We had a mix of world history and art history blended together with lively conversation. The Museum is enormous, we ended or day feeling like we had seen and learned more than we ever could have had we tried to see the museum on our own. I highly recommend Rosa as a tour guide! "
"My husband and I recently booked the guided tour of the British Museum with Rosa and she did an incredible job making sure we got the absolute most out of our time there. It's a *huge* collection, but Rosa navigated us from room to room pointing out the must-sees and telling us their stories with humor, history, and impressive speed. We learned so much and our eyes were basically buzzing with the beauty they'd taken in over the course of our tour. Rosa is a wealth of knowledge, but also finely tuned to making sure the pace suited us, that the tour reflected our interests and our needs, and that we felt we were free to ask any or everything we wanted to about what we were seeing, the controversies around the British Museum, our curiosities about civilizations, religions, mythologies, and more. She was even happy to keep going another hour, but we were the ones who had to go (we had tickets to a show). An excellent tour!"
Hidden in the British Museum are the Lewis Chessmen, quirky Viking-era chess pieces with incredible personality. Many visitors miss these treasures. Find them on a private tour and hear their mysterious story.
Your tour is just for you. No strangers, no groups.
You’ll experience the city one-on-one (or with your own travel group) in a relaxed, personal way. No rushing, no scripted group tours.
From highlights to hidden gems, your host adjusts everything to fit you.
Want to skip a museum, add a food stop, or focus on street art? Just ask. Every experience is shaped around your pace, preferences and interests.
Message your host directly to customize your experience.
Ask questions, get local tips, or make special requests. Our hosts are real people, ready to make your day unforgettable.
Every booking supports independent locals and their communities.
We believe tourism should benefit the people who live there. Your host earns directly and often invests it right back into their neighborhood.
You’re choosing meaningful travel, not mass tourism.
Withlocals is built on fair pay, human connections and travel that leaves a positive mark for both you and the places you visit.
Loved by over 1,000,000 travelers all around the world.
Withlocals hosts consistently earn 5-star reviews for their kindness, knowledge and the personal stories they share.
Book with peace of mind: safe payments and easy changes.
Your plans can shift and that’s okay. We offer flexible cancellation and real support when you need it.
Your tour is just for you. No strangers, no groups.
You’ll experience the city one-on-one (or with your own travel group) in a relaxed, personal way. No rushing, no scripted group tours.
From highlights to hidden gems, your host adjusts everything to fit you.
Want to skip a museum, add a food stop, or focus on street art? Just ask. Every experience is shaped around your pace, preferences and interests.
Message your host directly to customize your experience.
Ask questions, get local tips, or make special requests. Our hosts are real people, ready to make your day unforgettable.
Every booking supports independent locals and their communities.
We believe tourism should benefit the people who live there. Your host earns directly and often invests it right back into their neighborhood.
You’re choosing meaningful travel, not mass tourism.
Withlocals is built on fair pay, human connections and travel that leaves a positive mark for both you and the places you visit.
Loved by over 1,000,000 travelers all around the world.
Withlocals hosts consistently earn 5-star reviews for their kindness, knowledge and the personal stories they share.
Book with peace of mind: safe payments and easy changes.
Your plans can shift and that’s okay. We offer flexible cancellation and real support when you need it.