Whether you want a description of one object or commentary across the whole collection, ArtGuide tells you what you are looking at. Point your camera, type the name, or say it aloud. Start with 50 free scans, enough for a full visit to one of the world's largest and most visited museums.
Open ArtGuide in your browser before you enter. It is a web app with no download or install needed, just a phone with an internet connection. The British Museum has free wifi throughout the building.
Point your camera at any object in the galleries. ArtGuide identifies it and starts narrating instantly. Photography is allowed throughout the permanent collection at the British Museum, so you can scan freely as you move through the rooms.
Choose from 9 languages and pick the narration style that suits you: a quick overview, a detailed story, or a short biography of the maker or culture behind the object.
Official Audio App
Free entry + £6 audio bundle · 250 objects · download required · BM only
Third-Party Apps
Free–paid · fixed route · often English only · limited coverage
ArtGuide
50 free scans then €4.90 · any object, point or say the name · 9 languages · hundreds of museums
Point your camera at any object in the British Museum and ArtGuide describes it instantly, in your language, in the style you choose. 50 free scans to start, no credit card required.
Start free trialOpen daily 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:45). Fridays until 20:30 (last entry 20:15). Closed 24 to 26 December. Verify current hours at britishmuseum.org before your visit.
Entry to the permanent collection is free. The museum asks you to book a free timed ticket in advance online. Special exhibitions have separate paid tickets, typically around £18 for adults. The official audio app costs £6 for the full bundle or £1.99 to £4.99 per themed tour. Verify current details at britishmuseum.org before your visit.
Weekday mornings (Tuesday to Thursday, from 10:00) are the calmest. Friday evenings after 17:00, when the museum stays open until 20:30, are a quieter option if your schedule allows. Weekends and school holidays are significantly busier, especially around the Rosetta Stone and Parthenon galleries.
The museum holds over 8 million objects across 80 galleries spanning 4 kilometres of floor space. Focusing on one or two themes, such as Ancient Egypt or Ancient Greece, takes 2 to 3 hours. A broader visit across multiple civilisations takes a full day.
The Rosetta Stone is in Room 4 on the ground floor. The Parthenon sculptures (Elgin Marbles) are in Room 18. Egyptian mummies are in Rooms 62 to 63 on the upper floor. The Sutton Hoo helmet is in Room 41. The Great Court, with its Norman Foster glass roof, is at the centre of the building.
Photography is allowed throughout the permanent collection with no flash and no selfie sticks. The museum is very large, so pick one or two themes rather than trying to see everything. Free maps are available at the information desk inside the Great Court. Cloakrooms are free. Bring headphones for the best audio experience.
