Eye-opener tours
Tour information
All tours run daily.
See upcoming eye-opener tours for times.
Free
Book a general admission ticket and drop in.
Recommended for adults, though children are welcome.
Join a volunteer guide on one of our free eye-opener tours bringing you closer to the collection.
Taking place across the Museum, eye-opener tours provide a general introduction to different parts of the collection through a selection of fascinating objects. Choose from a number of tours, including the civilisations of Mesopotamia, the Islamic world, and Medieval Europe.
How to join an eye-opener tour:
- Our volunteer-led eye-opener tours are free, just book a general admission ticket and drop in. Tours last 30–40 minutes.
- See upcoming eye-opener tours for when and where they start. Look out for signs in the gallery too.
- These tours are generally limited to 15 places per session, depending on the Museum location. Please arrive early at the meeting point to secure a space.
- These tours are subject to cancellation. Ask at the Information Desk in the Great Court if unsure.
- To ensure a safe and enjoyable visit, face coverings are recommended for the protection of yourself and others, unless you're exempt. Please be considerate of people and exercise social distancing where you can – especially in smaller spaces. Hand sanitiser stations can be found throughout the Museum and we recommend washing or sanitising your hands regularly. See the Visit page for more information.
- Please do not visit if you feel unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms.
- All measures are subject to change in accordance with government guidelines and Museum regulations.
Eye-opener tours
Japan
Meeting point: Room 92
Discover some of the ways continuity and change have shaped Japan's past and present through a selection of beautiful Japanese artworks and artefacts.
The ancient Greek world
Meeting point: Room 17
Appreciate the achievements of the ancient Greek world through remarkable sculptures, ceramics and metalwork. Enjoy some of the highlights of the Museum's collection, including the Nereid Monument, a tomb built around 380 BC for Erbinna, a ruler of Lycia (now southwestern Turkey).
Ancient Iraq
Meeting point: Room 56
Explore the civilisations of Mesopotamia, a region that saw the development of agriculture, the first large cities and some of the earliest writing.
Africa
Meeting point: Room 24
Learn about the diverse societies of Africa, past and present. This tour includes objects from various historical periods and from across the continent. It also features several works by leading contemporary artists.
China
Meeting point: Room 33
China is one of the world's oldest civilisations. Join a tour in The Sir Joseph Hotung Gallery to examine how China has produced a highly distinctive culture, with extraordinarily high quality jade, silk and ceramics and a famous painting tradition that developed in parallel with its calligraphy.
Enlightenment
Meeting point: Room 1
Join our volunteer guide in the oldest room in the Museum and investigate the 18th century, an era of new knowledge, scientific discovery, expanding trade and European colonialism.
Mexico
Meeting point: Room 24
Explore the distinctive regional cultures, including the Olmec, Maya, Aztec and Mixtec, that flourished in Mexico from about 2000 BC up to the time of European contact in the 1500s.
South Asia
Meeting point: Room 33
Join our volunteer guide to explore South Asia's long history and diverse cultures. This tour includes a range of fascinating topics, from the Great Shrine of Amaravati through to traditional painted scrolls.
Gods and goddesses of Roman Britain
Meeting point: Room 49
Explore daily life in Roman Britain (AD 43–410) through a tour that focuses on objects related to gods and goddesses. You will see spectacular silverware, a treasure hoard and a floor mosaic with an early depiction of Jesus Christ.
Assyria
Meeting point: Room 7
The Assyrian empire originated in the northern region of present-day Iraq. Discover the spectacular sculptures that adorned King Ashurnasirpal II's magnificent Northwest Palace at Nimrud (near modern Mosul).
Islamic world
Meeting point: Room 41
Explore diverse highlights from the Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic world, ranging from West Africa to Southeast Asia from about 600 to the present day.
World of money
Meeting point: Room 68
Uncover the fascinating history of money from its origins over 4,000 years ago. This tour includes the first coins and paper currency, and ranges from shell money to mobile phone payments.
Ancient Egypt
Meeting point: Room 64
Discover how ancient Egyptian people lived and explore their beliefs about the afterlife.
Please note this tour visits displays that include human remains. The British Museum is committed to curating human remains with care, respect and dignity. Find out more about our principles governing the holding, display and study of human remains.
Medieval Europe
Meeting point: Room 41
Join our volunteer guide to explore the medieval period through art and archaeology. This tour includes some of the world's greatest medieval treasures, including the Sutton Hoo helmet and the Lewis chessmen.
Ancient Rome
Meeting point: Room 70
Find out about Rome's extraordinary growth from a small town on the Palatine Hill into a great city controlling an empire that stretched from Spain to Syria and Britain to North Africa.
