| Among the countless tourist attractions in | | | | British Museum does not charge any admission |
| contemporary London, such as the Houses of | | | | fees, the exception being some temporary |
| Parliament, Tower Bridge and Buckingham | | | | special exhibitions, interested publics from |
| Palace, the one that can easily be considered | | | | around the globe line up outside its doors |
| the unforgettable "Queen" amongst them all, | | | | waiting to enter its amazing gallery |
| is the British Museum. Britain's national | | | | showrooms and admire the plethora of human |
| museum of archaeology and antiquities was | | | | creations kept in there. |
| established by an act of Parliament in 1753, | | | | |
| when the government purchased three large | | | | But some of its most prestigious holdings, |
| private collections consisting of books, | | | | like the Parthenon Marbles and the Benin |
| manuscripts, prints, drawings, paintings, | | | | Bronzes are among its most disputed |
| medals, coins, seals, cameos, and natural | | | | collections. These collections are the |
| curiosities. Today, home of approximately | | | | subject of great controversy and political |
| seven million objects from all continents, | | | | debates since various organizations lobby in |
| the British museum is considered to be the | | | | favor of their return to their native |
| most popular and famous museum in the world. | | | | countries of Greece and Nigeria respectively. |
| | | | But regardless of the harsh criticism, the |
| Located in the Bloomsbury district of London, | | | | British Museum has refused to return either |
| the British museum's collections in | | | | collection, arguing that if the British |
| archaeology and ethnography are particularly | | | | Museum was to return to their original |
| outstanding. Being one of London's principal | | | | geographical location any of its current |
| tourist attractions, the visitor can admire | | | | possessions that would mean empty rooms for a |
| its famous holdings, like the Elgin Marbles, | | | | great many museums around the world. Although |
| carvings from the Athenian Parthenon, the | | | | critics argue that these artifacts, among |
| Rosetta Stone, the Portland Vase, the Benin | | | | others, should now return to their home |
| Bronzes, Egyptian Mummies, and the Chinese | | | | countries, the British Museum continues to |
| ceramics. Its drawings collection holds more | | | | support that it is an appropriate custodian |
| than 2,000 drawings constituting the world's | | | | and has the inalienable right over these |
| largest and most comprehensive collections. | | | | disputed creations under British law. |
| | | | Nevertheless, the fact still remains that the |
| Since it first opened its doors to the | | | | British Museum is one of the most important |
| public, on January 15, 1759 the museum has | | | | London destinations one should not miss |
| been illustrating and documenting the story | | | | visiting when circumstances allow a ride to |
| of human development and culture from its | | | | one of the most famous and interesting |
| early years to the present day. Because the | | | | capitals in the world. |