When people ask me about the British Museum in Londres, I usually tell them it's impossible to see everything in one visit. With around eight million objects spread across 94 galleries, this place could easily consume weeks of your time. I've been back several times, and I still discover something new each visit.

The museum opened its doors in 1759, making it the world's first public national museum. It all started with Hans Sloane's massive collection – over 80,000 objects he'd gathered from around the globe. What strikes me most is how this Irish physician's obsession with collecting became the foundation for what's now the most visited attraction in the UK, drawing nearly six million people annually.

The building itself, designed by Robert Smirke, sits on Great Russell Street in Bloomsbury. The Great Court with its spectacular glass roof creates this sense of arrival that never gets old. You walk in and immediately understand you're somewhere significant.

Everyone talks about the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles, and yes, they're remarkable. But I find myself equally drawn to the smaller galleries – the Assyrian sculptures, the medieval European collection, the Egyptian mummies. There's something about wandering through these rooms that makes you realize you're looking at the entire sweep of human civilization.

Discover all the secrets of the British Museum with our complete audio guide for London – it genuinely helps make sense of the overwhelming amount of history packed into this place. Without some guidance, it's easy to feel lost among the artifacts.

The museum doesn't charge admission, which still amazes me. Free access to one of the world's greatest collections feels almost too good to be true in today's world. You can reach it easily via Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street, Holborn, or Russell Square tube stations.

I'd suggest planning your visit around specific interests rather than trying to see everything. Pick a few galleries, take your time, and don't feel guilty about skipping entire sections. The British Museum will still be there for your next visit to Londres, and trust me, there will be a next visit. Some places just pull you back.