# The British Museum vs The National Gallery

> The British Museum and The National Gallery are two of London's essential museums — one a history & archaeology museum, the other an art museum. Here is how they compare on admission, highlights, and time needed.

## Choose The British Museum if…
Choose The British Museum for Rosetta Stone and Parthenon Sculptures (Elgin Marbles) — standard admission is free. Allow 2–4 hours.

## Choose The National Gallery if…
Choose The National Gallery for The Arnolfini Portrait and The Virgin of the Rocks — standard admission is free. Allow 2–3 hours.

## Visiting both
Both are in London. With 2–4 hours suggested for one and 2–3 hours for the other, combining both in a single day is ambitious — two days is more comfortable.

- The British Museum: https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/british-museum/
- The National Gallery: https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/national-gallery-london/

Updated 2026-07-18. Source: https://worldmuseumguide.org/compare/british-museum-vs-national-gallery-london/ — World Museum Guide.