The British Museum

The British Museum is a museum located on Great Russell Street in Camden, built between 1823 and 1847 by Sir Robert Smirke, with later additions. Constructed from Portland stone, the museum was designed as a large quadrangle with an open courtyard extending north from Montague House, the original museum that was demolished around 1840.

The building features two main storeys in the Greek Revival style and was constructed in stages. The East Wing, built from 1823 to 1826, was designed to house George IV's library and the Angerstein pictures, which later formed the basis of the National Gallery. This wing includes an early use of iron beams clad in concrete by engineer John Rastrick and showcases fine Grecian details in the interior, including scagliola walls.

The West Wing, completed between 1831 and 1834, was intended for antiquities and was redecorated in Smirke's original colour scheme in 1980. The North Wing, built from 1833 to 1838, also houses antiquities. The South Range, constructed from 1842 to 1847, serves as the principal facade following the demolition of Montague House. It features a seven-bay centre linked to projecting wings, an Ionic octastyle portico, and a sculptured pediment that projects from a massive colonnade surrounding the wings. The Ionic order is inspired by the temple of Athene Polias in Priene, and the pediment sculpture, created by Westmacott, depicts the "Progress of Civilisation." The interior includes a grand central staircase.

The Round Reading Room, built between 1852 and 1857 by Sydney Smirke, was erected to fill the open quadrangle and features a domed cast-iron roof. Historically, the museum expanded north during the 19th century, with the last main addition being the King Edward VII Gallery in 1914, facing Montague Place. Some galleries were damaged during World War II and have since been remodelled for display purposes.