British Museum with 13yo?

[CuriousRunner]

I was all set to take 13to DTs to British Museum in half term. Then my sister threw in a comment that it's a bit boring. (And she isn't a cultural black hole normally 🤣). What do you guys think? I thought it has the big Egyptian display that would spark interest 🤷‍♀️

Ask your actual children their opinions on the matter; they'll know whether they fancy it or not.

I don't find it boring!

Um well it’s not like once you’re in they hold you hostage for 8 hours! It’s free. So you can go in, either love it, or get bored, go straight to the shop, buy a pencil case and a cake and leave!

Anyone who finds the BM boring is a philistine in my book!

YY to the Egyptology but if you pick up a family guide there’s loads more to do. What’s the special exhibition at the moment?

I think it's fascinating for any age. Apart from the Egyptian display and Acropolis marbles:
Take them to see the Sutton Hoo trove or the bronze age gold cape
Do a walk with Neil McGregor's book 100 objects that changed the world
Inca gallery with skull made from human head and tales of sacrifice
Jewellery from Babylon dug up by Agatha Christies husband

Ours always enjoyed it, from about 8/9 years.

https://www.britishmuseum.org/visit/family-visits

Check out a few exhibits beforehand that piques their interest, eg a cat mummy, Sutton Hoo, 100 objects as pp mentioned.

I am going there soon to see Lindisfarne gospels.

My 9yo found it brilliant but only the bits she's been studying at school.

The rest of it was just considered old men statues.

My DD loves stuff like that. Just wondering around and taking it all in then tea and cake at the cafe upstairs. The reading rooms in the centre was open last time I went and that was interesting in itself. Its also great if they've watched Moon Knight on Disney.

I'm always surprised by what DD will find interesting when small we mainly did the Egyptian bit as she'd studied them at school but last time we went she spent ages in the clock section and found how they went from giant big grandfather clocks to tiny intricate wrist watches fascinating.

I must say though that last time I went I really was hit by just how much we pilfered, the Egyptian exhibit alone,there is so much stuff that it looks like we went on a trip to Tesco's and just "Ill have one of those. Oh I'll take two of those. Oh a mummy I'll take 10 of them" but I guess that's our history as much as anything and there is a good conversation to be had about that.

Ooh yes the Grayer Anderson kitty!

It's no more/less boring than any good museum with a range of stuff to look at. Some people love it, some people will be bored. You know your children. I'd say it's worth a try as it's free and well located.

Do get a timed ticket before you go. There were long queues when I went, so I stood across the road and bought a timed ticket for the next slot and walked straight in. Obviously on a busy day you'll have to get it in advance

If they've studied a particular area they're likely to find that interesting - I'd focus on that?

I love the British Museum and history but I don't find everything interesting, everyone has their preferences and children generally don't have enough general knowledge to find random old stuff interesting without context.

Excellent. Thanks!

My sister must have been having an off day 🤔🤔

Vindolanda tablets! Unmissable.

I'd have loved it at 13, but you know your child better than we do.

We’re taking dc soon(aged 8-13) so I hope it’s not boring!

You know your child, will they find it interesting or not? I would probably plan for an hour max and to not see everything.
It's free so you can leave whenever they've had enough

Oh, and the Rosetta Stone

I found it interesting, especially the exhibits around what I'd been studying in my OU course. I have taken my children in the past and they also found it interesting.

I mean it's not a museum with loads of hands on stuff for kids, but at 13 I would have thought they were a bit beyond that anyway.
I've taken the DC at under 10 and the younger one did get a bit bored, but I made sure we had other plans for the day - it is free after all.

I think it's a good idea to ask other kids what they think about this

The BM has mummies, how could it possibly be boring?

Full disclosure - despite being an obviously terrible place full of stuff we nicked, the BM is one of my happy places.

The Silk Road is the current big exhibition, I loved it but I think most teens would not find it particularly interesting. But there are so many wonderful things to see at the BM that I don’t think that matters.

Just walking through the ground floor bit where the huge sculptures are gives me shivers down my spine, and the Egyptology department is certainly sufficiently gruesome to engage most young people. but it is a huge museum, packed with amazing artefacts and insights into ancient lives, I am sure they will find something to spark their curiosity and interest.

It's fine for any age. It's pretty shocking how much was stolen though.

The Sutton Hoo and chess pieces are amazing.