Corners of the Capital: The British Museum

Holy shit, you've gone and spent your pay-cheque on organic soap, again. When I say you, I definitely mean me. Whoops! So we can assume a holiday is off the cards. Although organic soap might not be your kryptonite, doesn't mean you haven't spent money on things you don't need, right? So that lush holiday in Egypt surrounded by ancient history and gorgeous weather is maybe a little out of reach. But no fear, you can experience pretty much the same thing in the British Museum (sort of).

This week I met up with one of my pals from home-home to play catch-up and she suggested we go out into central for a little museum day. Fab! We decided on the British museum, partially because I hadn't actually been there before and partially because she said it was pretty. Sold, we do love a pretty place. What was great and is great about this museum, when compared to the other tourist juggernauts of London town, is that it's situated a little off the beaten track. Don't panic, there's still a Starbucks opposite, so it's not like you're in the desert away from civilisation... Or is it? Now before you point fingers because this little trip in no way comparing to that holiday in Egypt, let me tell you this; if you go to see the sphinx and turn around from the entrance to the site, you'll find a KFC directly opposite. The British Museum has Starbucks, The Sphinx has KFC, how beautiful. Some might say it's almost poetic. 

Now, although I preach that it's tucked away, it's still pretty much a fave tourist hotspot, so never expect it to not be busy. The way I see it is if it was that busy there, just imagine how crazy the Natural History or Science Museum must have been during the school holidays. In fact don't imagine it, it's too traumatising. However, a plus side to all these tourists in the building, if you choose to see it this way, is the heat! Here we stumble upon my next comparison to the real deal, as I imagine actually being in Egypt could be as hot. You can sweat your way around ancient artefacts pretending it's a nice exotic sweat whilst you're really still in England. Ta-da! If you want to cancel your holiday for this, I wouldn't blame you...

Admittedly, my friend and I spent less time caring about the exhibitions and more time comparing the ancient vases to those we'd seen in Waitrose. Guess we're more into interiors than history, but we can still appreciate a cracking bit of china when we see it, even if it is thousands of years old. We also decided this really old and valuable statue of a goat-headed deity, (pictured to the right), would make a really fabulous jewellery stand. Whatever makes you happy, right?

If you feel like my comparison is better suited to John Lewis than a holiday to Egypt then you're probably not 100% wrong. Yes they have a crockery room to rival any good home-ware store but they also have other cool ancient stuff that makes you feel like you could really be in the Egyptian Museum itself. Actually, in the Egyptian museum you have to pay extra money to see any real mummies, where as here leaves it free of charge. Look how much money you're saving by not going on a real holiday. Bloody brilliant.

So, if you're feeling like you wanna get a bit of culture in your lack-of-holiday summer, look no further. This place is practically the same thing as going to Egypt. Or if you just really like looking at home-ware, do this too! (Or go to The Range, whatever floats your boat.) Just get out the house and get into London. Because I said so.



Also, have a picture of my pal and me with a nice filter to make us look tanned and maybe like we're on hols. We can dream, right?