The Enlightenment Gallery at the British Museum

“This is the oldest room at the British Museum (originally built as a library for George III), and it is set up as a massive cabinet of curiosities culled from the museum's terrifyingly vast collection. You can have a marvelous time simply wandering around this single gallery. The last time I was there, I saw John Dee's scrying mirror, some of Mary Delany's papercut flower specimens, and shells collected by Joseph Banks from his trip to Tahiti to see the transit of Venus, among many other treasures. And a short distance away are galleries showcasing the Rosetta Stone and the much-contested Elgin marbles. My list of London recommendations is looooong (it is a city I love to visit) + I will not spam you with them, but feel free to message me if you'd like more.”