There is a sentiment that the best way to understand a country and its history is by visiting their musuems. The good news for me is that not only does London have multiple world-class museums, but they are free to the public. The first and one of the more well-known places I visited was the British Museum. Stepping through the doors of the building leaves a sense of awe at the towering ceiling and never-ending hallways full of artifacts from every corner of the world. While the sourcing of said artifacts leads way to an ethical debate, bearing witness to such important and ancient artifacts was a great privilege. The highlight of the British Museum for me was seeing the Rosetta Stone, which was vital in finally deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs. As a person who was always fascinated with ancient Egypt, being able to see the Rosetta Stone in-person was one of the top moments of my entire summer in London.

Another museum that stuck with me was the Natural History Museum. However, what caught my interest was the building’s architecture. When first looking at the building, it gave the feeling of entering an old academy. Seeing this architectural style was an interesting contrast to the design choices of the modern buildings of London’s skyline. But what was more impressive was how they incorporated animal sculptures in the building’s architecture. They had primates climbing the arches and mice at the bottom of columns. This immersion and architectural thought set the perfect environment to learn about natural history, as well as being a fun spot the animal game to engage the children.

Beyond visiting the vast network of museums, another cultural hub is London’s West End, which is equivalent to New York City’s Broadway. I was fortunate to snag tickets for Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera. Going into these theatres, you are overcome with a sense of history and wonder. The ceiling and walls are white with gold highlights/accents, the seats are plush, and the theatres themselves are old and full of stories. The theatre in which Phantom of the Opera played was the same theatre it premiered in, giving a greater depth of significance to the theatre. Going to these shows was a highlight of my study abroad and cemented in my mind the world class nature of London’s cultural centers.