The British Museum’s mysterious domed reading room has officially reopened to the public

The British Museum is a history buff’s dream, but there’s probably still one part of the Bloomsbury museum that even its most passionate fans haven’t seen yet. After being off-limits to the public for a long time, the famous domed reading room has reopened to guided tours and the general public.

Can’t remember the last time you picked up a book? Even for non-book lovers, the Reading Room is a sight to behold. Powder blue papier-mâché covers the dome, while a gold and cream colour scheme frames the windows that encircle its perimeter. Five million books line shelves that total 40 kilometres in length.

The museum tested guided tours last year, hoping to make them a regular event as long as they don’t disturb researchers currently browsing the room’s archives.

As of yesterday (July 2), London guru IanVisits has declared the venue open to anyone who wants to come in and have a look.ROM On July 23, groups of visitors (up to 20 per slot) will be welcome to marvel at this magnificent space with 20-minute guided tours. Tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and the best part is that they are free.

Completed in 1857, the British Museum Reading Room became a world-famous centre of learning where only the young and fashionable in the academic and literary worlds were allowed to practice their art. Karl Marx, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker and even Jacob Richter – Lenin’s chosen pseudonym – were among the VIPs.

Between 1997 and 2000, the dome was renovated and opened to the public for the first time. Since 2013, it has been used occasionally as an exhibition space, but remains closed the rest of the time.

So, now you can discover the mystery of the reading room and understand why the fathers of Marxism, Dracula and Sherlock Holmes chose not to work from home in favor of pen and paper in a “mid-19th century masterpiece”th “The technology of the century”, inspired by the domed Pantheon in Rome.

You can find out more about Reading Room tours on the British Museum website here.

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