Hi there, welcome to a women who travel where I'm on location at London's British Museum.

I'm joining New Yorker staff writer Rebecca Mead and we'll be walking you through some of its galleries

and looking at celebrated exhibits that Rebecca's chosen, as well as some less famous attractions

that are full of surprises.

Massive museums can be overwhelming, so we're here to talk about how to strategize one.

We'll hear ideas on how to get a unique experience that veers away from what guidebooks

suggest.

Plus, there are tips for you if you want to plan it all out in advance,

or if you want to roam spontaneously, or head directly for one exhibit that's special to you.

Well, we're going in, there is a massive queue outside, which I've never seen before,

because growing up in London, you could sit on the steps and wander in whenever you wanted.

Once you're in, you can sit on the steps for as long as you like, so that's still good.

Yeah, because also one of my favorite things to do when I'm in London and when I was growing up here is actually just using the museum

as a shortcut because there's a back door, and so you can just walk all the way through and miss all

the traffic and the crowds. I mean, it's so fantastic to be in here right now before anybody

gets in. It's like you sort of want to go skating on the marble

here because it's all so smooth. Connor, you work here at the museum. Tell us what you do.

I am senior press officer here at the British Museum. So you must get to walk around when it's

empty like this quite a lot? Yes. I mean, like, what a treat?

It's a massive privilege to be here,

getting here before the public opens,

when they've gone at the end of the day.

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