The British Museum, founded in 1753, is the oldest museum in the world. Until the late-20th century the building also housed the British Library. However, to mark the British Museum's 250th anniversary it was decided to transfer the British Library to a new site in the Euston Road.

When the library was re-located in 1997 the museum acquired 2 acres of new space in the vast quadrangle around the Reading Room. The museum was transformed with the creation of Sir Norman Foster's splendid 'Great Court'.