International Museum Day: Sunday 18th May

Every year since 1977, on or around the 18th of May, is International Museum Day. It’s organised by ICOM (the International Council of Museums), and has a worldwide reach of 158 countries. The day is all about celebrating how important it is to preserve history, art, and culture and to share that with each other. Now as our contribution to International Museum Day, we’ve put together a collection of museums from around the world. A museum of museums, if you will!

We’ll start closer to home, with the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Coming in only second to the British Museum itself, the Ashmolean features a vast and varied range of artefacts spanning 8,000 years, from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art and everything in between. Described as a “collection of collections” by the director himself, there are multiple floors to the museum, showcasing eras of history in different parts of the world. Whether your interests lie in Ancient Roman sculpture, Neolithic Chinese art, or Medieval English archaeology, the Ashmolean really will tick all your boxes.

The Rijksmuseum is located in the centre of Amsterdam’s Museumplein, and is the national museum of the Netherlands. It’s home to over 8,000 objects spanning 800 years of Dutch history and culture, and has an extensive  number of collections from a wide scope of artists, including notable Dutch celebrities like Rembrandt and Vermeer. The museum is a celebration of Dutch identity, showcasing an array of historical objects from Delftware ceramics and 17th-century ship models, to weapons, costumes, and furniture.

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, or just the Egyptian Museum, is one of the most iconic museums in the world, and for good reason. Whether you’re into world history, ancient civilisations, or have a specific interest in Egyptology, a visit here is absolutely worth it. Established in 1835, it houses over 120,000 artefacts from ancient Egypt, including the famed gold mask of King Tutankhamun and the treasures found inside the pharaoh's tomb. The museum is organised chronologically, so visitors can take a journey through time while experiencing everything from monumental statues to delicate jewellery, which is a great way to get a comprehensive understanding of the art, culture, and daily life of ancient Egypt.

Te Papa (as the museum is commonly known) has been open since 1998 and is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located on Wellington's waterfront. ‘Te Papa Tongarewa’ translates literally to ‘container of treasures’, and the collection of over 800,000 items reflects just this. There are permanent, long-term, short-term, and touring exhibitions, which only goes to show the richness and diversity of Kiwi culture, and Te Papa’s commitment to preserve and present it. Their collection covers five areas - art, history, Pacific, Maori, and the natural environment - and Te Papa's commitment to biculturalism is evident throughout.

The Prado Museum is Spain’s most famous museum, and one of the most well-respected art museums in the world. It’s home to one of the best collections of European art anywhere, with room after room containing over 20,000 masterpieces from some of the greatest artists in history.  If you're into Renaissance or Baroque art, you'll be in heaven, coming face-to-face with works by Bosch, Caravaggio and El Greco. And even if you’re not, the museum gives you an unparalleled look at some of the finest examples of portraiture, religious paintings, and historical pieces.

For anyone interested in Mesoamerican history and culture, or indeed any ancient civilisation, the National Museum of Anthropology is an absolute must-see. It’s got 23 exhibit halls, crammed with art and artefacts from Mexico’s pre-Hispanic past. Upstairs is focused on modern-day indigenous communities, while downstairs you’ll find  a dedication to ancient cultures like the Mayan, Teotihuacan, and Toltec - including the famous Aztec Sun Stone! Outside, there are even life-sized replicas of ancient temples and tombs for your perusal.

BY HOLLY GARWOOD, 12TH MAY 2025