Walking around London it is impossible not to be in awe of the city. Time and time again people have mentioned the energy the city seems to radiate, not just the buildings but the people as well. It is truly my favourite place in the world. The city is steeped in history which can be read through the buildings. You will often find yourself walking down a metropolitan street with tall skyscrapers and glossy storefront windows only to turn into a narrow alleyway with cobblestone pavement and quaint houses. The city is a contradiction of old and new sitting side by side and somehow it works. No place in London showcases this phenomenon more than the British Museum and that’s why it is my favourite place to visit in the city.

Established in 1753 it has been the stage for a number of notable artefacts like, the Rosetta stone, the Lewis Chessmen and the Mummy of Katebet, to name a few. Today, it is still the site of some controversies most notable the Elgin Marbles and where they belong. Nonetheless it is a destination point for both tourists and local Londoners with its vast halls filling up daily. The majority of the building as we know it today was designed by Sir Robert Smirke (1780–1867) in 1823. It was designed in the Greek Revival Style which is characterised by large imposing columns with detailed pediments balancing on top. The use of this style gives the building an air of importance and hints at great treasures hidden within.

For a building that was built over the duration of two centuries, change was bound to happen. This took place in the form of the new addition by Foster and Partners. Once the British library was relocated from the Museum to its current address in St Pancreas, there was an opportunity to redesign the Museum's courtyard. It was renamed the Grand Court and given an undulating glass roof to allow the space to be used at all times no matter the weather.

The glazed canopy seems to sprout from the central reading room to the other older buildings in the quadrangle drawing them together and unifying them. The space created under the canopy acts as the hub of the museum with most of the main exhibitions leading off from it. It is a wonderful clash of old British architecture and new innovations. The new design does not overpower it's older neighbours but complements them. The Grand Court reveals hidden space, revisits old space and creates a new space. Together with the rest of the museum it represents the city on a miniature scale, truly a great British marvel.