29 Market Street, Tamworth, B79 7LR
Albion Road, Marden, TN12 9DT
Riviera Centre, Torquay
11-13 April 2025
23 Haltwhistle Road, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5ZA
Unit 11, Valley Point Industrial Estate, Beddington Farm Road, Beddington, CR0 4WP
Argyle Place, Love Road, Lowestoft, NR32 2NZ
Spreyton, EX17 5AL
A magnificent Victorian pub opposite the British Museum, a CAMRA Heritage Pub. Originally the Dog and Duck stood on this site, signifying local duck hunting. John Creed became landlord in 1762 and initiated the name British Museum Tavern, to identify the pub with the nearby collection, which was being developed from specimens collected by Sir Hans Sloane. William Finch Hill designed the 1855 redevelopment with the ground floor front and classic mahogany back bar fitting being evident today.
1889 saw another redesign of the interior by architects Wylson and Long. Finch's classical style was partly preserved as five separate bars were created, with partitions and decorations of stained glass. Two rare examples of these stained glass windows survive in the bar today, an essential part of any visit. Five bars were reduced to three in 1935 becoming one in the 1960s. The five sets of entrance doors are all that remains of this arrangement today.
Traditional pub food is served. Pre pandemic this was a rare regular outlet for Old Peculier but as at Nov 2021 it has not come back and neither have any guest beers. Ciders such as Weston's no longer meet CAMRA's definition of "real cider".
Historic Interest
Grade II listing:- Public house. c1855-64. By William Finch Hill and EL Paraire. Stucco with wooden public house ground floor. Modified French Renaissance style. 4 storeys. 1 window with 1-window splayed corner and symmetrical 5-window return to Museum Street. Public house front with Corinthian pilasters and colonnettes carrying entablature with dentil cornice. Round-arched, recessed openings with panelled dados. Entrance on splayed corner with fanlight and double part-glazed doors. Main entrance on Museum Street with pediment, rectangular fanlight and double part-glazed doors. 1st to 3rd floors with rusticated corner and pilaster strips at angles capped by small segmental pediments. 2-pane sash windows. 1st floor round-arched, architraved, recessed sashes, above which architraved oculi with decorative grills and enriched with swags. 2nd floor segmental-arched architraved sashes. Console bracketed cornice beneath 3rd floor recessed sashes. Coved cornice and blocking course. INTERIOR: retains some original fittings including Classically styled wood back fitting to bar (glass later).
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: II
As the name suggests, this pub is right opposite the entrance to the British Museum. It claims a long history stretching back into the 18th century and was originally known as the Dog and Duck but changed its name with the arrival of the museum. The building we see today is a rebuilding of 1855 by the architect, William Finch Hill. Big changes took place in 1889 with a refitting by Wylson and Long for the then landlord, George Blizzard. The ornate bar-back and tapering counter survive as does one original mirror advertising Watney’s Imperial Stout (the other mirrors are from later). The four outside doors show how the interior was divided up in former days. You can still see the names ‘public bar’, ‘private bar’, ‘saloon’ and ‘luncheon buffet’ in the door and window glass. In fact there were five bars in all: they became three in 1935 and these, sadly, became one in the 1960s. The square panelling of the ceiling adds much to the character of the pub. There are two panels of stained glass at the rear of the pub. Unfortunately, the splendid fireplace at the far end has been compromised by the addition of inappropriate cabinets and tiles.
This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 3 regular beers.
Museum Tavern, London
Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals
Garden
Family Friendly
Disabled Access
Dog Friendly
Wi Fi
Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub
Cask Marque
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