By Hannah Dourgarian

It is no small feat tackling the British Museum and its 80,000 artifacts, collectively originating from every continent and showcasing 2 million years of history. Visitors typically spend a few hours exploring, and there are fortunately a plethora of dining establishments ranging in price where you can rest, recharge, and grab a bite to eat.

Admittedly, the British Museum is a very large place, and it is not especially easy to find vegetarian options at first glance. However, those that are available are delicious and are sure to offer you a satisfying dining experience.

Coffee breaks
The British Museum offers plenty of quick grab-and-go options for those who need only a brief break before returning to the exhibits.

One such example is the Court Cafés, which offer hot and cold beverages as well as a variety of pastries, such as cakes, muffins, brownies, and croissants. It may not come as a surprise that the Court Cafés are notable not so much for their food, but rather for their location on the ground floor of the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court. This open, two-acre space is the largest covered public square in Europe and has a stunning tessellating glass roof made of 3,312 panels of glass, making it an ideal spot for a coffee.

Also on the first floor is the Coffee Lounge, which has a view of the Reading Room and offers many grab-and-grow options.

Food trucks
If you’re looking for some fresh air, food trucks can be found at the museum’s forecourt (in front of the South entrance) that sell snacks such as sweet potato fries, cheese-loaded fries, and hot dogs (including those that are plant-based).

These are not especially cheap eats. The fries are £6-7 and the vegetarian hotdog is £9.

Fine dining
With full transparency, the Great Court Restaurant is not especially vegetarian-friendly. This is a shame, because the second floor boasts some fabulous views of the Great Court’s classical architecture and Balzac limestone floors, and is also in closer proximity to that amazing ceiling.

If you’re intrigued, there are a few select options available that will meet a vegetarian’s dietary needs: 1 starter (the charred aubergine caponata) and 1 main course (the delicata pumpkin and saffron Carnaroli risotto).

The restaurant also hosts afternoon tea (which is not an especially formal affair, compared to that at some other places), during which guests enjoy scones, “delicate cakes” and a selection of loose tea.

The whole ordeal, however, can be quite expensive — £40 per person — so if you rather spend less money, there are hot beverages as well as several desserts — such as a pear frangipane tart, lemon and raspberry curd burnt meringue trifle, or Sticky toffee pudding and mascarpone baked cheesecake — that can be purchased separately.

Pizza
Craving a more substantial meal? Head to the Pizzeria, which is also located on the ground floor.

All the pizzas are sourdough and personal-sized, and vegetarian options include Margherita, Carciofi (artichoke), or zucchini.

They are reasonably priced, at £11-£12 per pizza, but if you’re not convinced, there is also a lovely assortment of salads, and 3 can be bought as one meal for £10. Tempting options include the baby beetroot and whipped goat cheese salad, or another that is extra-green and healthy, made with broccoli, green beans, and asparagus.