There's not one but two blockbuster exhibitions currently on at the British Museum, Ice Age Art and Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Held in the museum's circular Reading Room, Life and Death in Pompeii... is a beautiful and fascinating exhibition which brings to life the daily routine of the Romans who were caught out by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 and includes items which have never left Italy before. Continues until Sunday 29th September 2013.
There's a live cinema event, a first for the British Museum, which screens 'Pompeii Live' at local cinemas across the UK on Tuesday 18th June, enabling viewers to see a live tour of the exhibition presented by British Museum Director Neil MacGregor, curator Paul Roberts and classicist Mary Beard.
The stunning Ice Age Art brings together sculptures, figurines and engravings made in Europe from 40,000 to 10,000 years ago, placing ancient masterpieces alongside modern works of art by the likes of Henry Moore, Mondrian and Matisse. The exhibition includes fascinating stone, bone and ivory sculptures and continues until Sunday 26th May 2013; well worth the £10 ticket price.
Alongside these blockbusters are smaller, free exhibitions on a variety of subjects. In Search of Classical Greece, on display at the British Museum's Print Room until Sunday 28th April 2013, gives visitors an insight into ancient Greece through the drawings and writings of classical scholar Edward Dodwell and his Italian artist companion Simone Pomardi. There's no charge, either, for seeing Bubbles and Bankruptcy Financial Crises in Britain Since 1700 which continues until Sunday 5th May 2013.
Supplementing the British Museum's first class exhibitions this summer are a series of daily talks and tours, and family events. Every Friday the museum stays open until 8.30pm but on Friday 10th May there's a special late-night event, Up Late in Pompeii, giving visitors a night out in the Bay of Naples in Roman times complete with Roman food, forum debates and a free talk on sex in Pompeii and Herculaneum, booking advised.