Talk about a museum marathon! Ben Melham, a 42-year-old Brit, just smashed a Guinness World Record by visiting 42 museums in under 12 hours—half the time he was allowed. Starting his whirlwind tour at East London’s Museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, he wrapped up at the Royal Academy of Arts in Central London, covering some of the city’s most iconic spots like the Natural History Museum and the Tower of London.

What sparked this epic challenge? Melham says it all started when he was reading a Guinness World Records book with his kids, Matilde and Henrik. They dared him to turn his words into action—and boy, did he deliver.

“London’s museums are packed with millions of objects that connect us to history, nature, and people,” Melham shared. It’s no surprise he chose the city for his record attempt—he works as a museum operations consultant himself.

But he’s not stopping here. Melham is already gunning for another record: most museums visited in a year. Since October, he’s checked out 85 museums and is sharing his journey on Instagram and Bluesky.

His latest feat beats the previous record, held by two men from India who visited 33 museums in one day earlier this year.

Melham’s takeaway? “Museums are where we reflect on the past, discuss the present, and imagine the future.” And clearly, they’re also where you can make history in a single day.