Florence Nightingale Museum

Introduction
Visitor Information
Events & Exhibitions
Learning
Family History
How To Find Us
Contact Us

Florence Nightingale Museum


The Florence Nightingale Museum celebrates the life and work of the world’s most famous nurse.

Located on the banks of the river Thames opposite the Houses of Parliament, the museum attracts visitors from all over the world who want to learn more about the Lady with the Lamp and her Victorian world. We examine Florence Nightingale’s legacy, her influence on nursing today and the continuing relevance of her work.

Hear the voices of Nightingale and her contemporaries as well as her critics. The cast of characters includes the Jamaican-born nurse Mary Seacole, famed for her herbal remedies and, the Jamie Oliver of his day, Alexis Soyer who transformed the soldiers’ diet.

The Florence Nightingale Museum runs a busy schools programme and family activities, as well as a lively events programme with regular afternoon talks and evening events.

Collection highlights include:

  • The writing slate Florence used as a child.
  • Her pet owl Athena which she rescued in Athens, and became her constant companion.
  • Nightingale’s medicine chest which she took with her to Crimea.
  • A rare Register of Nurses which lists women who served under Nightingale in the military hospitals in Turkey and Crimea.

Current exhibition

Florence Nightingale in 200 Objects, People and Places

Events

Meet Miss Nightingale or Meet Mary Seacole performances most Saturdays. See our What’s On page for more information.