Old Operating Theatre & Herb Garret
Housed in the attic of the early eighteenth-century church of the old St Thomas’ Hospital, this atmospheric museum offers a unique insight into the history of medicine and surgery. The original timber framed Herb Garret was once used to dry and store herbs for patients’ medicines and in 1822 an operating theatre was included. Predating anaesthetics and antiseptics, it is the oldest surviving surgical theatre in Europe.
Visitor Information
Opening Hours:
The museum is open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 10:30am to 5:00pm (4:15pm last admission).
The museum is also open for pre-booked groups on Monday-Wednesday. Please visit our webiste to book a group visit.
Admission:
Admission charges apply.
Accessibility:
Limited disabled access. Acces via a narrow 52-step spiral staircase. Please see our full access guide here.
Learning
The Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret is delighted to take advanced bookings for school and group visits
A visit to the Museum is an experience that gives individuals a profound insight into the past, stimulating interest in a whole range of issues about past and present health. The Old Operating Theatre Museum offers an exciting interactive talk that is proven to be an inspiring and engaging experience for students following a prescribed syllabus or anyone with an interest in the social history of medicine. Group visits include a talk and exclusive access to the museum.
All schools and groups will experience our popular Victorian Surgery Brought to Life talk. This session is held in Europe’s oldest surviving surgical operating theatre where your group will experience the atmosphere of this uniquely evocative space, as the Museum Team reconstruct an operation before the arrival of anaesthesia and antiseptics. The content of this session can be adapted to suite different audiences and age groupings.
Key Stage 2-3
- Duration: 90 min
- Session Plan: 45 min interactive talk and demonstration + 45 min self-led museum trail
- This session is ideal for year 5 and 6 primary school students who are following a local history or medical related topic.
Key Stage 4-5
- Duration: 90 min
- Session Plan: 45 min interactive talk and demonstration + 45 min self-led museum trail
- The session is excellent for students studying:
- GCSE History: Edexcel, Medicine Through Time: c.1250-Present
- AQA, Health and the People (AQA)
- BTEC: Health and Social Care
General Interest Groups
The Museum welcomes group visits from people who are keen to discover more about the development of medicine and surgery in Britain.
This session offers an insightful introduction into the Old St Thomas’ Hospital and 19th century healthcare as well as the Victorian Surgery demonstration. Following the talk, the group will have the opportunity to explore the Museum’s artefacts and narratives.
University and Specialist Groups
University students, academic societies and other specialist groups are welcome to visit as groups. All groups are given the standard Victorian Surgery talk followed by exclusive access, however where possible, the facilitator can adapt the session to the group’s special interest or area of study. If you have a particular area of study please indicate this in the comments box of the booking form.
Optional free self-guided local history walk
A free self-guided London Bridge local history walk is available to all groups. Many groups have supplemented their visit with our local history tour which begins at the museum and takes you across the London Bridge area. You can download the map in advance or pick up a copy in the museum.
For further information, please visit our
website.
Location & Travel Links
Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret
9a St Thomas’s Street
London
SE1 9RY
Get directions
London Bridge
London Bridge
17, 21, 22a, 35, 40, 43, X43, 47, 48, 133, 344, 501, 505, 521, P3, P11, E1, D11
