St Bartholomew’s Hospital Museum
St Bartholomew’s Hospital is approaching the 900th anniversary of its foundation in 1123; the hospital museum tells the story of nine centuries of healthcare at the edge of the City of London. The permanent exhibition of original and facsimile archives, objects and works of art, includes Rahere’s grant of 1137 – the oldest document in the hospital archives – and the 1546 agreement between Henry VIII and the City of London which refounded the hospital. The objects on display in the museum are only a small part of the collections – to find out more, search our catalogue online . Objects and archives from the hospital collections can be accessed for research at Barts Health NHS Trust Archives.
The museum is located in the hospital’s historic North Wing, adjoining the Grand Staircase with its vast and spectacular paintings by William Hogarth, and overlooks the famous 18th century square designed by James Gibbs.
Please note that opening hours may occasionally be subject to change at short notice due to staff or volunteer absence or changing public health guidance, so please check our Twitter account for up-to-date information on openings or call us on the day if you are making a special journey. You can also email us with any queries regarding the museum.
Visitor Information
Opening Hours:
Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm
Closed public holidays and over Christmas and New Year
Please note that opening hours may occasionally be subject to change at short notice due to staff or volunteer absence or changing public health guidance, so please check our Twitter account for up-to-date information on openings or call us on the day if you are making a special journey. You can also email us with any queries regarding the museum.
Admission:
Free admission, donations welcome.
Accessibility:
Wheelchair access by arrangement; please ask on arrival for ramp access, or call in advance.
Induction loop.
Learning
St Bartholomew’s Hospital has been providing care on the same site for nearly 900 years, and school groups will have the opportunity on their visit to find out about the changing face of the hospital through the centuries.
We have a suite of learning resources available FREE for download from our website. The resource pack is designed to introduce children to the story of the hospital’s nine-century history of healthcare – it is NOT NECESSARY TO VISIT THE MUSEUM TO USE IT. The pack is aimed at KS2 children, and supports cross-curricular learning, linking to English, Maths, Science and PSHE as well as History.
The resources consist of a Discovery sheet, highlighting facts and themes from the hospital’s story, and three Activity sheets. There is also an answer sheer providing sample answers. The resources can be used in the classroom or for home-based learning.
Family History
The archives of St Bartholomew’s Hospital go back nine centuries, with the earliest record dating from 1137, although the earliest patient records date to the late 1700s. They are part of the collections held by Barts Health NHS Trust Archives, which also holds records of numerous other hospitals, charities, training institutions and individuals.
Barts Health NHS Trust Archives are based at the St Bartholomew’s Hospital site; unlike the museum, the archives are accessible by appointment only. For more information about the collections and how to access them, and to search the archive catalogue, please visit our website.
Location & Travel Links
St Bartholomew’s Hospital Museum
North Wing, St Bartholomew’s Hospital
West Smithfield
London
EC1A 7BE
Get directions.
Barbican, Blackfriars, Farringdon, St Paul's
Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon
4, 8, 25, 172, 242, 501, 521
