Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garret

About Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garret

The Old Operating Theatre in London is the only 19th Century operating theatre in England. Come and explore the history of surgery and herbal medicine in this beautifully restored museum.

The operating theatre is located in the top of an old church. Visitors can watch demonstrations of surgical techniques from the past and explore the herb garret, where herbs were dried and stored for the hospital's apothecary.

Facilities

Opening Times Every day: 10.30-17.00 . Closed between Christmas and New Year.

Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garret Address

Address:
9A St Thomas' Street
London
SE1 9RY
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7955 4791
Fax: +44 (0)20 7378 8383

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Prices for Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garret

Adult: £5.60 (USD9.28)  full price
Family: £13.75 (USD22.79)  full price
Concession: £4.60 (USD7.62)  concession
Child: £3.25 (USD5.39)  child

Family ticket is for 2 adults and up to 4 children

 

Location Information for Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garret

Address:
9A St Thomas' Street
London
SE1 9RY
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7955 4791
Fax: +44 (0)20 7378 8383
Public transport: London Bridge, London Underground
By Road: Turn right when leaving the station. From the bus station follow the sign to the footbridge. Look to the right to see the red brick tower with green line around the top.

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Reviews of Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garret

Access in London review of Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garret

Reviewed by: Access in London
West of Guy's hospital and about 60m from Borough Street. The museum is in the loft of a church, used in the 19th Century as an operating theatre. Admission charge. The standard access route is difficult even for the fit and able. It involves +1+2 steps and then +34 steps up a spiral staircase with a door 55cm wide en route and only a rope handrail. This leads to the ticket desk. Then there are +17 steps, through Door width 73cm, then -2 steps. Access to the operating table is +1+2-2 steps, OR +1+10-6 steps via the balcony. There is an easier route, using a lift in the adjacent post office, although there are still some steps involved. As it involves post office staff, it is normally only available for pre-arranged groups.
 

TripAdvisor ®

Traveller Rating:

4.0
Based on 5 reviews
Ranked #114

  Latest 4 reviews of Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garret

Quirky and Charming

This place is really charming – definitely worth a trip if you like something a little quirky, or have a particular interest in the medical aspect. The entrance up the windy stairs is fun and the...

This place is really charming – definitely worth a trip if you like something a little quirky, or have a particular interest in the medical aspect. The entrance up the windy stairs is fun and the museum itself is very interesting. I spent about 1.5 hours here reading about the different medical procedures and instruments described and on show. The operating theatre itself is a wonderful sight. Definitely worth a short visit.

 
4.0
31 July 2009
by Reckless-In-Forks, Dublin
 

Highlight of my trip to London

Along with the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, this museum was my most memorable experience in London on a trip that seemed to be filled with them. There are two main parts to the...

Along with the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, this museum was my most memorable experience in London on a trip that seemed to be filled with them.

There are two main parts to the museum. The first is their permanent collection outlining the contraptions, devices, pharmacy, and sometimes witchcraft that passed as medicine in the 19th century before Listerism. One could spend an entire day here if you work in healthcare (as I do) and have an interest in history (ditto).

The second part of the museum is the Old Operating Theater itself. I visited on a day when a group of school children were being entertained/educated on the finer points (or lack thereof) of surgery/amputation in Victorian England. One of them was chosen to be the patient (victim) and underwent a demonstration of a leg amputation.

The staff at the Old Operating Theater is second to none, in particular the woman who led the demonstration of the surgery in the Theater itself. She was very helpful and gracious during my entire time there.

Highly recommended.

 
5.0
16 November 2008
by midway42, Minneapolis, Minnesota
 

Quirky Little Hole

Located near Borough Market, we decided to go visit this place..... To get up there, we had to climb a couple of narrow spiral staircases, this added to the feel of the visit!Inside, you'd find an...

Located near Borough Market, we decided to go visit this place.....

To get up there, we had to climb a couple of narrow spiral staircases, this added to the feel of the visit!Inside, you'd find an extensive collection of medical instruments and a good display of other quirky things. There are daily shows as well that tell you the history of the place and their collection of goods!

Certainly worth a visit even if you are not in the medical profession.

p.s And do look out for the tonsil gullotine!!!!

 
4.0
15 January 2008
by notshy, Brisbane, Australia
 

A Fantastic little place

I didn't expect much from this trip, but as I got in for free, with the London Pass, and we were passing, we went in. Up the winding stairs, through the strange shop, and into a Dried Herb Garden...

I didn't expect much from this trip, but as I got in for free, with the London Pass, and we were passing, we went in. Up the winding stairs, through the strange shop, and into a Dried Herb Garden !

This amazing place has a huge number of herbs and spices, that your free to smell, crush and mix to form your own concoctions. It doesn't sound good, but it's so interesting to see what the next herb will smell like: foul or good, and with a description of what healing power this herb might have.

Next door is the operationg theatre, which is ok.

We missed the guided tour, but for the Herb Garret you only need a nose. Great.

 
5.0
24 August 2006
by devmike, Crediton, United Kingdom
 

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Events at Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garret

  • Herbs, the Garret and Operating Theatre

    Special event

    Recurring event

    In the past, medicines were made from plants, animals and even precious stones.Learn how 'drugs' such as foxglove, myrrh and unicorn horns were used.Examine real herbs in the attic space, originally used by the apothecary of St Thomas' Hospital.

     

  • The Old Operating Theatre Museum and - Collection

    Exhibition

    Recurring event

    The museum has a collection of objects illustrating medical history, and the history of St. Thomas's and Guy's Hospitals. If you will be there then you can see Obstetrics, Midwifery, Surgical Instruments, Cupping and Bleeding, Nursing and Patient Care, Anaesthesia, Antiseptic surgery, Apothecaries and Herbal Medicine and St. Thomas's, Guy's and the Evelina Children's Hospital.

     

  • The Old Operating Theatre Museum: Collection

    Exhibition

    1 Jan 2009 to 1 Jan 2010

    The museum has a collection of objects illustrating medical history, and the history of St. Thomas's and Guy's Hospitals. We have objects relating to Obstetrics Midwifery, Surgical Instruments, Cupping and Bleeding, Nursing and Patient Care, Anaesthesia, Antiseptic surgery, Apothecaries and Herbal Medicine, St. Thomas's, Guy's and the Evelina Children's Hospital. Objects owned by the Museum have to add to the understanding of the development of medical knowledge with particular emphasis on the history of the Old Operating Theatre, the Herb Garret, and the history of St. Thomas's and Guy's Hospitals.

     

  • Speed Surgery

    Special event

    Recurring event

    A surgical demonstration presented within the original architecture of the old operating theatre of St. Thomass Hospital of 1822. Before the advent of anaesthesia, an operation had to be swift. Without hand-washing or antiseptics, the chance of later infection was inevitable.

     
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