Fleming Museum
- Medical history enthusiasts
- Science enthusiasts
- Families with children
What Visitors Say
A very small free museum but very interesting exhibition about the discovery and early years of penicillin. The volunteers are friendly and welcoming. There are a couple of souvenirs available in the shop, which is cash only. It is also up several flights of stairs with no lift.
The Alexandre Fleming Museum is a small but really special place. It tells the story of a doctor and scientist whose work changed the world, in a way that feels personal and easy to connect with. Being located inside a real, working hospital makes the experience even more powerful-you can truly feel the link between his discoveries and everyday medical care. It’s a quiet, thoughtful visit that leaves you with a lot of admiration for both the man and his legacy.
Friendly volunteers. You have to ring the bell and they will buzz you in. You can see the actual room where Penicillin was discovered! A must visit for anyone with an interest in Biology, Mycology, Bacteriology, Science, since this was a discovery of great historical value
It’s worth persisting at the entrance to wait for a response to the bell. The focus of course is on the discovery and research done at this site and not on the considerable work to turn that into a reality. It’s great that in an area of such pressure for space that the museum remains. The discovery must’ve led to the saving of many millions of lives. The museum is small and spread over several floors, but well worth visiting (it’s free).
The Alexander Fleming Museum near Paddington is a hidden gem that offers a fascinating glimpse into one of the most important medical discoveries of the 20th century. Though small in size, the museum is packed with history and significance. It’s free to visit, which is a great bonus, and provides a unique opportunity to step into the very laboratory where Fleming discovered penicillin. In addition to the lab, there are two other rooms to explore, including one with a video that explains the story behind this groundbreaking discovery. The content is concise yet informative, making it accessible to all visitors. The staff here are incredibly friendly and welcoming—special thanks to Kim for making the experience even more enjoyable. If you’re in the area and interested in history or science, this museum is definitely worth a quick visit.
Highlights
Fleming’s Laboratory
Birthplace of penicillinSee the bench, Petri dishes and simple tools that turned a stray contaminant into the most consequential drug discovery of the 20th century.
Recreated room at St Mary’s Hospital
Discovery Film
From observation to therapyA 10-minute overview links Fleming’s 1928 note to the Oxford group’s proof in 1940 and wartime scale-up.
Small screening nook beside the lab
Poster & Object Room
The path to patientsPeriod photos, notes and apparatus trace early trials and production hurdles that shaped modern antibiotics.
Gallery next to the lab
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
Fleming published penicillin’s antibacterial action in 1929, but therapeutic success arrived a decade later with Florey and Chain’s Oxford experiments.
Early hospitals sometimes recovered scarce penicillin from patients’ urine and reused it during wartime shortages.
Industrial deep-tank fermentation—borrowed from food science—made mass penicillin possible by the mid-1940s.
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