Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret
What Visitors Say
Now it’s my favourite museum in London. The atmosphere is really good and it feels like I went to the past. I’m also really interested in medicine and I found out interesting things there. And the small shop with biology themed plushie toys was nice. I also bought a pen that looks like a bone and a book.
The Old Operating Theatre is a compact museum, but fascinating. As someone interested in medical technology, I couldn’t resist visiting, and it didn’t disappoint. The space is wonderfully preserved and gives a vivid glimpse into how surgery was practiced long before modern equipment and techniques. Gruesome as well :-/ The exhibits are nice, the atmosphere is unique in this small building, and the staff are knowledgeable and kind. It doesn't take long to walk through, but every corner has something intriguing to see. A great stop for anyone curious about the roots of medical innovation.
I liked the stuff here a lot and the restored operating theater was great with its interactive parts. There IS wheelchair access! There is a single person lift, but if you don't know about it, you'll miss out! It looked like they had a camera view just outside the door to the museum and that they will send someone down if they spot wheelchairs there. Otherwise, there is this tiny, narrow, twisted, spiral staircase.
The Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret is an unforgettable stop for anyone interested in the history of medicine. The preserved surgical theatre and historical instruments create an atmosphere that encourages reflection on how far our profession has come. As a practicing surgeon and educator, I found it especially meaningful—seeing firsthand the conditions of pre-anesthesia and pre-antisepsis surgery adds powerful context to the principles we teach today. For any doctor, particularly those in surgery, this museum is a must-visit when in London.
You could easily miss this museum as I had walked by it many times and never realised it was there. The staircase to enter is not for the faint of heart but it leads to a treasure trove of history. Staff are so informative. There was even an autumn trail for younger visitors to follow around the museum.
Highlights
The Theatre Itself
Oldest surviving operating theatre in EuropeSteep benches and a wooden table: a classroom where lives hinged on minutes and method.
Attic of St Thomas’ Church, top level
Herb Garret
Surgery’s botanical back-storyAromas of dried plants meet mortars, scales and jars—pain relief and poultices before modern pharma.
Attic rooms beside the theatre
Instruments & Innovation
From bone saws to antisepsisScarifiers, tourniquets and chloroform inhalers map the pivot from brutality to science.
Display cases around the amphitheatre
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
The theatre served the women’s ward only—modesty and hospital layout kept male surgeries elsewhere.
Its survival owes much to neglect: hidden in an attic after St Thomas’ moved, the theatre was rediscovered in 1956.
The entry is via a narrow 52-step spiral stair—original access that doubles as a time machine (and a mild workout).
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