Hunterian Museum

Hunterian Museum is a collection exploring the body through the history of surgery, anatomy and collecting. Preserved specimens and surgical objects make it a more confronting visit than a conventional science museum, but also a compelling one for anyone curious about how medical knowledge developed.

Allow one to two hours to follow the displays at your own pace. The collection includes real human remains, so consider your comfort with that material before visiting, especially with children. The displays sit inside the Royal College of Surgeons beside Lincoln’s Inn Fields, giving the medical history a fitting institutional home.

Admission is free and advance booking is recommended at busy times. The museum normally opens Tuesday to Saturday and closes on Sundays, Mondays and bank holidays. A short Wednesday curator tour is offered subject to limited places on arrival; it is a bonus rather than a guaranteed part of every visit.