The Old Operating Theatre Museum

The Old Operating Theatre Museum The Old Operating Theatre Museum, and Herb Garret is one of the most unusual Museums in London.
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It is in quite an amazing location - in the Roof of an English Baroque church which was used as a Herb Garret, and converted into an Operating Theatre

19/06/2026

An OR built for women- still here today.

Opened in 1822 at the old St Thomas’ Hospital in London, this is the world’s oldest surviving operating theatre created for female patients.

Surgery was performed here before the introduction of anaesthesia and antiseptic practice, with medical students observing from the surrounding galleries.

Sealed when the hospital moved in 1862 and rediscovered in 1956, the theatre remains an exceptional record of nineteenth-century surgery, medical education and women’s healthcare.

Find us a short walk from London Bridge station.

Yesterday, members of our team and volunteer community had the pleasure of visiting Westminster Abbey.We would like to e...
04/06/2026

Yesterday, members of our team and volunteer community had the pleasure of visiting Westminster Abbey.

We would like to extend our warmest thanks to our trustee, Isobel MacAuslan, for welcoming us and facilitating this day.

Thank you also to the Old Operating Theatre museum manager, Kinga Szlama, for organising this wonderful team day.

As a museum rooted in London’s history, it was a valuable opportunity to step into another remarkable heritage space and reflect on the different ways historic sites preserve, interpret, and share the past.

A sincere thank you to Isobel and the Westminster Abbey team for welcoming us so generously.

Enter one of London’s most extraordinary hidden gems this half term! 🤓Join us for a free Family-friendly Museum Morning ...
23/05/2026

Enter one of London’s most extraordinary hidden gems this half term! 🤓

Join us for a free Family-friendly Museum Morning at the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret, home to Europe’s oldest surviving operating theatre.

This relaxed drop-in session invites families with children aged 13 and under to explore the history of surgery, medicine, herbs and healing in a fun, hands-on way.

Create collaborative artwork, discover natural remedies in the Herb Garret, explore our historic medical collection, and meet our medical leeches.

Tuesday 26th May, 10:30am to 1:00pm
Last entry: 12:30pm

Entry is offered on a first come, first served basis and is dependent on Museum capacity.

This is a rare chance to discover the history of medicine inside one of London’s most atmospheric museums in a family-friendly way!

Surgery Talks are BACK! 🔪Welcome back to Europe’s Oldest Surviving Operating Theatre. Join us on Saturday, 30th May for ...
16/05/2026

Surgery Talks are BACK! 🔪

Welcome back to Europe’s Oldest Surviving Operating Theatre. Join us on Saturday, 30th May for a fascinating talk exploring the history of medicine and surgery- right here, in the exact spot it took place.

Tickets are limited, please book via the link in our bio and on our story highlights.

Patients here experienced surgery before anaesthetic or antiseptic; surgery was not the controlled environment that we know today.

This talk will explore the realities of surgery in the Victorian operating theatre- from the instruments used, the patients involved, the procedures, and the extraordinary developments that changed medicine forever.

We look forward to welcoming you!

We are pleased to announce our upcoming exhibition by talented artist, Magda Kuca.Responding to her mother’s experience ...
05/05/2026

We are pleased to announce our upcoming exhibition by talented artist, Magda Kuca.

Responding to her mother’s experience of cancer, Kuca’s work explores vulnerability, inheritance, illness, and healing through experimental photography and sculptural processes.

Displayed alongside the museum’s collection, these works create a powerful dialogue between contemporary art and the histories of surgery, care, and recovery held within the Old Operating Theatre Museum.

This moving exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the personal stories that exist behind medical history and innovation.

On view from May 7th at the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret.

We are pleased to announce our upcoming exhibition by talented artist, Magda Kuca.Responding to her mother’s experience ...
05/05/2026

We are pleased to announce our upcoming exhibition by talented artist, Magda Kuca.

Responding to her mother’s experience of cancer, Kuca’s work explores vulnerability, inheritance, illness, and healing through experimental photography and sculptural processes. Displayed alongside the museum’s collection, these works create a powerful dialogue between contemporary art and the histories of surgery, care, and recovery held within the Old Operating Theatre Museum.

This moving exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the personal stories that exist behind medical history and innovation.

On view from May 7th at the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret.

01/05/2026

Want to bring the museum home with you? ⚕️
Our online shop offers a number of peculiar curiosities and items that you can’t find anywhere else..

Much of our stock is handmade by local artists and businesses, which is at the core of what we support here at the museum.

Our online shop has launched; offering home delivery across the UK, Europe and Internationally! Check our our current rarities and offerings- we are not your average store.

Every purchase allows us to put funds back into museum preservation and funding our community outreach projects!

Thank you for supporting a local museum 🤍

23/04/2026

This is all that remains of the original St Thomas’ Hospital… 🏥

Here in Southwark, you will find the last remaining remnants of the original site here inside of the Old Operating Theatre Museum.

In the 1860s, St Thomas’ Hospital was forced to move to their current Lambeth site due to the construction and expansion of London Bridge Station- which is the oldest functioning train station in London!

londonbridge

Our walking tour tickets are going FAST! 🪦We only have a few more spots available …Book your tickets via the link in our...
15/04/2026

Our walking tour tickets are going FAST! 🪦
We only have a few more spots available …

Book your tickets via the link in our bio!

Starting at the Thomas Guy statue in Guy’s Courtyard of King’s College London, our tour will explore the historical medical sites of Southwark and uncovered the truth about body-snatching.

Ever wondered where the term “body-snatching” came from? Join our walking tour this Sunday at 10:30AM - spots are limited.

10/04/2026

In 1822, this operating theatre was created for the women’s ward, Dorcas, at St Thomas’ Hospital.

Before this, surgical procedures took place within the ward itself.

The space above St Thomas’ Church, now the Old Operating Theatre Museum, allowed operations to take place while remaining directly connected to the ward.

This site reflects the organisation of surgical care and development of hospital design in early 19th century.

Address

9A St Thomas Street
London
SE19RY

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