Hunterian Museum: All you need to know

This hidden gem is a free, fascinating museum, looking into the history of surgery, anatomy and surgical science. Located inside the Royal College of Surgeons in London, the Hunterian Museum is family-friendly with displays of preserved specimens and historical curiosities. If you are interested in Science and love quirky museums, then you must experience this place.

Read on for top tips on how to visit including what to expect in the exhibitions and the opening hours.

What is the Hunterian Museum?

This museum houses John Hunter’s extraordinary collection of specimens, tools, skeletons and preserved organs of both animals and humans. This museum is not for you if you are particularly squeamish or sensitive to human parts on display. In the specimen room, there is a display of human fetuses in particular, that you may wish to walk quickly past. It is one of the most comprehensive and historically important medical museums in the world.

Building with columns outside, home to the Hunterian Museum — Outside

Automatic doors to the entrance to the Hunterian Museum — Outside

The Royal College of England’s building was recently redeveloped and the Hunterian Museum itself had a £4.6m facelift. There is no sign outside the building, the only way to know you are in the right place is to walk through the doors into the lobby and see the Museum sign.

John Hunter

Born in 1728, he was a pioneering Scottish surgeon and anatomist. He moved to London as an adult to work as an assistant to his brother, William who ran an anatomy school. Here, in Covent Garden, John led the dissections and worked with local grave robbers to supply the cadavers. Later, he was a surgeon in the army, spending three years in France and Portugal. He spent time collecting specimens of animals before returning to England to continue his practice as a surgeon. His life’s passion was to understand the nature of all living things, from tiny insects to humans.

Why visit the Hunterian Museum?

When you enter, you will see many skeletons and specimens in jars. From a fruit bat skeleton to an elephant’s brain there are so many interesting things to see. I loved the lizards and tails in their separate jars showing the tails regeneration in different stages.

The skeleton of an Indian fruit bat — Indian Fruit Bat

Jars with Lizards and tails — Indian Fruit Bat

I was morbidly fascinated by the human remains on display. I have not posted photos of these due to the sensitive nature of the remains and at the request of the museum. You will see human skulls, teeth and the inner workings of a hand and wrist including nerves and tendons. Towards the end of the museum, there are displays of modern surgery and the tools used now.

Interactive table top display at the Hunterian Museum — Interactive Displays

A display of skulls with a child studying an activity sheet — Interactive Displays

I visited the museum with my son who was 12 at the time. It is family friendly, with children’s activities, especially in the school holidays. I would suggest that children under the age of 7 might find this a little boring. There are a couple of interactive displays but nothing to actually do. The rooms are particularly narrow in places so just be aware if you’re thinking about bringing a pram.

A model showing modern surgery techniques — Modern surgery

Location

The Royal College of Surgeons is right next to Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The perfect place to run around or have a picnic. It is just over a 10 minute walk from Covent Garden to the West and a 10 minute walk from Bloomsbury to the North. If you walk through Lincoln’s Inn Fields, you can also visit Sir John Soane’s Museum, just a couple of minutes away.

Getting To the Hunterian Museum

The nearest tube station is Holburn, just a 5 mintute walk away.

The nearest train station is Charing Cross, a 15 minute walk.

There is no car parking on site but there is paid parking on the roads.

Opening Hours

The Hunterian Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm

Tickets

It is free to visit but donations are welcomed. You can pre-book tickets to avoid having to queue at busy times. As the rooms are quite small, there is a staggered entry in place with one small group of people allowed in the first room at a time. I just walked in and waited two minutes so pre-booking is not necessary.

Toilets

Plenty of toilets are located just down the corridor where the lockers are.

Eating and Drinking

A cafe with tables and chairs at the Hunterian Museum — Cafe

A simple but lovely café is at the back of the building. When you exit the museum, go back through the entrance doors to find the café beyond the museum entrance. Alternatively, there is a café in Lincoln’s Inn Fields across the road.

Accessibility

There is step-free access throughout the building and museum. Magnifying glasses are available for loan from the reception desk.

Top Tips on Visiting the Hunterian Museum

The museum has narrow rooms so you need to leave large bags and rucksacks in a free locker. These are found to the left of the entrance to the building.
Download the free audio guide on Bloomberg Connects before you arrive. The internet is patchy in London and even though free Wi-Fi was on offer, I struggled to connect and gave up.
Photography is allowed without the flash but they ask that no images of human remains are uploaded online, especially social media.
Join a tour! Every Wednesday at 2.15pm there is a Curator Highlights tour. No booking is required as the 12 places are on a first come, first served basis.
If you’re visiting with children, there are activity sheets available which helps to focus their attention on finding certain objects.

If you like the Hunterian Museum, check out my round up of the Best Free Museums in London.