The Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret

The museum houses the oldest operating theatre in the UK, located in the roof of an English Baroque Church. This may seem a bizarre place for an operating theatre however the wards of the South Wing of St. Thomas's Hospital were built around St. Thomas's Church.

The 300 year old herb garret was the medical store room for the hospital's apothecary, but now houses display cases with an extensive collection of surgical instruments and specimens. The wooden operating table and observation stands are still in tact, where spectators would have witnesses surgery being performed without anaesthesia or antiseptics.

A number of events are hosted within the museum, where you can witness reconstructions of operations, see the implements used and listen to lectures on former surgical techniques. They also run hands on children's activities and informative educational services.

The objects displayed relate to obstetrics, midwifery, surgical instruments, cupping and bleeding, nursing and patient care, anaesthesia, antiseptic surgery, apothecaries and herbal medicine and St Thomas', Guy's and the Evelina Children's Hospital. The museum is open every day from 10.30am to 5.00pm.