The Old Operating Theatre Museum

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The Old Operating Theatre is a unique museum providing a fascinating glimpse into the early days of surgery in the early 1800s

Inside the Old Operating Theatre cc licensed photo by Matt From London

This extremely unusual museum is located up a very narrow flight of stairs inside the garret of St. Thomas's Church which was also the original location of St. Thomas's Hospital. Visitors to this lesser known London attraction find it very intriguing and they highly recommend it. The Old Operating Theatre is one of the oldest operating theatres still in existence. Opened in 1822, the patients were women from the adjoining women's hospital.

Procedures were performed without anaesthetics so they were done as rapidly as possible while the patient was subdued by alcohol or opiates. Later they began to use ether or chloroform. Patients put up with students watching the operation in the Theatre, as they were generally poor, and this allowed them to receive surgery from top surgeons that they could in no way afford otherwise.

Cleanliness was 'sacred', however the risk of death was still very high due to the lack of available treatments for infection and the shock of surgery.

The Operating Theatre closed in 1862 when the hospital was moved to a new location and it remained undiscovered for nearly 100 years until 1957. It opened to the public as a museum in 1962.

The Old Operating Theatre is open daily from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm except for December 15th-January 5th. There is a small admission charge.

This attraction is also close to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and Tower Bridge so you may want to visit them while in the area.

For more information about the The Old Operating Theatre including admission charges and hours visit their official website.

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Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes

Old Operating Theatre Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Address: 9a St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY, UK

Phone: 020 7188 2679

Official Website: Old Operating Theatre

Old Operating Theatre Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Lovely little museum which I visited with a friend. We are both aspiring medical students which is why we may have enjoyed it much more than some. Either way, the pathology is fascinating and the ways that Medicine and healthcare has developed through the centuries is incredible. The lady at the Apothecary counter was lovely and was able to answer our questions. We even met some leeches! Would definitely come again.
EleanorLucy - a month ago

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5 Star Rating A great place to visit to discover what a surgical theatre looked like in the 1600's. The museum exhibits have been beautifully planned out. Other than the surgical theatre itself... The highlight of the visit was probably how to get in and out of the museum... Up/down an incredibly steep spiral staircase with a naval rope for hand holds.
Michael Sell (DemonicLacky) - a month ago

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5 Star Rating One of the coolest museums I’ve ever been to. Everyone we met there was extremely friendly. I loved the duck scavenger hunt they had, it really kept us engaged and we got a cool sticker at the end. I really encourage people to stop by when they’re in London.
Beth Thomas - a month ago

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5 Star Rating Interesting little museum located at the top of a 52 step spiral staircase. Home to what use to be a herb garret and one of the oldest surviving operating theatres in the country. Not the largest of museums, but for the relatively low price for entry (especially with the 2-4-1 tickets), it is well worth it.
Ian Fry - 4 months ago

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5 Star Rating Awesome little find and cheap to get in. Can't believe the history here. It's amazing to think that it's from 1820. Would recommend checking this place out. There's spiral stairs upwards which are quite steep so anyone with accessibility needs may need to ask about alternative access.
Christina Connelly - 5 months ago

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Directions

Tube Line	Nearest Station	Walking Time
Jubilee and Northern Lines	London Bridge Station	1 MInute

How to get to Old Operating Theatre by Tube

From London Bridge Station exit onto Borough High Street and walk to your right(north) then immediately right onto St. Thomas Street. The Old Operating Theatre is just ahead to your left on St. Thomas Street.