For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is opening its museum doors to the public.
On 10 January 2022 visitors will once again be able to discover fascinating stories from the history of medicine through remarkable objects, works of art, rare books and documents on display at the RCP’s museum.
Housed in a ‘modernist masterpiece’ of a building, 11 St Andrew’s Place on the edge of Regent’s Park, the museum’s collections span five centuries since the foundation of the RCP in 1518. In that time the RCP has amassed a storehouse of treasures, not only from the field of medicine but right across the arts and sciences.
The museum’s Treasures Room houses a range of objects including medicine spoons, leech jars and tongue scrapers, revealing crucial medical theories, historic treatments and the history of the RCP itself.
Highlights include the silver-gilt college mace made by the goldsmith Anthony Nelme in 1683 that shares the design of the House of Commons mace, the demonstration rod used by famous physician William Harvey who first proved that blood circulates around our bodies, and a selection of early stethoscopes, including one that could be folded up to fit in a top hat.
Visitors are invited to wander the airy and modern Lasdun Hall examining fine art portraits of physicians from throughout RCP history, before visiting Royal College of Physicians Unseen - an exhibition presenting never-seen-before curiosities and previously hidden stories from the history of medicine, art, science and society.
The more than 80 items on show at the exhibition include a glass prism thought to have been owned by Sir Isaac Newton, an ether vaporiser designed by leading anaesthetist of the Victorian age and physician to Queen Victoria John Snow, and an incredible miniature exam cheat sheet for doctors.
The museum will also be restarting monthly late openings from Thursday 13 January when visitors can explore exhibition Royal College of Physicians Unseen with an introduction from the curator from 6-8pm.
Lowri Jones, senior curator at the Royal College of Physicians, said: “We are really excited to announce our reopening in the new year and we look forward to welcoming visitors back to enjoy our fantastic collections. After so long running activities online I’m particularly pleased to be able to welcome visitors into the building to explore our exhibition Royal College of Physicians Unseen.
“The impact of medicine and the important job doctors do has never been more in the public view than over the last 18 months. Visiting the museum in person is a great way to find out about both the history of medicine and medicine today; our aim is to engage, entertain and inspire people to learn about the history of medicine and the importance of physicians within it.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on all our lives, the RCP will be taking measures to ensure visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience. Visitors will need to book a free timed-entry ticket in advance.
The RCP museum will continue to offer a range of online events and activities throughout the year for those who do not feel ready or aren’t able to visit in person.
Museum details
Location: Royal College of Physicians, 11 St Andrew’s Place, London, NW1 4LE
Visits to the museum and exhibition must be prebooked for timed entry here.
Price: Free
Self-guided visits can be booked for up to 5 people at a time. Groups of 6 or more wishing to visit the museum together please get in touch at history@rcp.ac.uk
Further information can be found on the RCP’s website.
For more information please contact RCP Media Manager Hannah Perlin by emailing Hannah.perlin@rcp.ac.uk or calling 0203 075 1466.
For out-of-hours urgent enquiries, please call 07896 416409.