The Hunterian Museum is a medical and surgical museum located within the Royal College of Surgeons of England at Lincoln’s Inn Fields in Holborn, central London. The museum houses the collection of 18th-century surgeon and anatomist John Hunter, containing anatomical specimens, surgical instruments, historical paintings, and natural history objects. The collection includes over 3,000 anatomical and pathological specimens prepared between 1760 and 1793, displayed alongside exhibits exploring the history and development of surgery.
This 2026 visitor guide covers opening hours, admission, how to get there, accessibility information, what to see inside, and practical tips for planning your visit.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Tuesday–Saturday: 10:00–17:00<br>Closed Sunday and Monday |
| Admission | Free (advance booking recommended) |
| Address | Royal College of Surgeons of England, 38–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PE |
| Nearest transport | Holborn Underground (5 min walk)<br>Temple Underground (7 min walk) |
| Time needed | 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Recommended last entry | 16:00 |
Hunterian Museum opening hours
The Hunterian Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00. The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Recommended last entry is at 16:00. A free Curator Highlights Tour takes place every Wednesday at 14:15, lasting approximately 30 minutes. The tour is limited to 12 people on a first-come, first-served basis; request a ticket from the reception desk on arrival.
Hunterian Museum admission prices
Entry to the Hunterian Museum is free. Advance booking is recommended to avoid queuing at busy times, though walk-ins are accepted subject to capacity. Groups of 10 or more must book in advance. Donations to support the museum are welcome.
Opening hours and admission details were checked and updated in January 2026.
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How to get to the Hunterian Museum
The Hunterian Museum is located in Holborn, close to several Underground stations. The nearest station is Holborn on the Piccadilly and Central lines, approximately 5 minutes’ walk from the museum. Temple station on the District and Circle lines is a 7-minute walk away. Chancery Lane on the Central Line is also within walking distance.
Several bus routes stop near the museum; check the Transport for London website for current routes and schedules. The nearest railway station is Charing Cross, a short taxi or Underground journey from the museum. Use the TfL journey planner for the most accurate route information.
Parking at the Hunterian Museum
There is no parking on site at the Hunterian Museum. Metered public parking is available in the surrounding area. The nearest NCP car park is London Bloomsbury Square. Blue Badge holders can use designated parking bays on Lincoln’s Inn Fields and Portugal Street. There is no coach parking at Lincoln’s Inn Fields; visit the Transport for London website for information about coach parking in central London.
How long to spend at the Hunterian Museum
Most visitors spend 1 to 1.5 hours at the Hunterian Museum. The museum consists of 10 rooms displaying anatomical specimens, surgical instruments, historical paintings, and interactive exhibits. Visitors with a particular interest in medical history or anatomy may wish to allow longer. The free Curator Highlights Tour on Wednesdays adds 30 minutes to visit time.
Accessibility at the Hunterian Museum
All floors of the building have step-free access. There is a ramp at the Lincoln’s Inn Fields entrance and a self-operated platform lift at the Portugal Street entrance. The narrowest doorway inside the museum is 91cm wide. A wheelchair can be made available for visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.
Toilets are located on the ground floor to the left of the Lincoln’s Inn Fields entrance. The main toilets are gender-neutral, individually self-contained cubicles. An accessible toilet and separate baby changing facilities are available. The building does not have a Changing Places toilet; the nearest facilities are at Great Ormond Street Hospital (0.7 miles) and Wellcome Collection on Euston Road (1.3 miles).
Assistance dogs are welcome; other animals are not permitted. Induction loops are available at the reception desk and in spaces where museum events are held. Magnifying glasses and magnifying sheets can be borrowed from the reception desk. The museum offers a free digital guide with full text and audio descriptions. Large text guides are being prepared. British Sign Language tours are available on the digital guide and online.
Seating is available throughout the museum, with five benches with arm supports and seats at some audio-visual displays. Mobile foldable stools are also available. The museum has no natural daylight, and light levels are kept low (approximately 200 lux) to conserve specimens and fragile objects.
Lockers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Backpacks, rucksacks, and suitcases are not allowed in the museum and must be stored in lockers. Locker sizes are 69.5 × 31.5 × 62.5cm, 64.5 × 28.5 × 45.5cm, and 47.5 × 29 × 46cm.
What to see at the Hunterian Museum
Room 1 features anatomical tables from the 1300s to 1700s, displayed through an audio-visual projection. A tactile exhibit depicts the veins of the human body with braille lettering. Room 2 displays comparative anatomy specimens showing the skeletal and muscular systems of various animals. Expect ambient animal sounds including bees, frogs, and birds.
Room 3 contains an audio-visual presentation showing conversations between John Hunter and his brother William Hunter, with Scottish voices and background sounds of 18th-century street scenes. Room 4 is a 22-metre gallery displaying as much of John Hunter’s original collection as possible, with specimens prepared between 1760 and 1793. Two searchable terminals allow visitors to explore the entire Hunter collection of 3,100 specimens, with magnified images.
Room 5 includes a model of Hunter’s house with recorded audio narration and an interactive audio-visual map showing Hunter’s London, marking 13 locations associated with the surgeon. Room 7 displays Hunter’s case books through an audio-visual projection showing turning pages activated by hand gestures.
Room 8 features anatomical figures from the 1800s and microscope specimens. Room 9 contains a searchable database of paintings and archival material related to facial reconstruction, including 70 pastel portraits by Henry Tonks. Short films about surgery from 1917 to the present are also displayed. Room 10 is a darkened cinema-style space showing a speeded-up surgical operation and filmed interviews with patients and surgeons describing their experiences.
The museum also displays surgical instruments, historical medical equipment, and natural history specimens including articulated skeletons of animals. The collection demonstrates the development of surgical techniques and anatomical understanding from the 18th century to the present day.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip |
|---|
| Book tickets in advance online to avoid queuing, particularly during busy periods and weekends. |
| Children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult due to the display of human remains. |
| Backpacks, rucksacks, and suitcases must be stored in lockers; take only essential small items into the museum. |
| Photography is permitted for personal use only, but do not post close-up images of human remains on social media. |
| Flash photography and commercial photography are not permitted. |
| The Wednesday Curator Highlights Tour at 14:15 is free but limited to 12 people on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Download the free digital guide app before or during your visit for audio descriptions and detailed information. |
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Hunterian Museum suitable for children? | Yes, but parents should be aware the museum displays human remains that may upset young or sensitive children. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | Advance booking is recommended to avoid queuing, though the museum accepts walk-ins subject to capacity. |
| Is the Hunterian Museum open on Sundays? | No, the museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays. It is open Tuesday to Saturday. |
| Are bags allowed? | Small bags are allowed, but backpacks, rucksacks, and suitcases must be stored in lockers. |
| How long does a visit take? | Most visitors spend 1 to 1.5 hours exploring the museum. |
| Is there wheelchair access? | Yes, the building has step-free access to all floors via ramps and a platform lift. Wheelchairs are available to borrow. |
Things to do near the Hunterian Museum
Sir John Soane’s Museum is located immediately opposite the Hunterian Museum on Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The museum contains the architect’s collection of art, antiquities, and architectural fragments displayed in original interiors. The British Museum is a 10-minute walk north on Great Russell Street and houses world history collections including the Rosetta Stone, the bust of Ramesses II and Egyptian mummies.
The Charles Dickens Museum and Foundling Museum are a short walk away in Bloomsbury,
The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, a 10-minute walk south, displays Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings by Manet, Monet, Cézanne, and Van Gogh. Lincoln’s Inn, one of London’s four Inns of Court, surrounds Lincoln’s Inn Fields and offers historic architecture, a chapel, and gardens. The London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, a 10-minute walk southeast, explores the history of public transport in London through vehicles, posters, and interactive exhibits.
More London travel
Other London travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Visitor tips for going to the London Dungeon.
- A practical guide to visiting Kenwood House and the Freud Museum in Hampstead.
- A first time visitor’s guide to Kensington Palace.
- What to expect when visiting the Florence Nightingale Museum.
- Plan a visit to the Golden Hinde and Tate Modern in Bankside, London.
