The Old Operating Theatre

This museum was a short and interesting detour from the more typical things to do in London, and as a surgeon, my husband got a kick out of it and the operating theater in particular. As a woman, though, seeing some of the gynecological instruments was a little terrifying. Apparently, some of the earliest surgeries performed were on women since childbirth is a common occurrence and fraught with problems… So if you ever thought that medicine and surgery were primitive at some point, imagine being on the receiving end of it at their very beginnings! And terrifying for everybody: Physicians’ walking sticks doubled as something to insert into patients’ mouths during surgery performed without anesthesia. D:
Got a lecture from my husband about how some things weren’t right or historical. (Really, the multicolored plastic heart model doesn’t quite belong with the old and yellowed papers? You don’t say.)

This was a great hour or so spent after a visit to borough market and hays galleria.
Compared with other museums and exhibitions which charge this is relatively cheap (granted quite small) at £6 entry and also with discount if you are a national trust member
One room in the ceiling full of old instrument, medicines and interesting facts as well as the old operating theatre where they also do talks and ‘demonstrations’ which was very interesting!
Highly recommend!

This tiny museum is located in the attic of an old church, where they used to perform surgical procedures with medical students looking on. The space is kind of neat, but what previous reviewers have mentioned about the entry stairwell and the cramped quarters is accurate.
It’s easy to miss the entrance if you’re not looking for it. You climb up a narrow, steep spiral staircase — I think if I’d been half a foot taller, I would have been bumping my head on the ceiling! (I am 5’6.) The staircase is too narrow to accommodate two lanes of traffic, so watch out if you’re climbing up.
They do their best with the layout in the main room, but ultimately I think the space just doesn’t lend itself to being a museum. The aisles are fairly narrow, and I felt weird pausing to read labels because I felt like I was blocking the traffic flow. The coolest part is probably the display of macabre surgical tools from back in the day.
I came here after seeing the Hunterian earlier in the week, which was free, so I think I was a little spoiled by that. The Old Operating Theatre is neat, but ultimately it felt a bit gimmicky to me.

Given that the museum staff said they only get 32,000 visitors a year, I was surprised this was on Unilocal.But I should know better, Unilocalers are an exploratory group!
Highlights:
— The oldest operating theatre in Europe with a Herb Garet. The amount of history in this small space is amazing!
— Across the street from the Borough Market. You can get something delicious to eat before hand. [Unless you get queasy easily…]
— You should make a point to go on Saturday or Sunday. On the weekends at 2pm they have a lecture.
— Inexpensive! As far as tourist destinations go this place is a steal at £6 for adults.
— Great for kids too! There were two kids in the lecture when I went. They were about…10?
Lowlights:
— I don’t think this place is accessible if you are in a wheelchair or if you have issues climbing up a cramped flight of stairs.
Overall: I have to agree with what other Unilocalers have said, this place is completely underrated! If you go on a weekend you are in a great area to do other exploring like the Globe, the Borough Market, London Bridge!

The Old Operating Theatre is very interesting but it’s not easily accessible or pleasant to be in. Located just a few streets from Borough Market, you have to walk up and down a steep, narrow staircase to access it. As someone with joint issues, I would not have gone if it hadn’t been for my doctor-​in-​training boyfriend’s enthusiasm and interest. Once inside, you have to squeeze through an overcrowded gift shop and up another staircase. There is also no bathroom once you’re there. For someone who’s not training to be a doctor, I was overwhelmed by what was there and distracted by the stuffiness/​heat. He said that he greatly enjoyed it and was oozing about all that he learned but after seeing the Huntarian Museum and all it had to offer, that he wouldn’t give it more than 3 stars. I didn’t end up making it to the Huntarian Museum so I can’t speak to it.

I think I just found the perfect museum.
This place is amazing. If you like science, medicine, and history and your a total geek this is the place for you! This place is so interesting. With all of the old instruments from way back when, you actually do feel you travel back in time (yes, I know I’m talking like a geek). I think I made so much noise with «WOAH COOL» «Awesome».
The lady working in the front is really nice and equally interesting as the museum and super helpful. The gift shop has really unique gifts too!

So underrated!
I love morbid and gross history, and this is the perfect place to find it. Located in a church attic, the Old Operating Theatre is the oldest existing operating room in Britain, and the site of many amputations dating back to 1821. At the time, med students in training would crowd into the theatre to observe the surgeries, which were often performed on blindfolded poor people. You can read about specific cases, including diary entries from one of the nurses, in the theatre by the table.
Next to the operating theatre in the church attic is an exhibit on surgery and medical practice, complete with the actual implements they used to use on patients, and a collection of medicinal herbs.
This is not a popular or crowded exhibit, so if you have an interest in medical history, definitely check this one out! Of the many museums, galleries and exhibits I visited during my time in London, this was among my favorites.
Note: Don’t be scared off by the steep, winding staircase leading up to the entrance — just make sure to use the rope to help you up!

What a great find! I had read an article on this place and found myself with a free day to check it out.
Located atop an old church, it is one of the oldest surviving operating theatres. The museum is tiny and unassuming. Visitors go up a small spiral staircase and enter through the gift shop. I wasn’t there for a demonstration, but even wandering around the theatre on my own, I could imagine blood dripping from the patient on the operating table, and the surgeon calling for more sawdust to catch it. It was harsh and gruesome, and a large percentage of patients didn’t survive. You could even see the instruments (saws) they used for amputation. Now, imagine what that would have been like before the invention of anesthesia.
Immediately next to it is the Herb Garrett, with all kinds of dried plants and oddities with information on what they were used to treat. In addition, old Victorian medical instruments, grotesquely shaped, were on display. Only in my worst nightmares could I imagine those being used on me. But this was reality in an age prior to modern medicine. How far we’ve come!

Many of us shivered as the knife was raised above the volunteer on the operating table… this is one of the most unusual museums in London, and also the oldest operating theatre in Europe.
The theatre is located behind the Herb Garret, a unique chance to explore the Roof space of St. Thomas’ Hospital Church. Many spices laying around and spiced organs in jars, along w/​baby delivering tools (forceps) make this place wicked, special in winter when we climbed wooden stairs in circles all the way to the top.
Amongst all the wicked things, on valentine’s day they had this special
Sir Hans Sloane: The Odyssey of Chocolate Workshop allowing visitor to discover the fascinating story of chocolates long, rich history, from it’s early usage by the ancient Aztecs (Remember the recent British Museum special exhibition :), who drank chocolate as a bitter beverage during religious and social ceremonies, to the explosion and mass production of chocolate throughout Europe in the 19^th century. There’re more such chocolate events and tasting in March and April. It’s something special to do w/​family.
What I like the most about the museum is the interaction and participation between visitors and curators. 2 curators talked about chocolate passionately, the museum history lively, and demonstrated the operating table. Throughout the museum, we felt being part of the history. Thanks to Gordon J for the intro.