Bethlem Museum of the Mind

About the museum

Bethlem Royal Hospital was founded in 1247 and was the first institution in the UK to specialise in the care of people with mental illness. It has been based in south London since 1930 and still provides in-patient care as part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. The museum stands in the hospital grounds, in an Art Deco building that it shares with the Bethlem Gallery.

The museum was formally opened by the artist Grayson Perry in March 2015. It records the lives and experiences of people with mental health problems and celebrates their achievements. Its collections combine historic archives, artworks and objects that trace the history of mental healthcare, including records from Bethlem, the Maudsley and Warlingham Park hospitals. Among its best-known pieces is The Maze, an artwork made in the 1950s at Bangalore Mental Hospital by the Indian artist D'Souza, whose inscriptions were decoded by volunteers.

Today the museum is run by an independent charity, the Bethlem Art and History Collections Trust. It shows changing exhibitions, offers group visits and learning programmes, and publishes its collections online. Admission is free, and the museum relies on donations.

Highlights

• Art, archives and historic objects on the history of mental healthcare
• The Maze, an artwork from Bangalore Mental Hospital
• Art Deco building in the grounds of Bethlem Royal Hospital
• Free admission
• Free digital guide on the Bloomberg Connects app

Founded

2015

Operated by

Bethlem Art and History Collections Trust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free and donations are welcome. Self-guided group visits (minimum 10 people) are free; facilitated group visits cost £150.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A lift serves the second floor and opens into the temporary exhibition space. There is one accessible unisex toilet on the ground floor. Induction loops are fitted at reception and in the Wolfson Room. Several parking bays are reserved for disabled drivers, with free parking in the grounds and drop-off at the entrance. Guide dogs, assistance dogs and therapy pets are welcome. Large-print exhibition captions and museum maps are available from reception.

Kids & families

Children are welcome when accompanied by parents or carers, who remain responsible for supervising them.

Getting there & parking

Drop-off and pick-up is possible directly outside the museum entrance.

Amenities & dining

Refreshments are available at the hospital site (for example the GUTS Cafe, Monday to Thursday 08:00 to 14:30, card only); the museum itself lists no cafe. An online shop is run at shop.museumofthemind.org.uk.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The Wolfson Room (with projector and kitchenette) and the wood-panelled Boardroom can be hired.

Plan your visit