Hunterian Museum

About the museum

The Hunterian Museum takes its name from John Hunter, an eighteenth-century surgeon and anatomist who built a large teaching collection of anatomical and natural history specimens. After his death in 1793 the collection passed in 1799 to the Company of Surgeons, which later became the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and an independent board of trustees was set up to look after it.

Hunter's collection of around 14,000 specimens and preparations was quickly expanded, and by the 1850s the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons was one of the largest museums of comparative anatomy, pathology, osteology and natural history in the world. The college's museum, archives and library collections received Designated status in 2013, and the museum is an Arts Council England Accredited museum.

The museum reopened on 16 May 2023 after a five-year redevelopment of the college's headquarters at Lincoln's Inn Fields. The £4.6 million project placed more than 2,000 of Hunter's anatomical preparations on display alongside instruments, models, paintings and archive material that trace surgery from ancient times to robot-assisted operations. The museum has England's largest public display of human anatomy.

Highlights

• More than 2,000 anatomical preparations from John Hunter's collection
• History of surgery from ancient times to robot-assisted operations
• England's largest public display of human anatomy
• Films of patients and surgeons describing surgery
• Free entry with a free digital guide

Permanent exhibition

• Hunterian Museum galleries – Ten galleries show John Hunter's anatomical specimens together with instruments, models, paintings and films that trace the history of surgery up to the present day.

Operated by

Royal College of Surgeons of England

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free. Booking a free ticket in advance is recommended to avoid queuing at busy times.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: not available
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

All floors have step-free access, with a ramp at the Lincoln's Inn Fields entrance and a self-operated platform lift at the Portugal Street entrance. The narrowest doorway in the museum is 91 cm wide, and a wheelchair can be borrowed on a first-come basis. There is an accessible toilet and separate baby changing facilities but no Changing Places toilet. Assistance dogs are welcome. There is no on-site disabled parking, but Blue Badge bays are close by on Lincoln's Inn Fields and Portugal Street. Magnifying glasses, sensory backpacks, seating, an induction loop at reception, a tactile exhibit with Braille, and an app with text and audio description are available. Tours with live audio description or British Sign Language interpretation run regularly, and a BSL video tour is in the digital guide. Light levels are low (about 200 lux) because of the fragile specimens.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities

The museum runs free drop-in family activities during school holidays, for example on 28 October 2026 for ages 5 and over, with children under 16 accompanied by an adult. Displays include human anatomy and surgical specimens. Baby changing facilities are available.

Getting there & parking

There is no coach park in Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Lockers

Lockers are free to use on a first-come basis; backpacks, rucksacks and suitcases are not allowed in the museum and must be stored in a locker.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit