Thackray Museum of Medicine

About the museum

The museum opened in 1997 as the Thackray Medical Museum, founded by Paul Thackray and Professor Monty Losowsky. Its collection grew out of the business of the Leeds firm Thackray, which began in 1902 as a corner pharmacy and was sold in 1990; Paul Thackray then set up charities to preserve the collection for research and public education. The museum won Museum of the Year in 1998.

It is housed in the former Leeds Union Workhouse, a Grade II listed building that opened in 1861 and could hold 784 paupers. The building later became part of St James’s Hospital and was used as a hospital during the First World War.

The galleries recreate parts of 19th-century medical history, including a street in early 19th-century Leeds, where visitors follow the fate of a local resident, and a pre-anaesthesia operating theatre with a demonstration of an amputation. The museum describes itself as the UK’s largest independent medical museum and shows around 3,000 objects from its collection of tens of thousands of items. A soft play area for children under five and a café are on site.

Highlights

• Reconstructed street of early 19th-century Leeds
• Pre-anaesthesia operating theatre with an amputation demonstration
• Dressing Disability display with audio description and BSL
• Former Victorian workhouse building
• Sparks! soft play area for under-fives

Permanent exhibitions

• Reconstructed 19th-century Leeds – A recreated street of early 19th-century Leeds where visitors follow the fate of a person who lived there, with a pre-anaesthesia operating theatre nearby.
• Dressing Disability – A first-floor display on disability and dress, with audio description and British Sign Language.

Founded

1997

Admission & discounts

The museum asks visitors to choose a ticket price: £9 (lower-cost), £10 including a £1 donation, £12 (recommended) or £16 (pay-it-forward). Free entry booked in person at reception with proof for Universal Credit claimants, Max Card holders, Art Fund National Art Pass holders, Northern Museums Volunteer Pass holders and Museums Association members.

Accessibility

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

The museum describes itself as fully wheelchair and buggy accessible. Quiet openings run on the last Sunday of each month, 10:00 to 11:00, with lights up and sounds down, and a gallery map with sensory information is available as a PDF. Audio description and British Sign Language are provided for the Dressing Disability display. Assistance dogs are welcome and staff can provide a water bowl. Blue Badge holders park free with a permit from reception.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Stroller-friendly
• Playground / play area

The Sparks! soft play area is for children under five. Children aged six and under enter the museum free. The museum is fully buggy accessible.

Getting there & parking

The museum stands next to St James’s Hospital.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The café is open 9:30 to 15:30 and can be visited without a museum ticket; it serves coffee from a local roaster, sandwiches, pastries and cakes.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Community spaces and venue hire are offered.

Plan your visit