Wellcome Collection

Over het museum

Wellcome Collection grew out of the collection of Sir Henry Solomon Wellcome (1853–1936), an extensive traveller who gathered books, paintings and objects on the history of medicine from around the world. An earlier Wellcome Historical Medical Museum had stood at Wigmore Street. When the Wellcome Trust moved its offices into the new Gibbs Building next door on Euston Road, which was completed in 2004, the older Wellcome Building became free for a new public venue.

The museum and library opened to the public in June 2007 and reopened with additional public spaces in October 2015, including a Reading Room that combines library and museum. The permanent exhibition Medicine Man, which showed part of Wellcome's own collection, closed in 2022 after fifteen years, and the collecting practices of Wellcome have since been examined critically, including how objects entered the collection.

Today the permanent gallery Being Human, opened in 2019 and designed with disabled artists and activists, explores identity, health and trust in the 21st century through about 50 artworks and objects. Alongside it the building has changing exhibitions, events, a library of over a million items, a café and a shop. Wellcome Collection is part of Wellcome, a global charitable foundation.

Hoogtepunten

• Being Human, a permanent gallery of about 50 artworks and objects on health and identity
• Yinka Shonibare's Refugee Astronaut
• Interactive epidemic jukebox
• Reading Room that combines library and museum
• Free exhibitions and library with over 1.1 million items
• Tours with audio description, British Sign Language and brighter lighting

Vaste collectie

• Being Human – A permanent gallery on trust, identity and health in a changing world, with about 50 artworks and objects in four sections: Genetics, Minds & Bodies, Infection, and Environmental Breakdown.
• The Reading Room – A space combining library and museum, with over 1,000 books, objects grouped around themes such as travel, pain, food and the body, and sofas and beanbags.

Opgericht

2007

Beheerder

Wellcome Trust

Directie

Melanie Keen

Bezoekers per jaar

ca. 500.000

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

All permanent and temporary exhibitions and most events are free. Some events and relaxed openings need a free ticket booked in advance.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal
• Audiodescriptie

The building has step-free access throughout; wheelchairs or mobility devices 75 cm wide or more may not reach some areas. Wheelchairs can be borrowed from the Information Point on level 0. Accessible toilets are on all floors, and there is a Changing Places toilet on level 0. Fixed induction loops are at the information point, café, library desk, auditorium and other spaces, and portable loops can be reserved. Regular tours with audio description and brighter lighting, tours led by British Sign Language users and BSL-interpreted tours are offered, along with digital guides with audio description and BSL, large-print guides, magnifiers, and braille titles and tactile reproductions in Being Human. Visual stories, relaxed openings, a chill-out space and sensory tools are provided. Assistance dogs are welcome. Limited Blue Badge parking can be booked in advance.

Kinderen & gezin

Beperkt geschikt voor kinderen

• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte

Some exhibitions include human remains, sexual content and graphic images of surgery and may be unsuitable for children under 14. Baby buggies can be stored in the lockers, baby-changing facilities are on every floor, and breastfeeding and bottle-feeding are welcome everywhere, including the galleries. The Reading Room is suitable for all ages.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The building is on Euston Road almost opposite Euston station, with banners advertising exhibitions. Entry is through two revolving doors or the accessible door between them. There are bike stands near the main entrance and on Gordon Street.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel
• Kluisjes
• Wifi

Wellcome Café on level 0 serves sandwiches, cakes and hot and cold drinks and is run by Benugo. The shop sells books and gifts inspired by the collection. Free lockers are on level 0, and on level 2 for library users; umbrellas and luggage larger than airline carry-on size may not be taken into the galleries. Free wifi is available throughout the building.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Zakelijke evenementen

Tot 154 personen.

Meeting rooms, the Henry Wellcome Auditorium (up to 154 seated), the Reading Room, the Being Human Gallery and a private dining room can be hired, with catering by Benugo.

Je bezoek plannen