not one for the squeamish
The Royal College of Surgeons' jaw-dropping, not-for-the-squeamish collection of anatomy and surgery, free, reopened after a long revamp on Lincoln's Inn Fields.
Free to visit · Holborn · Holborn · WC2A 3PE
Opening: Tue–Sat 10am–5pm · closed Sun & Mon
The Hunterian is built from the collection of John Hunter, the pioneering and slightly ghoulish eighteenth-century surgeon, and after years closed for a revamp it is open again, free, on Lincoln's Inn Fields. It is one of the most extraordinary and least squeamish-friendly rooms in London.
Hundreds of glass jars hold specimens preserved over two centuries, showing how bodies work and how surgery learned to fix them. It is clinical and beautifully displayed rather than gory, but it is honest about disease, dissection and the history of medicine, so it is not for everyone and not for young kids.
It sits right next door to Sir John Soane's Museum, two of London's strangest free hours back to back on the same handsome square. Do the pair together and you have an afternoon you will not forget.
Getting there: On Lincoln's Inn Fields, a couple of minutes from Holborn, right next door to Sir John Soane's Museum.
Best time to go: A weekday. It is free but you may need to book a slot at busy times, so check before you go.
Insider tip: Pair it with Sir John Soane's Museum literally next door, the two strangest free collections in London on one square. Note it can need a free timed slot at peak times, so check the website before you make a special trip.
Official site: https://hunterianmuseum.org
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide