The award-winning Surgeons' Hall Museums are open from 10am-5pm, 7 days a week (closing only over Christmas and New Year), with free entry for Fellows and Members of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Surgeons' Hall Museums
Owned by RCSEd, the Surgeons' Hall Museums is home to one of the largest and most historic pathology collections in the United Kingdom
Surgeons’ Hall Museums are part of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. The College was founded in 1505 and proactively developed museum collections from 1699 after 'natural and artificial curiosities' were publicly sought. In the 1800s, there was a significant expansion with the addition of the remarkable collections of surgeon and anatomists Sir Charles Bell and John Barclay.
The fascinating collections here have been open to the public since 1832, making Surgeons’ Hall among Scotland's oldest museums. Today, the Wohl Pathology Museum is home to one of the largest and most historic collections of surgical pathology in the world with anatomical specimens of bone and tissue. In addition, the collections include many surgical instruments, historic and modern, artworks and personal memorabilia.
With support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Lister Project delivered a significant redevelopment of the Museums’ galleries from 2014-2015 enabling enhanced displays to engage broad audiences. Surgeon’s Hall was further expanded in 2021 with the addition of Body Voyager which explores the rise in computerised and robotic technology in medicine. Today visitors can explore the Wohl Pathology Museum, the History of Surgery Museum, The Dental Collection, and Body Voyager.
Wohl Pathology Museum
Housed in the upper floor of the 19th century purpose built Playfair Building is the Wohl Pathology Museum, home of one of the largest collections of pathological anatomy in the world.
Visit The Musuem
History of Surgery Museum
The History of Surgery Museum explores Edinburgh's unique contribution to surgical practice in modern times.
Visit The Musuem
The Dental Collection
The Dental Collection is one of the finest in the UK and demonstrates the development of dentistry from its earliest days to modern times. It includes many rare artefacts from world cultures and has important domestic instruments and items.
Visit The Musuem
Body Voyager
The Body Voyager Gallery explores the rise in computerised and robotic technology in medicine. Visitors are taken on a journey through the human body exploring the way in which technology is changing the course of surgery and patient care.
Visit The MusuemPhotography credit: Olga Tyukova
Contact us
Please get in touch with a member of staff at the Surgeons' Hall Musuems to discuss your booking, payment, or visit: museum@rcsed.ac.uk