In a picturesque London square surrounded by elegant Georgian buildings stands the Royal College of Surgeons, a 200-year-old architectural gem that houses one of Britain’s most intriguing museums. The Hunterian Museum, concealed behind its grand façade, showcases a diverse collection of anatomical specimens, both animal and human, aimed at captivating, educating, and sometimes startling its visitors.
The museum’s galleries are filled with towering shelves holding a plethora of jars containing fascinating specimens, predominantly from the animal kingdom, meticulously preserved for scientific study. However, the collection also includes human remains, such as foetuses, which may unsettle those who are sensitive to such displays.
Visitors are advised against photographing human remains or sharing images on social media, with the museum acknowledging the historical context of these exhibits and the contributions made by individuals in advancing medical knowledge. One notable exhibit that sparked controversy for years was the skeleton of Charles Byrne, a man of exceptional height who had requested a sea burial to avoid his remains being put on display. After a prolonged campaign, his skeleton was finally removed from the museum in 2023.
Among the museum’s eclectic exhibits are extracted teeth from soldiers who fought at Waterloo, Winston Churchill’s false teeth, and a macabre relic from Britain’s first mummy dissection in 1763 – a preserved severed foot. The Evelyn Tables, seemingly modern art pieces, are actually ancient anatomical preparations that provide insights into the human body’s intricate details.
Of particular interest are the surgical tools from the pre-anaesthesia era, showcasing the grim reality of medical procedures in the past. The museum, open from Tuesday to Saturday, offers free entry but recommends booking a slot online due to high visitor numbers during peak times.