RCP Museum - Visual story

We hope this page will help you plan your visit to the Royal College of Physicians Museum – especially if you're coming for the first time. This is a new page, if there is anything missing or that you find confusing please let us know at history@rcp.ac.uk.

View of the white front the RCP building with a car park in front. — The front of the Royal College of Physicians building on the Outer Circle.

Getting here

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) Museum is located on St Andrew’s Place, a small street off the Outer Circle. It is opposite the southeast corner of The Regent’s Park.

There are four underground stations nearby and three bus stops.

Step one: Please click on the station or bus stop below to see the route from that station to Park Square East.

From Regent’s Park tube station - 0.2mi, 4 minute walk

This station is on the Bakerloo tube line.

Exit the station, following the signs towards Great Portland Street Station and Albany Street. You will exit onto Marylebone Road facing the correct direction. Walk straight ahead, with Marylebone Road on your left-hand side. Cross Marylebone Road at the first pedestrian crossing you see. This will take you to the black iron gates at Park Square East.

The top of the stairs at the exit from Regent’s Park station onto Marylebone road.

From Great Portland Street tube station: 0.2mi, 4 minute walk

This station is on the Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines.

Exit from Portland street tube station — The exit in Great Portland Street tube station facing onto Marylebone Road.

Exit onto Marylebone Road. Cross Marylebone Road at the pedestrian crossing straight ahead, then turn left and cross Albany street at the pedestrian crossing. Walk straight ahead along the pavement until you reach the black iron gates on your right leading onto Park Square East.

From Warren Street tube station: 0.4mi, 10 minute walk

This station is on the Victoria and Northern lines.

Exit the station onto Tottenham Court Road and turn left. Cross Euston Road at the pedestrian crossing and turn left again. Walk straight ahead with Euston Road on your left-hand-side for about 5 minutes. Cross the pedestrian crossings at Osnaburgh and Albany street keeping Euston Road on your left. Keep going until you reach the black iron gates onto Park Square East on your right.

From Baker Street tube station: 0.7mi, 17 minutes walk

This station is on the Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith, Jubilee and Metropolitan lines.

Exit and turn left onto Marylebone Road. Continue for about 0.6mi, 15 minutes keeping Marylebone Road on your right until you reach the black iron gates onto Park Square East on your left.

View of the exit of Baker street tube station on Marylebone road — View of the exit of Baker Street Tube Station onto Marylebone Road.

From Euston Road bus stop D (on Albany Street): 0.2mi, 4 minute walk

Exit the bus onto Albany Street, turn right and follow the road down to where it meets Euston Road. Turn right to cross Albany street at the pedestrian crossing. Keep Euston Road on your left walk straight ahead along the pavement until you reach the black iron gates on your right leading onto Park Square East.

The shelter at Euston road bus stop D on Albany Street — The shelter on Albany Street for Euston road bus stop D facing towards Euston Road.

Regent's Park Station bus stop B: 0.2mi, 4 minute walk

Exit the bus onto Marylebone Road and turn left. Walk straight ahead, with Marylebone Road on your left-hand side. Cross Marylebone Road at the first pedestrian crossing you see. This will take you to the black iron gates at Park Square East.

The bus shelter for Regent's Park station bus stop B. — Regent's Park Station bus stop B on the Marylebone Road.

Albany Street bus stop C: 0.2mi, 4 minute walk

Exit the bus onto Albany Street, turn left and follow the road down to where it meets Euston Road. Turn right keeping Euston Road on your left walk straight ahead along the pavement until you reach the black iron gates on your right leading onto Park Square East.

The bus shelter for Albany Street bus stop C — Albany Street bus stop C on Albany Street.

Step two: directions from Park Square East to the entrance to the Museum.

The black iron gates at the entrance to Park Square East from Marylebone Road. The images show how it looks approached from the left (left picture) and from the right (right picture).

Head through the black iron gates to Park Square East and follow this road. Straight ahead you will see a mini-roundabout, with the corner of Regent’s Park on your left and the RCP building on your right. The Museum is located within this building – there is no signage for the museum outside.

For step-free entry to the building, enter through the car park. Go around the black barrier towards the white columns at the front. There is a stepped entrance further along the Outer Circle which leads up to the white columns.

On the left is an image of the steps up to the white columns at the front entrance of the building. On the right is an image of the front entrance behind around the black barriers and through the car park. — On the left is an image of the steps up to the white columns at the front entrance of the building. On the right is an image of the front entrance behind the black barriers and through the car park.

Entry to the RCP Museum

Entry to the RCP Museum is free and open to all. You can enter the front door behind the white columns up the steps.

There is a lift platform to the left of the entrance for step-free access. There is a button on the lift to call reception who will operate the platform for you.

On the left is an image of the lift platform to the left of the front doors. On the right is an image of the front entrance steps.

The button on the lift platform with the instructions ‘Intercom to Reception. Call to activate lift’.

Finding you way

Welcome area

When you enter the building you will be greeted by our reception team. Let them know you are visiting the Museum. They will ask you to sign in and give you a visitor badge and visitor booklet. They will tell you which parts of the building you can visit that day and where the facilities are.

On the left is an image of the reception desk and a member of our reception team. On the right is an image of a member of our reception team showing a visitor where things are in the visitor booklet.

The Museum collections are located all around the building, including in large open spaces which can get very noisy when busy. Fridays and school holidays tend to be quieter times to visit. Contact us to check how busy the building will be during your visit. Ear defenders are available during your visit and can be found on the First Floor gallery, at the start of the temporary exhibition.

We have two wheelchairs available for visitors to the RCP Museum to borrow. If you would like to borrow a chair please contact the reception team at least 24 hours before your visit.

Toilets and cloakroom

The toilets and cloakroom are on the Lower Ground floor. You can get there down the steps or on the lift platform. Ask our reception team to operate the lift platform. The cloakroom can be used to park buggies.

Lower Ground floor

The Lower Ground floor is a good place to start exploring. On this floor you can find the apothecary jars on display and the Treasures Room with surgical tools, medical tools and silver displays. Folding chairs and collection guides are available to use while you explore.

on the left the blue and white apothecary jars. On the right one of the display cases in the Treasures Room with the folding chairs to the left of the case. — On the left the blue and white apothecary jars. On the right one of the display cases in the Treasures Room with the folding chairs to the left of the case.

Ground floor

You can reach the Ground floor from the Lower Ground floor by the stairs or the lift. On the Ground floor is the Lasdun Hall, named after architect Denys Lasdun, with a dramatic central staircase. Around the walls are a collection of portraits, coats of arms and sculptures from the early years of the RCP.

The central staircase on the Lasdun Hall.

There are two further rooms on this floor that you can visit if not in use. The Censors Room contains historic wood panels, portraits and sculpture, and the Council Chamber is a meeting room with a dramatically vaulted ceiling.

These rooms are often closed for private events. If you particularly wish to see these rooms please contact us and we can advise you when to visit.

On the left is an image of the Censors Room with wood panels, a chandelier, and paintings and sculpture around the walls. On the right is an image of the Council Chamber showing its vaulted ceiling.

First floor

The First floor can be reached by the central staircase or lift. On this floor you will find portraits from the 20th and 21st centuries, and our temporary exhibition gallery.

Find out about the current exhibition

On the left is an image of the 20th and 21st century paintings on the wall above the First Floor gallery. On the right is an image of the first Floor Gallery exhibition space with glass display cases and images on the walls.

The temporary exhibitions contain audio and visual materials. There are folding chairs to use while exploring the exhibition. There is a children’s trail to help our young visitors explore. There are large print guides and access materials including ear defenders, magnifying glasses and coloured overlays to help everyone enjoy the exhibition.

There are two further rooms on this floor. The Dorchester Library contains our rare book collection and portraiture, and the Osler room which is used for dining.

These rooms are often closed for private events. If you particularly wish to see these rooms please contact us and we can advise you when to visit.

On the left is an image of the Dorchester Library with bookcases lining the walls and portraits and sculpture on display. On the right is an image of the Osler Room, a large space with curtain -covered windows and portraits on the walls. — On the left is an image of the Dorchester Library with bookcases lining the walls and portraits and sculpture on display. On the right is an image of the Osler Room, a large space with curtain-covered windows and portraits on the walls.

Second floor

You can reach the second floor by going up the stairs to the left of the Dorchester Library or in the lift. On this floor are more paintings from our portrait collection and the Anatomical Tables. Please be aware that the Anatomical Tables include human remains.

You can exit the building the way you came in.

We offer guided tours of the building and Museum for free and for a fee.

Take a look at our tour offer

We also run events and activities.

Find out what’s on

Medicinal Garden

Visitors are welcome to explore our Medicinal Garden. Please check in at reception before entering the Garden. The reception team can give you leaflets to help you explore the Garden. The Garden contains over 1000 plants relating to medicine. Please don’t pick or eat anything in the Garden as some of the plants are poisonous.

From reception leave the RCP main entrance and turn left into the car park. Keep going through the black barriers to the left of the building and onto the cobbled street of St Andrews Place. The planted beds in front of the RCP building and in front of the houses on St Andrews place are also part of the Garden.

On the left is an image of the Garden beds in front of the RCP building entrance. In the centre is an image of the beds in front of St Andrew’s Place with an information sign. On the right is an image of a leaflet box on the fence where you can pick up a leaflet. — On the left is an image of the Garden beds in front of the RCP building entrance. In the centre is an image of the beds in front of St Andrews Place with an information sign. On the right is an image of a leaflet box on the fence where you can pick up a leaflet.

At the end of the cobbled street is a black iron gate into the Garden beside the RCP building. There is a firm path around the side of the Garden but please be aware there are uneven surfaces.

Occasionally part of the Garden is closed for private events. If you particularly wish to see the Garden please contact us and we can advise you when to visit.