Wellcome Collection

The Wellcome Collection on Euston Road is a fascinating venue where visitors can take a look at an ancient mummy; Napoleon's toothbrush, Darwin's walking stick, a DNA-sequencing robot and a Marc Quinn sculpture all under one roof.

The Wellcome Collection is part of the Wellcome Trust that was founded by Sir Henry Wellcome, a Pharmacist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and collector. Wellcome lived from 1853 to 1936; he was one of the first to market medicine in tablet form and formed a multinational pharmaceutical company that changed the way we lived. Wellcome spent his life exploring the realms of science and medicine and throughout his lifetime he amassed a huge collection of artefacts relating to medicine and health.

Sir Henry first showcased his collection of medical paraphernalia at the Historical Medical Museum in Wigmore Street from 1913. With the museum Sir Henry aimed to trace the history of medicine from ancient times to the present day. It featured a Hall of Primitive Medicine, a Hall of Statuary, a Portrait Gallery and a series of period rooms and reconstructions.

In 1932 the collection was moved into the Wellcome Building, a building built to Sir Henry's specifications. The building on Euston Road houses three exhibition rooms, a conference centre, members club, library, bookshop and café.

Today visitors to the Wellcome Collection can view over 1500 exhibits that span six centuries, all of which help portray the development of our understanding of what it means to be human.

The Wellcome Collection regularly holds temporary exhibitions, talks and events. You find out more about these in our Exhibitions and Literary sections.

The venue is open Monday to Sunday from 10am until 6pm, the galleries are not open on Mondays and on Thursday galleries are open until 10pm. Find out more about the Wellcome Collection including Library opening hours.

How to get there

The nearest tube stops to the Wellcome Collection are Euston Station, Euston Square Station, Warren Street Station and Kings Cross. If travelling by bus you can jump on the 10, 18, 24, 27, 29, 30, 59, 68, 73, 88, 91, 134, 168, 205, 253 and 390