Wellcome Collection

One of my favourite places to spend time in. They usually have exhibitions on and whenever I have been to one I have not been dissapointed

I spend lots of time here. I use the library for my phd. I have had the pleasure of also working with this organisation now and then, and I have visited every exhibition they have had since December 2008. These are my credentials! The library, first of all, unsurprisingly specialises in the history of medicine. It has one of the best, if not the best collection in the world in that regard but had fine collections of almost any human concern you might care to think of. The space is perfect for study and the staff on the desk are scholars and leaders in their fields. They know the collection inside out and seem to stay there for years (ad far as anyone can see on their website, Wellcome pay their staff well and treat them as they deserve to be treated). The only drawback with the library is its business through exam period (though I have never failed to find a seat). The crowds are more of an issue when the lockers get full but even then there is a free cloakroom on the ground floor staffed most often by Danny - the friendliest fellow with an almost Edwardian attitude to customer service. We know each other by name but he still calls me 'sir' every now and then! The temporary exhibitions are also second to none, each overseen with the utmost care by a team of curators. There is always a good variety of events both themed (the exhibition topics provide a framework and inspiration for other events) and not. These provide an interesting perspective on whatever it is they are about. The permanent exhibitions are also good. Medicine man is superb and gives you an idea of Henry Wellcome himself through his collection, which is again curated by the best. See Napoleon's toothbrush and king George III's hair here! Medicine now is a little disappointing, though, I think, when compared with medicine man but that's just my preference for old things over new things coming through. It is really great to see the whole of the human gnome printed out on paper, though! It is also refreshing that the exhibitions are not all geared towards children. There is a children's area in medicine now and they certainly aren't forgotten, but adults can come and actually learn something. You don't get this very often, as catering specifically for kids means government funding! Staff are ridiculously nice. They get time to study and develop their own tours which are always learned an enthusiastically delivered. And almost everything in here is free! Remarkable! The gift shop also has some good stuff in it but the cafe is terribly overpriced and run by the same folk who run other museum cafes (Peyton And Byrne). Best bet is to go next door to the friend's meeting house for dinner if you plan to spend the day at Wellcome collection. Security check at the door a bit of a token gesture as they don't actually look into your bag, just open it to see what is on top! That's not a big deal if you have a handbag or something but I frequently have more than one bag that takes a while to open only for the security person to look at the top and wave me through! In conclusion, superlatives are terrible in reviews of places but in rare cases such as these, they are warranted. This is simply the best gallery, library, and museum I have ever come across - and my day job requires me to visit a hell of a lot of galleries, libraries, and museums.

Can a museum be trendy?

Yes it can!

This place is downright diverse, playful and interesting!

The wellcome collection always has truely odd items, engaging and frequently changing exhibitions.

Some of the exhibits aren’t child friendly or for the faint of heart, so I would bear that in mind when planning a trip here.

They have a great tea room/cafe and quirky shop that are also worth a visit.

Informative and engaging exhibitions, the Wellcome Collection is surely an eye-opening experience to anyone interested in the human body. From the beginnings of medicine to the groundbreaking science of today, you’ll always learn something new.

Is it art or science? Well, both! A hidden gem round the corner from Euston Square tube station. A quiet display of weird bodily artefacts. Very modern with a reasonably priced cafe. Plenty of vegetarian options. There’s a library on the second floor.

I saw a very interesting exhibition on dirt! A special childrens area too.

Really excellent amok exhibitions. I have been here on a few occasion for day trainings and have had the pleasure of time at lunch to walk around he exhibit that is showing. Definitely one place that isn't visited enough.

Awesome exhibits. Feels fresh and modern. Lovely cafe. Free wifi.

I have lived in London for about a gazillion years now and it's taken that long to discover this place. And its a joy. Brilliant galleries, extremely well curated collections. Some of it quirky all of it interesting.

Good cafe on the ground floor and a bookshop to browse. Perfect London destination.

And it's free.

One of those "hidden" places in London; you've been past it a million times, may have vaguely registered its presence, but never thought to go in. Both the special exhibitions and the permanent collection are well worth a visit; I particularly enjoyed both the "Bodies of London" and "Skin" shows. Although nominally around a medical theme, exhibits are presented in a thought-provoking and unpatronizing fashion, in many cases blurring the line between medicine, art, and philosophy. Go with an open mind and open eyes, and you'll come away richer for the experience.

The Wellcome Collection on Euston Road is unutterably cool. Dedicated to the investigation of all that it means to be human, exhibitions range from the human body, to medicine, to war and social issues. A large share of profits from the hire of the modern conference centre go back into the Wellcome Trust charity to fund operational costs of the collection AND their first theatrical production held in the auditorium stars Billy Bragg – this is geek-chic at its best!
On the chilly Saturday afternoon that I visited, we browsed through a special exhibition entitled Identity and the permenant galleries Medicine Man and Medicine Now. Oddities, ghoulish curios, unsettling artwork and fascinating history - this is a great place to spend an hour or two for those that feel they've 'done' all the London museums. If you're feeling a little queasy afterwards then I can guarantee a coffee and cupcake at the Peyton and Byrne cafe will see you to rights!

'An antidote to dumbed down science' -Time Out
'London's brave venue where science, art and culture converge' -Nature

A DESTINATION FOR EXPLORERS OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
Wellcome Collection is a unique mix of galleries, events and meeting, reading and eating places, dedicated to exploring the connections between medicine, life and art.

SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS
This year’s changing exhibitions promise to be inspiring and enlightening. Join us to contemplate what it means to be alive (through the experiences of the dying); marvel at over 140 exhibits from the 1951 Festival of Britain – including haemoglobin dress fabrics, aluminium hydroxide ties and insulin wallpapers; and uncover the hidden past of 26 skeletons found in sites around London. The year will culminate with War & Medicine, a major show that will explore how humanity’s desire to repair and heal has tried to keep pace with its capacity to maim and kill.

Each of these shows will be accompanied by a series of related events and tours.

MEDICINE NOW
One of two permanent exhibitions on the first floor, Medicine Now brings together intriguing and arresting exhibits and artworks. Explore current medical topics and changing perceptions around issues such as obesity, genetics and malaria through the eyes of scientists, artists and patients. Free gallery tour on Saturdays at 14.30.

MEDICINE MAN
Our other permanent exhibition, Medicine Man, invites you to delve into an extraordinary treasure trove of more than 500 strange and beautiful artefacts from Henry Wellcome’s original collection of over one million, including a Peruvian mummified male, 35 amputation saws, Darwin’s walking stick, Nelson’s razor and a lock of George iii’s hair. Free gallery tour on Saturdays at 14.30.

If you are visiting with young people, aged 6–14, you can pick up a free Young Explorer’s Pack, full of exciting activities for Medicine Man and Medicine Now, from the Information Point.

EVENTS AND TOURS
We offer a wide range of events and tours: from discussions with leading experts on big ideas around health and wellbeing, to performances, screenings, debates, and periodic large-scale thematic events. You can learn more about the rich diversity of the Wellcome Library’s collection if you attend a free Insights session, or find out more about the charity behind Wellcome Collection on a Behind-the-scenes Tour. See listings online or in our What’s On guide. Most events are free but booking is required.

CAFE AND BOOKSHOP
Whether a quick cup of coffee and a pastry, afternoon tea, or a light meal with a glass of wine, pay a visit to our new café run by Peyton and Byrne.

Make time to browse in London's newest branch of Blackwell. The shop stocks a wide variety of books on subjects including medicine, science, history and art, along with gifts from the Wellcome Collection range.

If you're longing for something different to explore, having seen all the other, much more tourist aimed museums and galleries of London, then this is the place to go to.

Wellcome Collection came to life following the vision of Sir Henry Wellcome, who imagined this place to offer insights into the "development of medicine through ages and across cultures", and to help us comprehend better our human condition and identity. The key elements of what is presented to the visitor are medicine, life, and art, mixed altogether into a formula "from the macabre to the bizarre to the beautiful".
(extracts from the Wellcome Collection website)

As you enter the building you'll notice first thing the figure of an iron man hanging down from the ceiling. It's a sculpture of Antony Gormley entitled Feel ... Compelling.

Wellcome Collection proves to be unveiling a unique blend of exhibitions, events, meeting, reading and eating places, also having under the same roof the world-famous Wellcome Library.

It hosts two permanent collections like the Medicine Man and Medicine Now, and others like From Atoms to Patterns (until the 10th of August) and Skeletons (until the 28th of September). Coming up the War and Medicine exhibition -22 November 2008 -15 February 2009.

Visitors can also benefit from free guided tours around the venue.

I might be a bit of a weirdo but I was also impressed by some quotes embellishing not just the walls of the corridors, but also the toilet boothes. I happened to enter all four of them just to read the messages written there.

For more information visit the website -www.wellcomecollection.org.

the wellcome gallery is a mix between arts and science. it is very interesting and the exhibitions, especially the one of the moment about sleep and dreams, are great.
it is free and stays open until 10.00 on thursday nights.
no way you will lose yourself while looking for it, it is located opposite Euston tu be station and very well lit!
the design is very modern and pure and makes you feel really comfortable.
I personnally love the fact that they explain facts in a scientific manner but also mix arts and history with it. it makes it less boring in my opinion.
it take a long time to browse through the different exhibitions so plan to spend a good amount of time there. (at least 1 hour and a half for the sleep exhibition)

A brand new museum close to the British Library and Euston station, the Wellcome Collection is pretty much unique in its dedication to 'considering what it means to be human'. It does this through exhibitions with intriguing titles like 'the heart' and 'sleeping and dreaming', complemented by an impressive range of illuminating talks and film screenings.