How to Tour Old Operating Theatre

Exploring an old operating theatre is more than a visit to a historical building—it is a journey into the evolution of medicine, surgery, and human resilience. These preserved spaces, often dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, offer a rare glimpse into the origins of modern surgical practice. Once sites of raw, unanesthetized procedures performed before the advent of antiseptic techniques, today’s surviving operating theatres stand as silent witnesses to the triumphs and tragedies of medical history. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a medical student, an architect, or simply a curious traveler, touring an old operating theatre provides profound insight into how far healthcare has come—and how much we owe to those who endured its earliest, most brutal forms.

Understanding how to properly tour an old operating theatre goes beyond simply walking through the doors. It requires preparation, contextual awareness, and respectful engagement with the space. This guide will walk you through every essential step—from researching the site before your visit to interpreting the artifacts and architecture once you arrive. You’ll learn best practices for preserving the integrity of these fragile environments, discover the tools and resources that enhance your experience, and examine real-world examples of renowned operating theatres open to the public. By the end of this guide, you will know not just how to tour an old operating theatre, but how to honor its legacy.

Step-by-Step Guide

Research the History Before Your Visit

Before stepping foot into any historic operating theatre, invest time in learning its background. These spaces were rarely designed for public viewing—they were functional, often overcrowded, and operated under dire conditions. Knowing the context transforms a passive tour into an immersive historical experience.

Start by identifying the specific theatre you plan to visit. Is it the Old Operating Theatre Museum in London? The Surgeons’ Hall Museums in Edinburgh? The Charité in Berlin? Each has a unique story. Research the time period it was active, the types of procedures performed, the surgeons who worked there, and the technological limitations of the era. Many institutions maintain digital archives, digitized journals, or scholarly articles online—access these through university libraries or museum websites.

Pay special attention to the surgical practices of the time. For example, before Joseph Lister introduced antiseptic surgery in the 1860s, amputations were performed in minutes to minimize patient suffering—and mortality rates exceeded 50%. Understanding this context will help you interpret the layout of the theatre: the elevated platform for the surgeon, the tiered seating for students, the lack of running water, and the absence of ventilation systems.

Plan Your Visit Logistically

Many old operating theatres are housed within historic buildings with limited capacity, fragile flooring, or restricted access due to preservation needs. Always check the official website for opening hours, booking requirements, and accessibility information. Some theatres operate on a timed-entry system to protect the structure and maintain a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.

Consider the season and time of day. Weekday mornings tend to be less crowded, allowing for more personal reflection and better photo opportunities. If the theatre is part of a larger museum complex, plan to allocate at least 90 minutes—many visitors underestimate the depth of exhibits surrounding the main theatre.

Confirm whether guided tours are available. In many cases, a trained docent can provide context that brochures cannot—sharing anecdotes, explaining surgical instruments, or describing the sounds and smells of a 19th-century procedure. If self-guided, download or print any available audio guides or interpretive maps offered by the institution.

Arrive with the Right Mindset

These spaces are not amusement park attractions—they are sacred sites of human suffering and scientific progress. Approach with reverence. Avoid loud conversations, flash photography, or disruptive behavior. Remember that these theatres were once places where patients screamed in agony, often without anesthesia, and where death was a frequent outcome.

Take a moment before entering to center yourself. Read any posted plaques or introductory panels. Many sites include a brief memorial to patients who underwent surgery there. Acknowledging their presence transforms your visit from observation to remembrance.

Observe the Architecture and Layout

Once inside, begin by scanning the room. Old operating theatres were typically circular or semi-circular, designed to maximize visibility for medical students seated in tiered galleries. The surgeon stood at the center on a raised platform, often with a drain in the floor to wash away blood and bodily fluids.

Look closely at the materials. Was the floor made of wood? Stone? Did it have a slight slope to aid drainage? Were the walls plastered, painted, or lined with wood paneling? Many theatres retained their original gas lighting fixtures or later converted to electric. Note the height of the ceiling—higher ceilings were sometimes used to improve air circulation, though this was largely ineffective before germ theory.

Examine the windows. Natural light was critical before electric lighting. Most theatres had large windows on one side, often with shutters to control brightness. The positioning of these windows reveals how surgeons prioritized illumination over patient privacy or comfort.

Study the Instruments and Artifacts

Surrounding the theatre, you’ll likely find display cases with surgical tools. These are not modern instruments—they are crude, often handmade, and terrifyingly efficient. Look for:

• Amputation saws—large, double-edged blades designed for rapid bone cutting
• Leeches and bloodletting bowls—evidence of pre-modern humoral theory
• Probes and forceps—used to extract bullets or shrapnel
• Wound dressings—often made of linen soaked in alcohol or vinegar

Compare these to modern equivalents. Notice how few tools were sterilized—many were wiped with a cloth between patients. Some instruments show signs of repeated use: worn handles, rusted blades, or uneven edges. These are not museum-quality replicas—they are the actual tools used in life-or-death moments.

Interpret the Student Seating

The tiered seating surrounding the theatre was not for comfort—it was for observation. Medical students, sometimes as young as 14, crowded the benches, often standing on chairs to see over the heads of others. The smell of blood, sweat, and antiseptic would have been overwhelming. The noise of screams, sawing, and shouting would have been constant.

Stand in one of the upper rows. Look down at the operating table. Imagine the patient strapped down, the surgeon in a blood-stained coat, the assistants holding limbs. This was not a sterile, silent environment. It was chaos. And yet, it was here that surgical techniques began to evolve—from speed to precision, from ignorance to understanding.

Engage with Interpretive Panels and Labels

Modern museums often include interpretive panels that explain what happened in these spaces. Read them carefully. Look for quotes from surgeons, patients, or medical journals. Some theatres include reconstructed patient records, handwritten notes, or even letters from families.

Pay attention to timelines. Many theatres operated for decades with little change. The transition from “heroic surgery” to antiseptic methods was slow. Some institutions resisted new practices for years. Understanding this resistance helps explain why mortality rates remained high long after discoveries were made.

Document Your Experience Thoughtfully

If photography is permitted, do so respectfully. Avoid using flash, which can damage fragile surfaces. Focus on details: the grain of the wood, the texture of the plaster, the rust on a scalpel. These textures tell stories that words cannot.

Consider keeping a journal. Write down what surprised you, what disturbed you, what moved you. Did you notice the absence of hygiene? The lack of privacy? The reliance on the patient’s strength to survive? These reflections deepen your connection to the space.

Follow Up with Additional Resources

After your visit, deepen your understanding. Many institutions offer reading lists, podcasts, or virtual tours. Explore documentaries such as “The Surgeon’s Cut” or books like “The Butchering Art” by Lindsey Fitzharris. Visit digital archives like the Wellcome Collection or the National Library of Medicine to view original surgical manuals and illustrations.

Engage with online forums or academic groups focused on medical history. Share your experience. Ask questions. The more you learn, the more you honor the memory of those who suffered—and those who tried to help.

Best Practices

Respect the Sanctity of the Space

Old operating theatres are not tourist attractions in the conventional sense. They are preserved as memorials to suffering, innovation, and the human cost of medical progress. Treat them with the same reverence you would afford a cathedral, a battlefield, or a cemetery.

Do not touch artifacts, even if they appear distant or unguarded. Oils from skin can accelerate deterioration of century-old metals and textiles. Never lean on railings or sit on benches unless explicitly permitted. Many structures are fragile and were not built to support modern foot traffic.

Minimize Distractions

Turn off your phone’s ringer and avoid taking calls inside the theatre. Even whispered conversations can disrupt the solemn atmosphere. If you need to speak, step outside. This is not about rules—it’s about empathy. Imagine the terror of a patient hearing the chatter of students while awaiting an amputation. Silence is the most respectful response.

Do Not Reenact or Mock Historical Practices

Some visitors, especially younger ones, may be tempted to mimic surgical gestures or laugh at the “primitive” tools. This is deeply inappropriate. These instruments were used to save lives under impossible conditions. What seems barbaric to us today was, for many, the only hope of survival.

Instead of mocking, ask: “What did they know then? What did they believe? What were their constraints?” This shifts your perspective from judgment to understanding.

Support Preservation Efforts

Many old operating theatres operate on tight budgets. They rely on donations, ticket sales, and volunteer staff to maintain climate control, lighting, and structural integrity. Consider making a donation—even a small one helps preserve these irreplaceable spaces.

Volunteer if possible. Some institutions offer training for docents or archival assistants. You don’t need a medical background—just a passion for history and a willingness to learn.

Advocate for Ethical Tourism

If you share your experience on social media, do so responsibly. Avoid sensationalist captions like “Gross Surgery!” or “Ancient Torture Chamber!” These reduce profound history to shock value.

Instead, use your platform to educate. Post a photo of a surgical saw with a caption like: “This saw was used in 1820 to amputate limbs without anesthesia. The patient’s survival depended on speed, not skill. Medicine has come far—but never forget the cost.”

Teach Others

If you’re visiting with children, students, or friends, prepare them in advance. Explain what they’ll see and why it matters. Encourage questions. Afterward, discuss what changed—and what hasn’t. Modern hospitals still face ethical dilemmas: access to care, patient consent, the pressure to perform quickly. The old operating theatre is not just history—it’s a mirror.

Be Mindful of Emotional Impact

Many visitors experience strong emotional reactions—disgust, sadness, awe, even guilt. That’s normal. These spaces confront us with mortality, vulnerability, and the limits of human knowledge.

If you feel overwhelmed, take a break. Sit outside. Breathe. Talk to a staff member if you need to process your feelings. Museums often have quiet rooms or counselors available for visitors affected by the exhibits.

Tools and Resources

Museum Websites and Digital Archives

Start with the official websites of institutions housing historic operating theatres. These often include virtual tours, high-resolution images, and downloadable educational packets.

• Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret (London) – Offers a 360° virtual tour, digitized surgical journals, and lesson plans for educators.
• Surgeons’ Hall Museums (Edinburgh) – Houses one of the world’s largest collections of surgical instruments and detailed case studies from the 1700s.
• Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin – Provides access to archival documents from the 19th-century surgical school, including patient records.
• Wellcome Collection (London) – A vast digital library of medical history, including illustrations, pamphlets, and audio interviews.
• US National Library of Medicine – Hosts the “Visible Proofs” exhibit online, tracing the history of anatomy and surgery.

Books for Deeper Understanding

These publications provide context, narrative, and scholarly insight:

• The Butchering Art by Lindsey Fitzharris – A gripping account of Joseph Lister’s fight to introduce antiseptic surgery.
• Death at the Operating Table by Dr. Stephen Snobelen – Explores mortality rates and surgical failure in pre-modern hospitals.
• Surgery: The Ultimate Practice by Dr. Atul Gawande – Though modern, it reflects on the evolution of surgical ethics.
• Medical Instruments: A History by Dr. Richard L. Gage – Illustrated guide to the tools used from antiquity to the 1900s.

Documentaries and Films

Visual media brings history to life:

• The Surgeon’s Cut (Netflix) – A four-part series that includes historical context on early surgical practices.
• Medieval Medicine (BBC) – Features reconstructions of operating theatres from the 12th century.
• Anatomy of a Murder (PBS) – Traces the development of surgical training in America, including the use of cadavers and public demonstrations.

Mobile Apps and Audio Guides

Some museums offer companion apps with GPS-triggered audio commentary. For example:

• Old Operating Theatre App – Provides narrated stories of specific patients and surgeons as you move through the space.
• MedHist Explorer – A free app with a global map of historic medical sites, including operating theatres, anatomy schools, and plague hospitals.

Academic Journals and Primary Sources

For those seeking scholarly depth:

• Medical History – Peer-reviewed journal publishing research on surgical evolution.
• The Lancet Archives – Digitized editions from the 1800s offer firsthand accounts of operations.
• Wellcome Library Manuscripts – Access digitized surgeon’s notebooks, diaries, and patient logs.

Virtual Reality and 3D Reconstructions

For those unable to travel, several institutions offer immersive VR experiences:

• VR Surgery: 1847 – A 15-minute simulation of an amputation in an old operating theatre, complete with period sounds and lighting.
• 3D Reconstruction of the St. Thomas’ Theatre – Available through the University of London’s digital humanities project.

Real Examples

The Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret – London, UK

Located in the attic of St. Thomas’ Church, this is the oldest surviving operating theatre in Europe, dating to 1822. It was used until 1862, when the hospital moved and the theatre was sealed away for over a century. Rediscovered in 1956, it was meticulously restored and opened to the public in 1962.

What makes this site unique is its intact herb garret above it, where medicinal plants were dried and stored. The theatre’s wooden benches, original sawdust-covered floor, and gas-lit chandelier remain. The museum displays over 500 surgical instruments, including a trepanning drill used to bore holes in skulls to relieve pressure.

Visitors often cite the scent of dried herbs and the narrow, steep staircase leading up to the theatre as the most haunting elements. The space is small, intimate, and profoundly moving.

Surgeons’ Hall Museums – Edinburgh, Scotland

Founded in 1697, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh maintains one of the most comprehensive collections of surgical history in the world. Their operating theatre, built in 1804, was used for demonstrations until the 1880s.

Here, you’ll find the original anatomical models created by artist John Barclay, as well as the dissecting table used by the infamous Burke and Hare, who supplied cadavers for dissection in the early 1800s. The theatre’s tiered seating accommodated up to 300 students, and the ceiling still bears the smoke stains from oil lamps.

One of the most powerful exhibits is a collection of surgical specimens from patients who died during procedures—each labeled with the date, the surgeon’s name, and the cause of death. It’s a sobering reminder of the risks patients took.

Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin – Berlin, Germany

The Charité’s historic operating theatre, built in 1846, was part of one of Europe’s most prestigious medical schools. It was here that Robert Koch developed his germ theory and where Emil von Behring pioneered antitoxin therapy.

Though the original theatre was destroyed in WWII, a faithful reconstruction was completed in 2017. The museum includes original microscopes, surgical manuals, and patient records from the 1870s. The building’s architecture reflects the shift from public spectacle to private clinical practice.

What distinguishes Charité is its integration of science and ethics. Exhibits explore how medical knowledge was used—and abused—during the Nazi era, making it one of the most ethically nuanced surgical history sites in the world.

University of Pennsylvania’s Mütter Museum – Philadelphia, USA

While not a traditional operating theatre, the Mütter Museum houses a reconstructed 1840s surgical amphitheater based on original plans from Philadelphia’s Jefferson Medical College. It features original wooden benches, a surgeon’s platform, and a collection of 19th-century anesthesia equipment, including early ether inhalers.

The museum’s strength lies in its juxtaposition of beauty and horror: delicate porcelain anatomical models sit beside grotesque tumors and deformities. The theatre is surrounded by displays of surgical instruments used on Civil War soldiers, highlighting the rapid evolution of trauma care.

St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School Theatre – London, UK (Now Part of Imperial College)

Though no longer open for public tours, this 1899 theatre was one of the first to be designed with electric lighting and ventilation. It was used for demonstrations until the 1970s and is now preserved as a heritage site. Its significance lies in its transitional nature—showing the shift from the old model to the modern hospital.

Archival photos show students in formal attire, surgeons in white coats (a relatively new practice), and the first use of rubber gloves, introduced by William Halsted in 1890. This theatre represents the tipping point where surgery became a science, not a spectacle.

FAQs

Can I take photos inside an old operating theatre?

Most institutions allow photography without flash, but always check signage or ask staff. Some areas, particularly those displaying human remains or sensitive patient records, may prohibit photography entirely. Respect these restrictions—they exist to preserve dignity and prevent exploitation.

Are old operating theatres wheelchair accessible?

Accessibility varies. Many are housed in historic buildings with narrow staircases, uneven floors, or no elevators. Contact the venue in advance. Some offer virtual tours or guided video walkthroughs for visitors with mobility challenges.

Why are there no modern surgical tools on display?

These museums focus on historical context. Modern tools are not the point—they are the result of what happened in these spaces. The value lies in seeing how far we’ve come from crude saws and unsterilized linen to robotic-assisted, minimally invasive procedures.

Is it appropriate to bring children?

Yes—but prepare them. Children under 10 may find the exhibits disturbing. Use age-appropriate language. Focus on the idea that “doctors used to have very hard jobs, and they learned from mistakes to help people better.” Many museums offer family-friendly guided tours.

Do I need to book in advance?

Always. Many theatres limit visitor numbers to protect the structure and maintain a respectful atmosphere. Walk-ins are rarely permitted, especially during peak season.

What if I feel sick or overwhelmed?

It’s common. These spaces evoke strong emotions. Staff are trained to assist. Take a break outside. Drink water. Breathe. You’re not alone in feeling this way.

Can I volunteer or donate to help preserve these sites?

Yes. Most rely on public support. Visit their websites to learn about donation options, volunteer programs, or membership benefits. Even small contributions help maintain climate control, lighting, and archival storage.

Are there any operating theatres still in use today?

No. All historic operating theatres are now museums or educational sites. Modern surgery requires sterile environments, advanced monitoring, and isolation from public view—conditions incompatible with the old designs.

Conclusion

Touring an old operating theatre is not a casual outing. It is an act of remembrance, a confrontation with the past, and a quiet tribute to the courage of those who suffered—and those who dared to heal. These spaces, with their wooden benches, blood-stained floors, and rusted instruments, are not relics of a bygone era. They are the foundation upon which modern medicine was built.

When you visit, do not just see. Listen. Feel. Reflect. The silence in these rooms is not empty—it is filled with the echoes of pain, hope, and perseverance. You walk where students once learned to cut, where surgeons once fought death with only speed and skill, and where patients, with no anesthesia and no guarantees, placed their trust in strangers.

By following this guide—researching, observing, respecting, and learning—you do more than tour a building. You become a keeper of memory. You ensure that the lessons of these spaces are not forgotten: that progress is hard-won, that ethics must guide science, and that every surgical instrument tells a story of human resilience.

Go. See. Remember. And carry that knowledge forward—not as a tourist, but as a witness.