Surgeons' Hall Museums

Surgeons' Hall Museums is a medical museum in Edinburgh displaying surgical tools, anatomical specimens, and historical medical objects across several connected exhibition spaces. The collections show how surgical practice and medical knowledge developed from past centuries to modern times.

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh was established in 1505 as a teaching institution and opened its collection to the public in 1832. This made it Scotland's first public museum and marked an important shift in making medical knowledge accessible beyond professional circles.

The building served as a gathering place where physicians and students learned from leading practitioners of their time. Today it stands as a center that shaped how medical knowledge passed from experienced doctors to the next generation.

The museum is accessible daily and spread across multiple levels, so allow time to explore all areas at your own pace. Comfortable shoes are recommended since you will walk through various rooms and climb some stairs to see the full collection.

The Pathology section holds one of the world's largest collections of surgical specimens, showing how doctors understood and treated diseases and injuries across centuries. This rare assemblage offers visitors an unexpected view into how medical practice actually worked in earlier times.

Location: City of Edinburgh

Location: Edinburgh

Inception: 1697

Part of: Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Address: 18 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DW

Website: https://museum.rcsed.ac.uk

GPS coordinates: 55.94670,-3.18492

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:45