Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum

The Royal Pharmaceutical Museum will be closed until further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

In the meantime, join Catherine, our Museum Officer, for a regular virtual introduction to the museum, along with a few of the more unusual items in the collection!

About the Museum

Our Museum, established in 1842, is a unique resource for everyone interested in the history of British pharmacy.

Based on our unique collections, there's something for everyone, whether you're a pharmacist, researcher, family historian, visitor to London, or simply fascinated by the history of healthcare.

The museum collections cover all aspects of British pharmacy history, from the 1400s up to the present day. The collection includes:

The Early Printed Books Collection, including herbals and early pharmacopoeias from the 1400s – 1800s
Proprietary (brand name) medicines, dating from the 1700s to the present day
Fine English Delftware & European drug jars, dating from the 1600s - 1700s
Bell metal mortars, dating from the 1500s - 1700s
The Burges Collection of Materia Medica, dating from the late 1700s
Traditional dispensing equipment
Drug storage containers
Medical caricatures and prints
Oil paintings, including portraits of past Society Presidents
The Society photo archive.

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Museum services

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum offers a range of historical services based on the information, archives and objects we hold.

If you are a researcher, student, teacher, or simply interested in pharmacy history, we have online exhibitions and learning resources to provide you with ways to find out more about the history of British pharmacy.

Our services include:

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Family History Research Service into pharmacists' career histories or the history of pharmacy premises
Image reproduction and supply service
Object loan service of two travelling display cases
Downloadable learning resources

We welcome requests to look at our stored collections. If you would like to see any objects in the Museum's collections, please contact us to make an appointment.

Please note that the majority of our collections are stored off-site, so we would appreciate as much notice as possible in order to make the necessary arrangements to make the items accessible.

For more details call us on 020 7572 2210 (Museum enquiries only) or email [email protected].

See our Museum services

Antidote Case Museum

Opening times

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm. We're closed on Bank Holidays.

Admission

Admission FREE (donations welcome). The museum displays are open to all visitors.

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Guided tours

Please contact the museum team to book a guided tour of the museum displays.
We welcome bookings for group visits. Charges may apply.

Accessibility

There is step free access to all display areas. If you have any special access requirements, we would be happy to discuss them before your visit to make it as enjoyable as possible.

Finding us

The museum is a 5-minute walk from St Katharine Docks and a 10-minute walk from Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

Public transport

Tower Hill Underground and Tower Gateway DLR stations are both a 10-minute walk away. The 100 bus stops nearby on East Smithfield.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum
66 East Smithfield
London E1W 1AW

020 7572 2210
[email protected]

We need your support.

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Your dedication and commitment during the pandemic has been exceptional.

As we brace for a surge of coronavirus infections, we know that pharmacy will be at the forefront of delivering healthcare.

Whether it’s flu vaccinations or dealing with local lockdowns we need decisions and assurances from the Government to make sure our profession can cope. We must make sure pharmacists get enough supplies of PPE, rapid access to testing in all care settings, and the recognition you deserve.

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We will continue to work hard to give you the tools and guidance to do your job safely. And fight to make sure you get the recognition you deserve.
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