Exhibitions at the RSM | The Royal Society of Medicine

Latest exhibitions

The exhibitions are free to attend, to gain entry you will need to check in at reception.

Opening times

Monday - Thursday: 9:30am - 6:00pm
Friday: 9:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday - Sunday: Closed

The Father of Vaccination / Edward Jenner 1749 - 1823 - Promo

Edward Jenner: A life in letters

An exhibition showcasing a collection of unpublished letters from the great English vaccine pioneer, recently transcribed by staff at the RSM library.

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Free admission

A history of the NHS workforce in England – a timeline 1948-2023

This timeline provides a historical overview of selected events, reports, policies, legislation, implementation, and achievements applicable to the evolution of the NHS workforce in England across the last 75 years since its creation in 1948.

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Online exhibitions

The Golden Age of Melancholy

Explore melancholy as both a physical humour within the body and the associated distemper of pensive sadness.

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Celebrating 200 years of Louis Pasteur

Explore the life and works of Louis Pasteur.

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Famous figures

From oil paintings to art prints, this online exhibition explores the notable physicians, scientists and famous historical figures that can be found in the RSM's art collection.

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Treasures of the RSM

A fascinating insight into the history of medicine, the growth of the medical and scientific professions and into the lives of former members of the Society.

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Notable Presidents of the Royal Society of Medicine

Take a closer look at a few of the prominent figures who have been inaugurated as President of the Royal Society of Medicine.

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Around the world: Medical journeys through the ages

Follow voyages of world-renowned physicians, surgeons and nurses that have shaped our understanding of medicine, through the exploration of journals, logs and records dating back to the 1700s.

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The rise of the specialty

This exhibition looks at the 100-year anniversary of the Royal Society of Medicine’s Urology Section, which was crucial to the establishment of urology as a medical specialty.

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Sir William Osler, 1849-1919

A great figure in medicine from the late 1800s onwards, Sir William Osler was a member of the RSM and one of the founders of our History of Medicine Section. This exhibition takes a close look at the life of the renowned physician.

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History of the Library

Steeped in 200 years of history, learn more about the beginnings of the RSM’s Library and how it has evolved into one of the largest medical libraries in Europe.

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Women in medicine

Showcasing women throughout history who have practised medicine, this online exhibition is a celebration of leading female clinicians who have paved the way for women to practice medicine today.

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A harmless treasure

Take a closer look at the RSM Library’s collection of rare and beautiful herbal illustrations from the 16th and 17th century, including John Gerard's The Herbal and John Parkinson's Theatrum Botanicum.

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The Victorian Botanist

Continuing the theme of herbal illustration in our previous exhibition, A Harmless Treasure, this exhibition showcases the botanical books that emerged from the popular pursuit of botany in the Victorian era.

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