London’s Grisliest Museum? A Guided Tour of The Hunterian Surgical Museum

In this video, Jessica the Museum Guide (that’s me!) takes you on a guided museum tour of the newly reopened Hunterian Museum in London. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts about this fascinating surgical museum and all of the ethical questions it poses. As always, thanks for watching. If you enjoyed this virtual tour, then please consider leaving me a tip at or buy me a coffee at You can also become a member of my channel for all kinds of great perks, like shout-outs and early access – click the membership button below. Remember – I guide private museum, oddities, and graveyard tours in London. Get in touch at jessica@ or at VIDEO SUMMARY After being closed for a massive overhaul and reimagining for more than five years, the Hunterian Museum is back open and welcoming guests into its grisly collection. This is often cited as the most disturbing museum in London, for good reason – it is home to thousands of specimens from humans and animals, most of which started out in the private collection of 18th-century surgeon Dr John Hunter. This London museum tour covers the highlights of the museum, as well as its history and its most famous controversy, surrounding the skeleton of “Irish Giant” Charles Byrne. 0:00 - Introduction to the Tour 2:53 - Room 1 Display Case 4:36 - Egyptian and Roman Medical Objects 5:16 - The Evelyn Tables 6:12 - 18th-century surgery 8:43 - Room 2 Display Case 9:57 - Dr Hunter’s Life and the History of the Museum 13:12 - The Long Gallery of Wet Specimens 15:04 - Charles Byrne, the Irish Giant and Museum Ethics 19:10 - John Hunter at Earl’s Court 20:43 - Hunter’s School at Leicester Square 23:26 - Alcohol and Syphilis in John Hunter’s London 26:26 - New Frontiers in Medicine and Joseph Towne’s Medical Waxes 27:59 - Phossy Jaw and the Matchstick Girls 29:48 - Harold Gillies and Medical Advancements 1914 - 2023 31:04 - Transforming Lives and Jennifer’s Heart Like The Museum Guide on Facebook! You should really join the London Urban Oddities Facebook group to submit your favourite weird places in London. Hana Elvy creates my thumbnails – you can hire her to make your YouTube thumbnails here: