THE OLD OPERATING THEATRE

Situated in the attic of the 18th Century Church of the old St Thomas’ Hospital (London Bridge), the huge range of old medical instruments on display is both fascinating and frightening. The magnificently restored museum showcases original furniture and equipment including an operating table. There are amputation saws, haemorrhoid forceps, and tonsil guillotines (many of these implements can be handled on the gore tour) but perhaps the oddest is the tobacco smoke enema for drowning victims – yes, it was thought that blowing smoke up a drowned person’s arse was helpful. In this atmospheric venue they also hold surgery re-enactments and informative talks – Victorian-era dissections. Groovy. It’s all preanaesthetic, painful looking and straight out of a Gothic horror.

Tickets: adults $11. Under 18s $6.

Go to www.oldoperatingtheatre.com.