This place is happy. It's bright and airy and open...did I mention that it's lovely? Well it is, and it's free! This is a strange building, filled with a gallery, museum, cafe, bookshop, library (but only about warts and heads falling off and other medical bits), conference rooms and more. Really it's not suprising its such a big building with all of that in it. With free wifi and tasty cakes the cafe provides a perfect working environment and when you need some quite time, check your bag into the cloakroom and head over to the library. Huge working tables with loads of plug sockets, amazing! Totally worth checking out. read more

I'm reading previous reviewers and they seem to LOVE the exhibits and it's sad to say, i've been here SO many times and I've just had no time to digest exhibitions! I'm definitely a fan of the Wellcome library though because it's such a brilliant resource for my postgraduate course. Anyways, The Wellcome Library itself is a brilliant place to work, it's quiet, clean, WARM and one of the reading rooms are rather grandiose with names of famous medicine men engraved into the wood surrounding you as you study, for instance, Alexander Fleming, Paracelsus. I feel like such an intellectual! (I really am, I promise you, I'm not just faking it. Honest!) They do library tours and if you do take them up on that, they'll even show you the original sketch of Jim Watson's double helix structure. Definitely up for the geek in you! (Then hop to SouthKen Science museum to see a metal structure they have of watsons double helix structure!) But WHY OH WHY do you insist on searching my bag when i come in, I'm going to a LIBRARY with a cafe that charges extortionate coffee, do I look like I'm going to knife you?! And the Locker Business in the library-if full, you have to trek/get on the lift to basement for cloakroom-which needs a £2 deposit so remember to take change! i get they want to keep the books in pristine condition but I'm totally lost without my bag. Sigh. read more

After seeing lovely reviews online for Peyton and Byrne cakes, I decided to mosey around the corner from work and give it a try. I'm on a quest to find UK bakers that can actually make a decent cake, so this seemed like an ideal place to try. Just don't bother. I ordered a carrot cake and a cappuccino for takeaway. The cappuccino wasn't really much better than I could have gotten from Costa, Starbucks or Cafe Nero (mediocre) and the cake was just as all cakes by UK bakers seem to be: dry, crumbly and way too sweet. Seriously. Carrot cake should be moist. That's the point of having carrots in it. And the frosting. It's cream cheese frosting, you should taste the cream cheese, not just a sugary mess. read more

Let's talk about sex, baby! No really, that's what the latest temporary exhibit here is all about. Plus, yeah ok, I wanted a fun intro to my 200th review (ding ding!) ;) Let me talk nerdy to you - this is one of the handful of places that sits in the middle of the venn diagram of things in London that are fun, educational and FREE. Thank you Wellcome Trust. The Medicine themed exhibition is there permanently, while the other galleries rotate. They seem to pride themselves on collecting oddities, the more rare or bizarre the better, that make this unlike any other museum I've ever visited. It's not aimed at children either, and probably makes a good date place as they're the kind of exhibits that are definitely conversation-starters if nothing else! The current downstairs exhibition from The Institute of Sexology is certainly an eye-opener and quite intellectual, though still managed to trigger some giggles - v mature of us I know. I wandered in with a group of frends about 45mins before closing time on a Saturday, which was accidentally quite perfect. It meant we didn't run into the issues others have had of tickets running out at busy times or being turned away for overcrowding (yes it's free but they do restrict numbers at peak times). So our large group got to wander through as we liked :) Don't plan a whole afternoon here or anything - it's fairly small so doesn't take long at all to have a wander round. But defo worth popping in to see and learn about a bunch of random things you won't find anywhere else and enjoy expanding your horizons! read more

The Wellcome Collection is a combination of galleries, events and meeting places used to research, discuss and display findings about the human body; it is dedicated to exploring connections between medicine, art and life. The first time I visited was when an exhibition called 'Human Bones' was on, and around 30 skeletons that had been found around London were displayed in glass cabinets on legs. I was struck to see a female skeleton from the early 1900's, which actually had the tiny leaf-vein-like skeleton of a fetus between her ribcage and her pelvic bone. There was also the skull of a woman that had become green and sparkly from copper waste, as a result of being buried next to the Royal Mint, and a male skeleton with a spearhead that was lodged into one of his ribs. This has show has just been replaced by one titled 'War and Medicine', which provides an upsetting and disturbing, yet honest and insightful look into medicine during wartime and the devastating effects of war on the human body. It uses military and medical artifacts as well as old and contemporary art works relating to the subject. Upstairs are two permanent exhibitions, Medicine Man and Medicine Now, displaying a diverse range of objects and creations relating to human health and the body from throughout history and around the World. What I find most refreshing and interesting about this collection is the way it combines museum artifacts with pieces of artwork. It makes for a thought provoking and intelligent viewing, I most positively recommend. read more

This is more of a $$ place. Also reviews made it sound like it was worth zooming across town to get here. Perhaps if you've just come out of a poorly lit lab at UCL this place seems like heaven, but this is really just a cafe in a museum no more than that. Porridge should come with fruit. Egg roll was just fried eggs on ciabatta. Free Internet earns it an extra half star. read more

It probably depends on the exhibit whether or not you want to make a special trip but I really enjoyed the recent one on "Dirt" in the way that marries science and culture. The curiosities upstairs that include scientific instruments and folk art defy description as a whole and their juxtaposition is fun to see and the permanent exhibition is presented well, such as the wall of diet book. Loved the free entrance, free wi-fi, and very nice cafe and shop. My favorite was a section of stuffed bad microorganisms and other things. We took home a plush E. coli. read more

The London museum I like to haunt most often. I tend to visit all new exhibitions (stay updated via twitter) and have yet to be disappointed. Never boring, always inspiring creative projects. The 'Packed Lunch' talks are a true gem too: bring your food, sit and listen. The café is a tad pricey - and the museum shop is as costly as all museum shops. Great choice of books to browse though; make sure to remember your favourites, so you can buy them cheaper online when you get home. *coughs* Not all exhibits are suitable for the squeamish. You've been warned. ;) read more

Coolest. Thing. Ever. The Wellcome Collection is a cross between an inside look at a hoarder's house and a science museum gone wild. Find everything from superinteractive, colorful exhibits on the human body and health to the collection itself, which includes: Darwin's walking stick Florence Nightingale's moccasins An etching of Van Gogh's last doctor... by Van Gogh erotic art from around the world The special exhibit as of now is basically a bunch of slices of human brain. And it's all free! The main exhibit is very kid-friendly as well read more

I think this place is the tits. Seriously. And that's not just because I _just_ discovered it, so it felt like it was holding out on me. Don't worry, no hard feelings, I felt very Wel(l)come indeed! I went specifically to view the exhibit on Japanese Outsider Art on the main floor. The permanent collection is upstairs. The Japanese collection was superb: like, in addition to the pieces themselves I think the layout of the space was fantastic, and just large enough to provide great diversity but not have visual burn-out. I also want to specifically call out the people on staff: when I was spending an extra-long time looking at one display, they approached me to tell me more about the artist. I also saw staff talking with other interested visitors: answering questions, chatting about the curation, etc. Super-cool interactions. I agree with Hypnotherapist L.'s review about the permanent collection in that it lacks "instructional scaffolding" for the "non-expert". As a result, I can't say I spent as much time upstairs as I did downstairs (but I know it'll stay put, so I can return), but that doesn't mean I didn't like wandering through medical/human biology/science-themed bits-n-bobs. I also, on the record: just love the space. Yelp note: Peyton & Byrne-stocked cafe (read my review of that to know my true feelings for their pound cake) and an amazing gift shop with a host of quirkly bundled things. I only bought some postcards, but (to quote Arnie) I'll be back! Additional Yelp (lovey-dovey) note: small enough that it can be a perfect first date place (linger, or in and out depending on how it goes!). You're welcome. read more

Lovely quirky museum. The medicine-themed exhibition is particularly funny and interesting. Will be back soon to see the rest of it. Also a good point, the café in the lobby is truly mouthwatering (you'll most probably need a pick-me-up after all this culture!!) read more

One of my favourite galleries. It has two rooms with rotating exhibits which run for a few months each. There is a medical exhibit which is permanent and worth a visit. A lot a time and effort goes into their exhibits. They have recently expanded and added a gallery. Also check out the taking reading room if it is open, there are some real treasures there. read more

One of those "hidden" places in London; you've been past it a million times, may have vaguely registered its presence, but never thought to go in. Both the special exhibitions and the permanent collection are well worth a visit; I particularly enjoyed both the "Bodies of London" and "Skin" shows. Although nominally around a medical theme, exhibits are presented in a thought-provoking and unpatronizing fashion, in many cases blurring the line between medicine, art, and philosophy. Go with an open mind and open eyes, and you'll come away richer for the experience. read more

If you are into sciences, medical, life and art, this is the place to come. Really recommend, a totally interesting and fascinating place. There is a particularly gruesome exhibition on at the moment, Forensics: Anatomy of Crime. The Wellcome Collection has recently undergone a massive redevelopment and now looks amazing with a stunning sweeping staircase, galleries, and spacious areas, the Reading Room and Library, and it is all free, including the cloakroom. There is also a new relaxing restaurant, Wellcome Kitchen ran by Benugo, so expect decent quality at reasonable prices, and good service. read more

I have to give this place another star. My second visit, gave me a thorough experience of what the Welcome Collection has to offer. There are superb rooms, function halls and conference centres that are perfect for all occasions. What I saw this time made me very happy. This classic yet glitzy marvel was the superb library. Split between two floors and blessed with neatly secluded study areas this zion of books emanated such knowledge I wanted to stop and read everything. Solely focused on health and medical, the UCL students are very lucky to have such a resource. The five stars I bestow are well deserved. read more

The exhibitions can be a little hit or miss here, but given it's free I can't really complain about that! Nothing here is really all that typical of what you would expect to see on display in London 'museums' - they've had displays about death to sex, all well curated and put together. There's a lovely little cafe space here, but it is quite expensive for food and the coffee is pretty dire. What is worth the trip alone is the awesome gift shop, filled to the brim of a huge range of books on all kinds of subjects from the history of tattoos to human biology. read more

I've seen some of the most intriguing explanations in science and myth at the Wellcome gallery. I attended one on death and dreams. The aims is to educate the audience with idiosyncracies of belief and alter thoughts to processed scientific rational. The science of truth is explained and taught in a powerful visual form, which most average people can understand. I find this form of education very insightful. And agree with the price tag which is nothing. Exit the exhibition to enjoy the menu of the cafe in the same premises and debate away. read more

Nice, typical Peyton & Byrne fare and typical (read: spendy) Peyton & Byrne prices. But, folk, if I'm spending £1.40 for a cup of tea, don't give me bloody Twining's. At least it wasn't Tetley. Still a fabulous place to sit and have a think, close to Euston (and the Euston Tap!) and has free wifi and one of London's most interesting museum things right there. read more

Really great n interesting place, always have a unique exhibition on - the institiute of sexology currently - so one for the friends and family! A particularly good choice for a thinking lunchtime if you're in the area - and it's free! You can process all you've seen over a tasty Peyton & Bryne coffe n cake in the cafe too. read more

I have a thing for science/history/art museums and this place was able to have a bit of it all. Really dig the socks chromosomes (I mean how cool is that?). The best part is that its FREE. read more

I have lived in London for about a gazillion years now and it's taken that long to discover this place. And its a joy. Brilliant galleries, extremely well curated collections. Some of it quirky all of it interesting. Good cafe on the ground floor and a bookshop to browse. Perfect London destination. And it's free. read more

Henry Wellcome was crazayy. In such an enjoyable way. What an artsy, classy hoarder fellow. Both medicine exhibits are so interesting! GO! read more

'Mr Medicine.. I'm so happy you came here... , oh Mr Medicine' Dr Henry Wellcome must have been a rather interesting fellow: Doctor and medical collector, entrepreneur, philanthropist and serious horder! Now-a-days, the Wellcome collection is a FREE (yes, a free way to kill an hour if a train is late from Euston - which is literally across the road) collection of a variety of bizarre objects ranging from paintings, objects, books, audio talks and all finalising in an awesome 'Design Your Own Postcard' finale which then takes place on a wall of glory. As you can see from my above ramblings, the majority of the permanent exhibit is dedicated to human (and animal, a tad) health and anatomy. There are also revolving temporary exhibits - but they are also FREE! At the moment, 'DIRT' explores how humans define and deal with the matter that is 'dirt'. Aside from the sculpted human poo display, definitely a brilliant venue to check out! read more

When I went upstairs, I saw further interesting objects, all medically connected, like prosthetic limbs, apreserved and constrained woman or even Napoleon's gold-plated toothbrush, covered with blood. read more

I have to admit, I haven't actually visited the museum section of the Wellcome Building, but have to draw all of your attentions to the excellent cafe located at the front of house. There, on comfy designer chairs, you can sip on teas and nibble on cream-and-jam-covered scones to your heart's content. There are also delicious savoury snacks, soups and dinners, all moderately priced and housed in a most culturally-enriching location! Who could ask for more? read more

The Welcome Collection is a creation of The Welcome Trust the worlds largest charity supporting research into human and animal health. They are huge, have a huge building on the Euston Road with a small Museum. With the theme of the two permanent collections on 'the human condition' they explore issues of health, sex, illness, medicine and death. Using various objects and oddities to show us the varied ways of dealing with life throughout the world and history, it's interesting. The first level of the collection id given over to temporary exhibitions. I've been to quite a few and they vary from quite interesting to inspiring. I would definitely recommend a visit for those of us residing here but if your visiting perhaps not top of the list if time is limited. And then there is the café. Its a Peyton and Byrne so is really rather nice. Great healthy salads and super cakes and pastries and lovely scones, if you like that sort of thing. And all located on London's incredibly busy and noisy Euston Road. To make it worth the visit you could combine it with the British Library, now there's a good idea. read more

I have had the chance to see two Wellcome Collection free exhibitions and I have to say I stayed there for three hours and was so captivated by it that I did not see time pass. Usually I get a little restless in museums, but these exhibitions are really well-structured around a theme and usually it has both historical and philosophical depth and makes you reflect upon the human condition and the motivations that make history. A while ago, the exhibition was a collection of ancient human bones found buried under London buildings. Its aim was to guess from the bone structure, marks on the skeleton what these individuals had died from. And they were not famous people, just individuals like you and me. For example one of them was a butcher who had died overweight from eating too much meat. Another one was a pregnant woman with the tiny bones of her foetus still nested in her pelvic bone. You left the exhibition feeling more humble than when you walked in, knowing that at the end of the day we will all end up like this. Yesterday I went to the exhibition on War and Medicine. I thought it was going to be perhaps a bit boring, but I was pleasantly surprised and cannot recommend it enough. Go now though as it ends on the 15th of February. It focused on the wounded soldiers of the Crimean War, the First World War and the Second World War. What was particularly original was that it was not ordered chronologically but structured according to different themes, among which The Body (dealing with the more biological aspects of people's injuries and deformities) and the Mind (the shell-shock that followed for many soldiers who fought in wars and saw atrociities). It also showed the precursors of plastic surgery: a man whose nose had been completely destroyed by a bomb, and some flesh from his forehead was used to create a new nose. First the nose looked monstrous but gradually it looked better and better and he lived a long life, no longer noseless. I will definitely be going back to the Wellcome Collection and congratulate them for creating exhibitions that are both original, fascinating and accessible to everyone, specialists and non specialists alike. read more

This is such a wonderful concept since it takes what we know as an internet cafe and turns it into a delightful and peaceful location for study or meetings. The selection engulfs your senses as you move through the walkways. When ever I need a fresh take on life, I swing by and take in the beauty. read more

I would write a song about how much I love the Wellcome Collection, but I can't find a rhyme for 'antique specula'.

Found this gem of a museum when I went to see the High Society: Drugs in Victorian England exhibit. The exhibit was very interesting and was laid out very well. Had a wander around the rest of the museum and was surprised at the variety. From Fijian mermaid figurines to Middle Age surgical equipment this museum is a nice change from the usual museum wares of Greek Vases and Victorian paintings. The best part... it was all free! read more

Reviews are based on personal experiences, so this one is caveated with that in mind. While I agree that the pastries in this cafe are absolutely delish, and the atmosphere is posh, airy while being completely unpretentious, this one day at lunch I came in just for that... to dine. Got me the last remaining Caprese sandwich (for £3.80 - reasonable), which the "madam" behind the counter refused to warm up, and kindly asked her whether there is a meal deal with the sandwich, as the patrons ahead of me were getting sides with theirs. She goes on to say, that there is no meal deal, but you could get two side salads with the sandwich for £6.80. I confirm, doesn't sound like a bad deal, and proceed with a side of chunks of tomatoes (maybe 1 cut up), and cucumbers in dill sauce. I proceed to the register, and am requested £10.80 for a sandwich with two minisides. Clearly the cashier must have heard it wrong.... The patron behind me confirms my understanding that a sandwich with two small sides would be £10.80. Clearly 1 tomato, and 5 slices of cucumber can't really cost £6.80... not unless they're served to me by Justin Bieber and company with hanging tassles under the tray they're served on. ... ah... and one more glitch... the card machine is not working... beauty. All i see is batting eyelashes which I am sory.. but this does not translate in good customer service. VERY disappointed with the service, VERY disappointed with the portion the servers assign for the prices (as they tend to be VERY inconsistent). I will be back to the wellcome collection, but will ensure to go for the desserts which are clearly PRE-apportioned, and the staff cannot fool around with. Sorry all 4/5 starrers... lunch will not be repeated at THIS collection! :/ read more

I stopped by the Wellcome Collection for a couple hours today, and when I say a couple, I do literally mean two. The place isn't big enough to spend much more time than that, but it is a nice and unique museum. Its exhibits are all medically related (at least when I was there), but they certainly cover a variety of interesting topics. The one man walking around (I'm not sure exactly what his position was) was really nice. He asked me where I was from and talked to me for a few minutes about the one exhibit. Anyway, I'll probably visit the museum again whenever they change their temporary exhibit. As I said, there isn't a ton to see, but it's nice and something different. read more

Can a museum be trendy? Yes it can! This place is downright diverse, playful and interesting! The wellcome collection always has truely odd items, engaging and frequently changing exhibitions. Some of the exhibits aren't child friendly or for the faint of heart, so I would bear that in mind when planning a trip here. They have a great tea room/cafe and quirky shop that are also worth a visit. read more

Nice airy bright space. Really nicely laid out and designed too. Good coffee. Lovely to pop in as it's on a random stretch of road.

The Wellcome Collection on Euston Road is unutterably cool. Dedicated to the investigation of all that it means to be human, exhibitions range from the human body, to medicine, to war and social issues. A large share of profits from the hire of the modern conference centre go back into the Wellcome Trust charity to fund operational costs of the collection AND their first theatrical production held in the auditorium stars Billy Bragg this is geek-chic at its best! On the chilly Saturday afternoon that I visited, we browsed through a special exhibition entitled Identity and the permenant galleries Medicine Man and Medicine Now. Oddities, ghoulish curios, unsettling artwork and fascinating history - this is a great place to spend an hour or two for those that feel they've 'done' all the London museums. If you're feeling a little queasy afterwards then I can guarantee a coffee and cupcake at the Peyton and Byrne cafe will see you to rights! read more

When I came I was expecting a scientific history of medicine. Instead, the collections are more like a medical themed art exhibit. Nonetheless, it was a very thought provoking exhibit and I thoroughly enjoyed coming. The gift shop also has really cool novelty items. read more

I really enjoy the Wellcome Collection Cafe. After working in the Wellcome Library, I've come down for coffee and snacks a few times. The espresso is nice and strong, and I've also had the walnut brownie, which is deliciously fudgey. Although the food is more on the expensive side, the quality is quite good, and the atmosphere is bright and spacious. A nice place to relax, have lunch, and people-watch. The Wellcome Collection is just awesome in general. read more

Part of the Wellcome Trust founded by Sir Henry Wellcome the museum is described as 'the free destination for the incurably curious' while the collections themselves explore 'ideas about the connections between medicine, life and art'. There are two permanent collections; Medicine Man - dedicated to Henry Wellcome's personal collection and Medicine Now - an intriguing look at aspects of modern medicine which I explored thoroughly during my visit. Both are very interesting and provide plenty of information on the exhibits, their creators and the reason behind them. If you've not been before, I'd definitely recommend that you pop by if you've time to kill. Galleries are closed on Mondays but open til 6pm every night except Thursday when they stay open even later! read more

Interestingly presented for the medically curious. Welcome collection is a good mixture of gallery/museum, library/bookshop and if you feel hungry, there's a rather civilized area where you can grab something to eat. Since my background is medical I found this place is intensely interesting. There is a good collection of surgical instruments form the past as well as some pathological pots (with the Skin exhibition - I am not certain if it's still on). The library has an excellent collection - one could spend days there. It's mostly free so certainly worthwhile visiting if you want to feel intellectually stimulated whether you are medical or not!! read more

One of my fav places for interesting temporary exhibitions, and I'm so glad it's now at the end of my block since I moved. The Wellcome is currently under renovation, so access to the permanent collection of medical oddities (20 + pairs of forceps from 13th century onwards, and prosthetics), along with paintings, antique training tools, and general weirdness is not possible. Keep checking their website for when it reopens. The great cafe and bookshop/gift shop are still open and thumping - where else can you get a plush giant microbe? Highly recommended. read more