Royal College of Physicians

About

The Royal College of Physicians' (RCP's) core mission is to drive improvements in health and healthcare through advocacy, education and research. We are an independent patient centred and clinically led organisation with 40,000 global members. The RCP is also the oldest royal medical college in England and Wales, marking its 500th anniversary in 2018. The RCP Museum holds collections relating to the history of the college, and to the physician's profession. Collections range from portraits, Symons collection of medical instruments, the Hoffbrand collection of apothecary jars and a rare set of six 17th century human remains; ‘anatomical tables’. The archives hold a complete record of RCP activities since its foundation in 1518. The RCP moved into its current home designed by acclaimed British architect Sir Denys Lasdun in 1964 and is one of only a handful of post-war grade-I listed buildings in London.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes