Foundling Museum
Telling the story of a ground-breaking eighteenth-century institution, housed in historic interiors on its original site.
40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Easily accessible without car
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Facilities for children
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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Shop
The museum is fully accessible.
The Foundling Museum has more than 275 years of history permeating its objects, stories, and spaces. It tells the story of the Foundling Hospital, which was established in 1739 by the philanthropist Thomas Coram, to care for babies at risk of abandonment.
The Foundling Hospital was the UK’s first children’s charity and became its first public art gallery. It was transformed into one of London’s most fashionable venues by the artist William Hogarth, who encouraged leading artists to donate their work and by the composer George Frideric Handel, who held annual benefit concerts of Messiah in its chapel.
Today the collection includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, furniture, clocks and ceramics. Highlights range from tiny, touching identifying tokens left by mothers with their babies to composer George Frideric Handel’s Will. Artworks on display include work by outstanding contemporary artists like Yinka Shonibare, Tracey Emin and Michael Craig-Martin, as well as those made and donated nearly three centuries earlier by William Hogarth, Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds.
Our Gerald Coke Handel Collection is a major research resource for study of the composer and philanthropist George Frideric Handel and his contemporaries. More than 14,000 items include manuscripts, printed music, books, artworks, sound recordings and ephemera.
During its two centuries in operation, the Foundling Hospital looked after a remarkable 25,000 children. The Museum opened in 2004, fifty years after the Foundling Hospital placed its last pupil in foster care. The Museum building is situated in the grounds of the old hospital at 40 Brunswick Square in Bloomsbury (near to Russell Square tube station). It was constructed in the 1930s, and incorporates many architectural features from the original eighteenth-century hospital building.
Visit the Museum to discover the story of the Foundling Hospital, the children who lived there, and its vibrant community of artists, musicians and supporters through its galleries and historic rooms.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
Opening Hours
Regular Museum Hours
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday to Saturday: 10am–5pm
- Sunday: 11am–5pm
Seasonal Closures
The museum is closed on the following dates: 24 and 25 December, 28 and 29 December, and 1 January.
Exhibitions
A Grand Chorus: The Power of Music runs from 2 October 2025 to 31 May 2026.
The Foundling Hospital Boys' Band exhibition is on display from 6 January 2026 to 31 May 2026.
Guided Tours
Guided Museum Tours are available during regular opening hours, subject to guide availability. We recommend booking at least three weeks in advance. Groups larger than 20 people will be staggered by 10–15 minutes. Please note that tours booked during July and August 2026 may be subject to change due to building works.
Self-Led Group Tours are also available during regular opening hours. Groups of 8 or more must book in advance. Like guided tours, groups larger than 20 will be staggered by 10–15 minutes, and bookings during July and August 2026 may be affected by building works.
Out-of-Hours Tours are available on Mondays when the museum is closed to the public, subject to availability. We also offer evening and breakfast history tour packages on any day of the week, as well as drinks tasting tours led by Jane Peyton, all subject to availability.
Family Activities
Family Workshops run regularly during school holidays, which are a particularly popular time to visit. Specific workshops are scheduled for May 2026 half-term.
Free Creative Activities launch in the Introductory Gallery on 18 May and are available during regular museum opening hours.
Foundling Libraries offer free art and music activities at local libraries as part of an ongoing programme. These are drop-in sessions with no booking required.
Online Family Activities are available at any time, including Christmas, Easter, and Halloween themed activities.
Other Activities
The Hetty Feather Trail is available during regular museum opening hours.
Historic Houses members visit free
Adult: £14.50
Concessions: £13.00
Under-21s: Free
Guided tour up to 20 people: £11.50 per adult, £7.50 per student + £96 for the guide (incl. VAT)
Self-Led tour for 8-20 people: £11.50 per adult, £7.50 per student
Book a group visit hereSchools visit free.
University groups wishing to visit must book a group tour.
The museum is fully accessible.
Getting here
40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AZ
Four-minute walk from Russell Square tube station, 10 minute walk from Euston and Kings Cross mainline stations. The nearest buses are the 7, 59, 68, 91, 98, 168 and 188 from Russell Square Station. Cycle docking stations for Santander Cycle Hire are located at Brunswick Square and Russell Square Station. For visitors wishing to travel by car there is an NCP carpark at The Brunswick Shopping Centre.
