The Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret -London

OMG, what can I say about this little hidden gem in London? All I can say is that you should definitely go and visit it; it’s well worth the trip! Tucked away just a 5-minute walk from London Bridge train station, this gem is easy to miss if you're not looking for it. 

Once we arrived, we noticed they had a great entry and exit system since there’s only one way in and one way out. After climbing the very narrow 52 stairs, we entered a small reception area. The cost for me and my 6-year-old was £18, and you can spend as much time as you want exploring the museum. We must have spent over an hour there, and we even had an interesting talk about leeches!

The museum is amazing, filled with so much history and plenty to read. There are some areas where photography is not allowed because they contain real human bones. My daughter also got to make a nice-smelling bag with lavender and other ingredients, which was how people used to keep illness at bay by having something pleasant to smell.

Even though the operating theater is small, it has a strange yet calm feeling about it. I sat there for about half an hour, just reflecting on everything that had occurred in that space and all the people who learned how to operate there.

As for a bit of backstory on this little hidden gem, it is Europe’s oldest surviving operating theater, located in the attic of St. Thomas Church, which dates back to 1688. Originally, the roof space was used for herbalists and to prepare medical plants, and it once housed over 54,000 leeches due to its dry and elevated environment. 

From 1882 to 1862, a small section was converted into the operating theater, mainly used for female patients from the Dorcas Ward located behind the door of the attic. This was a more convenient location than taking them down multiple floors for operations. Most surgeries before 1840 were performed without anesthesia. The theater was no longer used after St. Thomas Hospital moved to Lambeth in 1862. The attic was sealed off around 1956 and rediscovered when Royan Russell accessed it through a tower. The museum officially opened in 1926.

SS Richard Montgomery Mask - Dockyard Chatham

I was at the dockside with my daughter, participating in the Yuck Yard Halloween trail, when I noticed that the SS Richard Montgomery mask was sitting by one of the boats. Like everyone else who was at the dockyard that day, I went to take a closer look, as I had only ever seen the mask from a distance while at Sheerness Beach.

The SS Richard Montgomery is a World War II ship that lies at the bottom of the Sheerness Sea. It contains approximately 1,400 tons of unexploded bombs, which could potentially wipe out all of Sheerness and beyond if they were to explode. In September 2026, the mask from this wartime ship, which had been sitting at the bottom of the Thames, was removed because it had become dangerous and heavy, causing stress on the boat. It was reported in October 2026 that the project was completed, and the mask was now at Dockyard Chatham, where it will be studied and conserved for a local display. However, it is still unknown when that will take place.

World War II concrete pillbox - Dockyard Chatham

I was at the dockyard with my daughter, exploring the Yuk yard trail. After we checked out the mask, I noticed this pillbox that I had never really looked at before. Like many pillboxes, it was used during the war to help protect the Thames. However, this one is slightly different from the ones typically found in the area, and I can't seem to find any information about it or what makes it unique.

St Albans Cathedral - Hertfordshire.

 

I stopped off at the St Albans Cathedral during my visit, and wow, it reminded me of something out of Harry Potter. The interior was stunning, and we spent a good hour just exploring. It wasn't even that busy, which was really nice. The best part was that it was free to enter. I absolutely loved how magical it looked inside. There was one area I didn’t visit because a baptism was taking place.

The cathedral is home to medieval shrines that date back to the 1700s. It is a Grade I listed building, constructed between 1077 and 1893. Originally known as the Abbey, it was dissolved in the 16th century and became a cathedral in 1877.