Bethlem Museum of the Mind

Happy Burn's Night! To celebrate we are sharing this delightful feline bagpiper on the cover of Louis Wain's Little Soldiers, written by May Crommelin, published around 1916. The hero of this story is Tommy Catkin, who rises through the ranks to captain, and marries the King's daughter 😺
#burnsnight

Our new exhibition, Kindred, is now open! Featuring art from our stored collections, as well as photos by Gareth McConnell, paintings by the artist Mud, and a triptych by Annabel Merrett.
❗ Open Wed-Sat 9:30am-5pm, free admission
🔗 bit.ly/MOTM_Kindred
🖼️ Image: 'Two Embracing Figures' by David Chick

We are thrilled to be mentioned in the Londonist's list of top exhibitions to see in London this month! bit.ly/3LJm9Uc

Our exhibition, 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥, opens this Friday 16 January. Focusing on the power of communities for those suffering mental health challenges.

Two Embracing Figures by David Chick

Our new exhibition, Kindred, opens this Friday, but if you were to visit tomorrow afternoon you may catch a sneak peek in advance 👀

🗓️ KIndred: 16 January - 27 June 2026
🔗bit.ly/MOTM_Kindred
🖼️ Image: Totem Pole II by Ben Silcock

🖼️ It's the last Saturday of the Bethlem Art Fair! There's still loads of gorgeous, one-of-a-kind, affordable art to be found: from sculpture to greetings cards, pottery to oil painting. Don't miss out!

Open 9:30-5pm - entry is free

#affordableart #bethlemmuseumofthemind Bethlem Gallery

🫂 Kindred: The Loneliness of Suffering and the Community of Lived Experience
📆 Opens Friday 16 January at Bethlem Museum of the Mind

🔗 bit.ly/MOTM_Kindred

#mentalhealth #kindred #freeexhibition

Only ONE week left to explore the Bethlem Art Fair! 🎨🖼️
Discover unique, affordable pieces and take home something truly special. Don’t miss out! Open today 9:30am-5pm.
#bethlemgallery #bethlemartfair Bethlem Gallery #affordableart

🎉 It's a brand New Year! 🎉
We're open again tomorrow! Start the year off exploring mental health history, strolling in the grounds of the Hospital, and shopping at the Bethlem Art Fair (just one week left to bag some affordable one-of-a-kind art!)

🕒 Open 9:30 – 5pm

#bethlemmuseumofthemind #artfair

🎄 The sun sets on this Christmas Eve and we’re taking a festive break! Our doors will reopen on Friday 02 January 2026 at 9:30am.
✨ Seasonal greetings from everyone here at Bethlem Museum of the Mind ✨

Remember we are open:
🎉 Today!
🎁 Tomorrow, Fri 19 December
🌲 Sat 20 December
🎄Christmas Eve, Wed 24 December

Drop by for some last minute Christmas shopping at the Bethlem Art Fair and Museum shop, and soak up a little history before the holidays 🖼️

Images: All available in the Museum shop!

Kindred: The Loneliness of Suffering and the Community of Lived… Bethlem Museum of the Mind explores the history of art and mental healthcare, on the site of the Bethlem Royal Hospital, or 'Bedlam'.

We're excited to announce our first exhibition of 2026 - 'Kindred: the loneliness of suffering and the community of lived experience' opens on 16 January 2026 🔗 bit.ly/MOTM_Kindred

Image: Holding Onto Daddy by Benji Reid
#bethlemmuseumofthemind #mentalhealth #community #kindred #art #photography

🎄 Christmas at Bethlem 1859 ✨
When the Hospital was situated at St George's Fields (see second photo for the impressive exterior!) balls were usually held monthly. This illustration captures the festive spirit of these gatherings 💃

#christmasatbethlem #victorianchristmas

🎄 Christmas at Bethlem, 1907. When the hospital was located at St George’s Fields (now the site of London's Imperial War Museum!), the male and female wards shared communal spaces filled with art, curiosities, and statues - one of which we see here decorated as Father Christmas! 🎅

A little Christmas treat from us 🧩
Enjoy a free #LouisWain online jigsaw!
👉 bit.ly/3p1y6na

(Image: Cat's Christmas by Louis Wain)
#louiswain #jigsaw #mindful #bethlemmuseumofthemind

We are OPEN today!
9:30am-5:30pm today, free entry and plenty of festive shopping to be had in the Bethlem Art Fair! Plus discover the history of Bethlem and mental health treatment in our permanent Museum display 🧠💚🖼️

#bethlemartfair #bethlemmuseumofthemind
#christmasshopping

🎄 Christmas Opening Hours! ✨
Bethlem Museum of the Mind will be closed from 𝗧𝗵𝘂 𝟮𝟱 𝗗𝗲𝗰 𝟮𝟱 - 𝗧𝗵𝘂 𝟬𝟭 𝗝𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟲 but there's plenty of time to visit before Christmas!
Open every Wed-Sat (excl. dates above) and entry is FREE 🎅
bit.ly/visitmotm

#bethlemmuseumofthemind #christmasinlondon #freeentry

Louis Wain Christmas Cards available to buy in the Museum shop and online 😻

Three Cats and Plum Pudding, Cat's Christmas, and Carol Singing Cats -all by Louis Wain (1860-1939)

bit.ly/louiswainshop

#louiswain #catsandchristmas #louiswaincats #bethlemmuseumofthemind

Our archive may be small, but it’s mighty - housing over 6,000 items that trace the evolution of psychiatric care through Bethlem Royal Hospital, the Maudsley & Warlingham Park. Whether you're a researcher, student, or curious visitor, there's a story here waiting to be uncovered.
#EYAYourArchives

2026 marks 350 years since Bethlem moved from its medieval Bishopsgate home to a purpose-built site at Moorfields, with the iconic Raving & Melancholy statues installed over the gates. Today’s site still sits on a 999-year lease from the City of London, so only 649 years left...
#EYAAnniversaries

Our Archives are open to all, we strive to make them accessible. We recently hosted sessions at River House, Bethlem’s forensic unit, to explore our collections for Black History Month. We were blown away by the enthusiasm from participants! More on Black lives & Bethlem-bit.ly/44hFnGL #EYAInclusion

You can explore our Lantern Slide Collection on our website for free! bit.ly/MOTMLantern Including early 20th-century gems like Sister Simpson dressed as Southwark Hospital for a fancy dress ball!
We’re working on digitising more records in 2026, watch this space!
#EYADigital #ExploreYourArchives

There’s a long history of pets in the hospital - how many animals you can spot in this photo of an 1850s ward? The Victorians believed a homely environment, with pets, was beneficial for patients. Today, we have our own Hospital cat, who has to be gently kept away from our artworks…
#EYAPets #Arlo

Hidden in our archives are what remains of the stories of people who were not heard in their lifetime. Our Change Minds projects explored the lives of real people in our casebooks, but there are hundreds more waiting to be re-discovered.
Uncover their stories here bit.ly/MOTM_people
#EYASilence

Bethlem was founded as The Priory of the Order of St Mary of Bethlehem in 1247. The Order disappeared from history in the 1300s, but they gave us our name and our first symbol ⭐ Our star pin is inspired by a medieval manuscript recording activities of the Order bit.ly/bethlemstarpin
#EYAMedieval

🎄 Christmas & New Year Opening Hours 🎄

Here’s when we’ll be open over the festive season:

✅ Wednesday 24 December – OPEN 09:30–17:00
❌ Thursday 25 Dec - Thursday 01 Jan (inclusive) – CLOSED
✅ Friday 2 January – OPEN 09:30–17:00

✨ Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! ✨

Stanley R. Lench The Bethlem Museum of the Mind artwork collection by Stanley R. Lench. Containing 80 pieces.

The work of Stanley Lench is both beautiful and simultaneously a critique of the construction of beauty, and of art itself. You can view more of his extraordinary and vivid art here 🔗 bit.ly/MOTM_Lench
#EYABeauty
Image: Marlene Dietrich (c.1975)

Our latest conservation project is also the most visible! Bethlem's turret clock, on top of the Museum building, is being restored and will tell the time for our visitors early in the New Year 🕰️
Scaffolding is in place, but we’re open as usual!
#EYAConservation @maudsleynhs.bsky.social

🎄✨ The Bethlem Art Fair is back, now in the Museum of the Mind's exhibition space! 🎨🖼️
Discover a stunning variety of paintings, prints, ceramics, and more, all at affordable prices. Opens tomorrow!
#BethlemArtFair #BethlemMuseumOfTheMind #ChristmasShopping #ShopSmall #SupportArtists @bethlemgallery

Celebrating Museum Shop Sunday all week in our online shop! Find unique, meaningful gifts and support Bethlem Museum of the Mind! Link in bio 🎄🛍️🎁🎀

#BethlemMuseumOfTheMind #MuseumShopSunday @museumshops.bsky.social #museumshops #ShopWithPurpose #shoplocal #beckenham #westwickham #croydon #bromley