Overview

Having seen it featured on Michael Portillo’s rail journey to Edinburgh, my wife and I thought that it would be good to visit the Surgeon’s Hall Museum on Nicholson Street in Edinburgh whilst having a short stay in the city. Although it was a Saturday morning when we visited, we were surprised at how many people were visiting. In the 50 or so years I have been visiting Edinburgh, I had never visited the Surgeon’s Hall Museum. I am so glad that I have rectified that.

Transport & Parking

I didn't see parking nearby. The bus we got from our got from our hotel stopped fairly nearby to the museum, leaving a short push of my wheelchair.

Access

Having done a bit research before had, we knew the venue was wheelchair friendly and, after a short trip through the pleasant grounds, we found ourselves in a lift heading up to the reception. Once in reception and paid our entry fee (no concessions for wheelchair users) we went onto the level above the forensic table which showed a body with a holograph feature, peeling back layers to show the skeleton and organs. This was accompanied by a ‘lecture’ by someone explaining each of the procedures as if it was a lecture from years gone by to those sitting in the curves rows of seats around the ‘body’ We found all of the displays fascinating, with cards informing what the body part were and more descriptive panels throughout the museum. On visiting the Wohl Pathology Museum on the upper level, we found my wheelchair to be too wide to go through the doorway but I just transferred to one of the wheelchairs that the museum had beside the entrance to get over this. No matter which floor we were on, we came across interesting artifacts, fascinating body parts preserved from years ago in jars, information boards and paintings. No wonder two hours passed by quickly.

Toilets

Staff

The helpful gentleman behind the desk gave us some pointers as to the best way to see the museum