Part of what makes the Great Hospital so special are its grounds – rich in heritage and architecture, visitors from across the country travel to explore the buildings and history.
The site is a unique collection of beautiful buildings spanning the Norman, medieval, Georgian, Victorian and modern eras, each with outstanding heritage. The seven-acre site includes a fine medieval refectory and one of the smallest monastic cloisters in England.
While the Great Hospital is responsible for maintaining and preserving its heritage buildings, which are one of the finest collections in the UK, we are also pleased to share our site with the public through our history tours.
Led by an expert guide, our history tours provide a unique opportunity to explore the grounds and learn about the Hospital’s charitable role over the centuries. Visitors are invited to step inside some of the buildings and discover hidden details around the site, from the decorated domical ceilings of St. Helen’s House to a tapestry adorning the walls of Birbeck Hall which dates all the way back to 1249.
Due to the historic nature of the buildings, the tours involve some steep and uneven steps in narrow stairwells and corridors, so it is important to bear this in mind before booking.
Tours are held monthly, typically starting at 10am and lasting 90 minutes. Led by an excellent tour guide with vast knowledge of the Great Hospital and its history, you will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions during the tour.
Visitors can also purchase a guidebook during their visit.
On the day of your tour, simply meet your tour guide at 10am by the flagpole (in front of the church tower) which is just inside the railings of the entrance to the Great Hospital on Bishopgate.
To ensure you secure a place on the tour, it is important to book in advance. You can book your tour here.
