Bethlem Museum of the Mind
@bethlemmuseum.bsky.social
A museum dedicated to the history of mental healthcare. Free admission.
Current exhibition - Crisis Point 02 April-09 August 2025
Current exhibition - Crisis Point 02 April-09 August 2025
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
Uncover their stories here bit.ly/MOTM_people
#EYASilence
December 2, 2025 at 5:41 PM
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
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
#EYAMedieval
December 1, 2025 at 5:30 PM
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
#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! ✨
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! ✨
December 1, 2025 at 11:17 AM
🎄 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! ✨
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! ✨
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
Scaffolding is in place, but we’re open as usual!
#EYAConservation @maudsleynhs.bsky.social
November 29, 2025 at 5:19 PM
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
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
Discover a stunning variety of paintings, prints, ceramics, and more, all at affordable prices. Opens tomorrow!
#BethlemArtFair #BethlemMuseumOfTheMind #ChristmasShopping #ShopSmall #SupportArtists @bethlemgallery
November 28, 2025 at 6:00 PM
🎄✨ 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
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
#BethlemMuseumOfTheMind #MuseumShopSunday @museumshops.bsky.social #museumshops #ShopWithPurpose #shoplocal #beckenham #westwickham #croydon #bromley
November 28, 2025 at 11:08 AM
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
#BethlemMuseumOfTheMind #MuseumShopSunday @museumshops.bsky.social #museumshops #ShopWithPurpose #shoplocal #beckenham #westwickham #croydon #bromley
#armisticeday
During WWII, the Maudsley Hospital split locations to Sutton & Mill Hill to avoid London air raids. Dr Eric Guttmann, a German-Jewish psychiatrist, faced internment as an "enemy national" despite 6 years at the Maudsley 🔗 bit.ly/482mPME
Images:
Workshop at Mill Hill
Dr Eric Guttmann
During WWII, the Maudsley Hospital split locations to Sutton & Mill Hill to avoid London air raids. Dr Eric Guttmann, a German-Jewish psychiatrist, faced internment as an "enemy national" despite 6 years at the Maudsley 🔗 bit.ly/482mPME
Images:
Workshop at Mill Hill
Dr Eric Guttmann
November 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM
#armisticeday
During WWII, the Maudsley Hospital split locations to Sutton & Mill Hill to avoid London air raids. Dr Eric Guttmann, a German-Jewish psychiatrist, faced internment as an "enemy national" despite 6 years at the Maudsley 🔗 bit.ly/482mPME
Images:
Workshop at Mill Hill
Dr Eric Guttmann
During WWII, the Maudsley Hospital split locations to Sutton & Mill Hill to avoid London air raids. Dr Eric Guttmann, a German-Jewish psychiatrist, faced internment as an "enemy national" despite 6 years at the Maudsley 🔗 bit.ly/482mPME
Images:
Workshop at Mill Hill
Dr Eric Guttmann
📜 “They called me mad, and I called them mad, and damn them, they outvoted me.”
#OnThisDay in 1684, the playwright Nathaniel Lee was confined to Bethlem Hospital. Lee’s mental health struggles made him both a patient and a public spectacle, and his story ended tragically in 1692 🔗 bit.ly/491G5uN
#OnThisDay in 1684, the playwright Nathaniel Lee was confined to Bethlem Hospital. Lee’s mental health struggles made him both a patient and a public spectacle, and his story ended tragically in 1692 🔗 bit.ly/491G5uN
November 10, 2025 at 12:45 PM
📜 “They called me mad, and I called them mad, and damn them, they outvoted me.”
#OnThisDay in 1684, the playwright Nathaniel Lee was confined to Bethlem Hospital. Lee’s mental health struggles made him both a patient and a public spectacle, and his story ended tragically in 1692 🔗 bit.ly/491G5uN
#OnThisDay in 1684, the playwright Nathaniel Lee was confined to Bethlem Hospital. Lee’s mental health struggles made him both a patient and a public spectacle, and his story ended tragically in 1692 🔗 bit.ly/491G5uN
Only 2 weeks left of our Between Sleeping and Waking exhibition 😱!
The exhibition space is dominated by Kate McDonnell’s immense installation Night Tides, which evokes the restlessness of insomnia.
It's totally FREE and utterly mesmerising ‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡🪐⋆
bit.ly/visitmotm
#nighttides #insomnia #dreams
The exhibition space is dominated by Kate McDonnell’s immense installation Night Tides, which evokes the restlessness of insomnia.
It's totally FREE and utterly mesmerising ‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡🪐⋆
bit.ly/visitmotm
#nighttides #insomnia #dreams
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Only 2 weeks left of our Between Sleeping and Waking exhibition 😱!
The exhibition space is dominated by Kate McDonnell’s immense installation Night Tides, which evokes the restlessness of insomnia.
It's totally FREE and utterly mesmerising ‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡🪐⋆
bit.ly/visitmotm
#nighttides #insomnia #dreams
The exhibition space is dominated by Kate McDonnell’s immense installation Night Tides, which evokes the restlessness of insomnia.
It's totally FREE and utterly mesmerising ‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡🪐⋆
bit.ly/visitmotm
#nighttides #insomnia #dreams
🎇 Louis Wain's Kaleidoscope Cats are like bursts of feline fireworks: vivid, surreal, and hypnotic. It's often claimed these works reflect his mental decline, but there's no evidence that the paintings are related to each other and all are undated.
😺 bit.ly/WainMyth
#louiswain #kaleidoscopecats
😺 bit.ly/WainMyth
#louiswain #kaleidoscopecats
November 5, 2025 at 5:04 PM
🎇 Louis Wain's Kaleidoscope Cats are like bursts of feline fireworks: vivid, surreal, and hypnotic. It's often claimed these works reflect his mental decline, but there's no evidence that the paintings are related to each other and all are undated.
😺 bit.ly/WainMyth
#louiswain #kaleidoscopecats
😺 bit.ly/WainMyth
#louiswain #kaleidoscopecats
Bringing the kids? Be sure to cosy up in our story time pod! Part of the Between Sleeping and Waking exhibition until 22 November 📚‧₊˚☁️ ♡🪐⋆
#betweensleepingandwaking #FreeExhibition #freelondonmuseum #mentalhealth #dreams #sleep
#betweensleepingandwaking #FreeExhibition #freelondonmuseum #mentalhealth #dreams #sleep
November 4, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Bringing the kids? Be sure to cosy up in our story time pod! Part of the Between Sleeping and Waking exhibition until 22 November 📚‧₊˚☁️ ♡🪐⋆
#betweensleepingandwaking #FreeExhibition #freelondonmuseum #mentalhealth #dreams #sleep
#betweensleepingandwaking #FreeExhibition #freelondonmuseum #mentalhealth #dreams #sleep
#OnThisDay in 1977 the artist William Kurelek died. His 1953 autobiographical painting, The Maze, painted during his time as a patient at the Maudsley Hospital, continues to captivate visitors to Bethlem Museum of the Mind. Discover this intriguing artwork here: bit.ly/MOTMMaze
November 2, 2025 at 5:13 PM
#OnThisDay in 1977 the artist William Kurelek died. His 1953 autobiographical painting, The Maze, painted during his time as a patient at the Maudsley Hospital, continues to captivate visitors to Bethlem Museum of the Mind. Discover this intriguing artwork here: bit.ly/MOTMMaze
We look pretty good when the nights start drawing in ☺️🌙✨🍂
🔗 bit.ly/visitmotm
#autumn #bethlemmuseumofthemind
🔗 bit.ly/visitmotm
#autumn #bethlemmuseumofthemind
October 31, 2025 at 3:44 PM
We look pretty good when the nights start drawing in ☺️🌙✨🍂
🔗 bit.ly/visitmotm
#autumn #bethlemmuseumofthemind
🔗 bit.ly/visitmotm
#autumn #bethlemmuseumofthemind
There's only one month left of Between Sleeping and Waking at Bethlem Museum of the Mind! This hauntingly beautiful exhibition features art by Bethlem Hospital patients and others spanning over 200 years.
Image: Dream Flight by Allan Beveridge
#bethlemmuseumofthemind #dreamart #dreamdiaries
Image: Dream Flight by Allan Beveridge
#bethlemmuseumofthemind #dreamart #dreamdiaries
October 29, 2025 at 5:05 PM
There's only one month left of Between Sleeping and Waking at Bethlem Museum of the Mind! This hauntingly beautiful exhibition features art by Bethlem Hospital patients and others spanning over 200 years.
Image: Dream Flight by Allan Beveridge
#bethlemmuseumofthemind #dreamart #dreamdiaries
Image: Dream Flight by Allan Beveridge
#bethlemmuseumofthemind #dreamart #dreamdiaries
🕰️ Don't forget the clocks go back tonight! You get an extra hour tomorrow to plan your next visit to Bethlem Museum of the Mind 😊 We're open every Wednesday-Saturday 9:30-5pm, so there's plenty of 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 to visit us bit.ly/visitmotm
#clocksgoback #autumn #greenwichmeantime
#clocksgoback #autumn #greenwichmeantime
October 25, 2025 at 1:15 PM
🕰️ Don't forget the clocks go back tonight! You get an extra hour tomorrow to plan your next visit to Bethlem Museum of the Mind 😊 We're open every Wednesday-Saturday 9:30-5pm, so there's plenty of 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 to visit us bit.ly/visitmotm
#clocksgoback #autumn #greenwichmeantime
#clocksgoback #autumn #greenwichmeantime
💡 Looking for something inspirational, unusual, and free to do in London today? Visit Bethlem Museum of the Mind! You'll discover over 750 years of mental health history, fascinating art, the mystery of dreams, and beautiful nature in the grounds (lots of mushrooms to spot! 🍄)
bit.ly/visitmotm
bit.ly/visitmotm
October 25, 2025 at 7:35 AM
💡 Looking for something inspirational, unusual, and free to do in London today? Visit Bethlem Museum of the Mind! You'll discover over 750 years of mental health history, fascinating art, the mystery of dreams, and beautiful nature in the grounds (lots of mushrooms to spot! 🍄)
bit.ly/visitmotm
bit.ly/visitmotm
If you're near Liverpool Street Station you're walking on the very foundations of London's mental health history - look for the blue plaque at 90 Liverpool Street. 3/3
#bethlemroyalhospital #HiddenLondon #LondonHistory #BethlemStar #bethlemmuseumofthemind #mentalhealth #liverpoolstreetstation
#bethlemroyalhospital #HiddenLondon #LondonHistory #BethlemStar #bethlemmuseumofthemind #mentalhealth #liverpoolstreetstation
October 24, 2025 at 12:56 PM
If you're near Liverpool Street Station you're walking on the very foundations of London's mental health history - look for the blue plaque at 90 Liverpool Street. 3/3
#bethlemroyalhospital #HiddenLondon #LondonHistory #BethlemStar #bethlemmuseumofthemind #mentalhealth #liverpoolstreetstation
#bethlemroyalhospital #HiddenLondon #LondonHistory #BethlemStar #bethlemmuseumofthemind #mentalhealth #liverpoolstreetstation
The Bethlem Star is at least as old as the Hospital, it was worn by the monks as ‘the sign of the star’ of Bethlehem. Later, it was worn by discharged patients as a badge of their connection to the Hospital. (You buy your own here bit.ly/bethlemstarpin) 2/3
October 24, 2025 at 12:56 PM
The Bethlem Star is at least as old as the Hospital, it was worn by the monks as ‘the sign of the star’ of Bethlehem. Later, it was worn by discharged patients as a badge of their connection to the Hospital. (You buy your own here bit.ly/bethlemstarpin) 2/3
📆 This week marks 778 years since Simon FitzMary gave land at Bishopsgate to the Priory of St Mary of Bethlehem, founding what became Bethlem Hospital, the world’s first institution dedicated to mental health care. 1/3
October 24, 2025 at 12:56 PM
📆 This week marks 778 years since Simon FitzMary gave land at Bishopsgate to the Priory of St Mary of Bethlehem, founding what became Bethlem Hospital, the world’s first institution dedicated to mental health care. 1/3
🍏Happy Apple Day! 🍎
(The floating banners are part of Bethany Williams’s exhibition at @bethlemgallery - This Wild, Achingly Beautiful Place.)
#appleday #orchard #apples #bethlemmuseumofthemind
(The floating banners are part of Bethany Williams’s exhibition at @bethlemgallery - This Wild, Achingly Beautiful Place.)
#appleday #orchard #apples #bethlemmuseumofthemind
October 21, 2025 at 12:56 PM
🍏Happy Apple Day! 🍎
(The floating banners are part of Bethany Williams’s exhibition at @bethlemgallery - This Wild, Achingly Beautiful Place.)
#appleday #orchard #apples #bethlemmuseumofthemind
(The floating banners are part of Bethany Williams’s exhibition at @bethlemgallery - This Wild, Achingly Beautiful Place.)
#appleday #orchard #apples #bethlemmuseumofthemind
A new week begins & we're excited to welcome our Learning groups, room hirers & visitors!
Pop into the shop while you're here - there are plenty of gifts to get you started on your seasonal shopping!
🎁Special Offer! Spend £8 & get a free advent calendar!
#adventcalendar #bethlemmuseumofthemind
Pop into the shop while you're here - there are plenty of gifts to get you started on your seasonal shopping!
🎁Special Offer! Spend £8 & get a free advent calendar!
#adventcalendar #bethlemmuseumofthemind
October 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM
A new week begins & we're excited to welcome our Learning groups, room hirers & visitors!
Pop into the shop while you're here - there are plenty of gifts to get you started on your seasonal shopping!
🎁Special Offer! Spend £8 & get a free advent calendar!
#adventcalendar #bethlemmuseumofthemind
Pop into the shop while you're here - there are plenty of gifts to get you started on your seasonal shopping!
🎁Special Offer! Spend £8 & get a free advent calendar!
#adventcalendar #bethlemmuseumofthemind
Step into the dream like atmosphere of 'Between Sleeping and Waking' today at Bethlem Museum of the Mind ⋆.˚☁️⋆
Featuring Kate McDonnell’s immersive installation Night Tides, which evokes the fragmented thoughts and whispered prayers of insomnia.
Free entry. Open Wed-Sat.
#DreamVibes #NightTides
Featuring Kate McDonnell’s immersive installation Night Tides, which evokes the fragmented thoughts and whispered prayers of insomnia.
Free entry. Open Wed-Sat.
#DreamVibes #NightTides
October 18, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Step into the dream like atmosphere of 'Between Sleeping and Waking' today at Bethlem Museum of the Mind ⋆.˚☁️⋆
Featuring Kate McDonnell’s immersive installation Night Tides, which evokes the fragmented thoughts and whispered prayers of insomnia.
Free entry. Open Wed-Sat.
#DreamVibes #NightTides
Featuring Kate McDonnell’s immersive installation Night Tides, which evokes the fragmented thoughts and whispered prayers of insomnia.
Free entry. Open Wed-Sat.
#DreamVibes #NightTides
Sometimes there are no words. Olivia Gillow’s painting ‘Cradle Soap’, on display at Bethlem Museum of the Mind, has helped visitors to understand OCD in a way that words could not have done.
#GettingIt #TogetherAgainstOCD #OCDWeek #ocdawareness
#GettingIt #TogetherAgainstOCD #OCDWeek #ocdawareness
October 17, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Sometimes there are no words. Olivia Gillow’s painting ‘Cradle Soap’, on display at Bethlem Museum of the Mind, has helped visitors to understand OCD in a way that words could not have done.
#GettingIt #TogetherAgainstOCD #OCDWeek #ocdawareness
#GettingIt #TogetherAgainstOCD #OCDWeek #ocdawareness
We're inspired by the resilience and artistic vision of Charlotte Johnson Wahl, an OCD sufferer and Maudsley Hospital resident in the 1970s. This OCD Awareness Week we have a new addition to the Museum’s collections - Johnson Wahl's vibrant painting 'Morning Group'.
#TogetherAgainstOCD #OCDWeek
#TogetherAgainstOCD #OCDWeek
October 16, 2025 at 1:02 PM
We're inspired by the resilience and artistic vision of Charlotte Johnson Wahl, an OCD sufferer and Maudsley Hospital resident in the 1970s. This OCD Awareness Week we have a new addition to the Museum’s collections - Johnson Wahl's vibrant painting 'Morning Group'.
#TogetherAgainstOCD #OCDWeek
#TogetherAgainstOCD #OCDWeek
359 years ago today, on 14 September 1666, the first meeting of the Court of Governors was held at Bethlem. An excerpt (with only two commas in the entire piece!) from the Minutes explains that this was because of a "fierce & lamentable" fire at Bridewell Hospital.
#onthisday #londonhistory
#onthisday #londonhistory
September 14, 2025 at 9:36 AM
359 years ago today, on 14 September 1666, the first meeting of the Court of Governors was held at Bethlem. An excerpt (with only two commas in the entire piece!) from the Minutes explains that this was because of a "fierce & lamentable" fire at Bridewell Hospital.
#onthisday #londonhistory
#onthisday #londonhistory