We're very sorry for any inconvenience this causes those who cannot access our main doors. Catch up with our series of children's bedtime stories read by members and friends of the Museum. Join author and illustrator Lauren Child CBE in conversation with fellow Carnegie Medal-winning author Sarah Crossan to discuss why children's literature isn't always taken seriously.
Join our Sunday drop-in tours to learn more about the Foundling Museum and history of the Foundling Hospital. Whether you're looking ahead for a wedding venue or currently in need of a film location, or a meeting space, take a look at the options we have available at the Museum. Read about our ground-breaking project to develop a bespoke, paid training and mentoring programme for care-experienced young adults.
Join our Sunday drop-in tours to learn more about the Foundling Museum and history of the Foundling Hospital. Whether you're looking ahead for a wedding venue or currently in need of a film location, or a meeting space, take a look at the options we have available at the Museum. Read about our ground-breaking project to develop a bespoke, paid training and mentoring programme for care-experienced young adults.
Services
The Foundling Hospital, which continues today as the children's charity Coram, was established in 1739 by the philanthropist Thomas Coram to care for babies at risk of abandonment. When Thomas Coram (1668-1751) returned to London in 1704 after eleven years in America, it was to a city that was a powerhouse of industry, invention, global trade and wealth.
Our Museum shop offers a variety of souvenirs and gifts for adults and children. Make sure you take home something to remember your visit to this unique London history museum. Find souvenirs, homeware, jewellery, books, greetings cards and limited-edition prints by some of the UK's most renowned artists at our shop in Bloomsbury.
With a colourful history spanning over 275 years and a range of unique things to see and do, the Foundling Museum is one of the most interesting places to visit in London. See below for information about walking and cycling to the Museum, plus new opening hours. Book in advance via Art Tickets (please note Amex is not accepted by Art Fund tickets).
For us, right now, it feels like the right thing to do. Our highest priority remains keeping you and our dedicated team of volunteers and staff safe. We want your visit to us to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience, and we want to offer that at the same time as ensuring the safety of our team. To continue to ensure generous physical distancing, we're limiting the number of people in the building through timed tickets.
Find out more below about our guided tours, self-led groups, special tours and Lars Tharp tours or book an inspiring speaker for your next group meeting. You can learn how we are continuing to keep you safe during your visit on our Visitor Safety page. Complement your visit with a tour of the Museum.
Reviews (8)
Alan Beal
Nov 19, 2021
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Sian Lewin
Oct 07, 2021
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Helen Moffat
Sep 25, 2021
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This is a lovely compact museum with a plethora of famous names involved . It does pull at your heartstrings as you read the stories and especially reading about the tokens. Amazing piece of social history . It is a bit tucked away so can be a bit difficult to find but we'll worth it. So wonderful art work to see as you go round. And music so well worth a visit
Mike Flop
Nov 26, 2020
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Being an unwanted child in London was a tough reality. The Foundling house is a museum archiving the building. Children were dumped here, once dumped, a black or white marble was pulled and that sealed the child's fate. The foundation trained the lucky ones to be servants for the wealthy. Disturbing and insightful. I really love the little graveyard very near the building. I also believe that have a library of Handel's works, as he was one of the founder.
Erika C.
Jun 05, 2020
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I learned so much! I'd like to thank our tour guide. He knew so much and wanted to show us everything. I loved how much he loved sharing the information with us. If you could, definitely try to book a tour. It was actually kinda funny, the fire alarm rang and we were all confused / maybe a bit scared but our tour guide was extremely calm in all this. So thank you again!!!! I believe his name is Nigel 😊.
Jasmine Belthrop
Nov 08, 2019
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A hidden gem that everyone should be going too. I feel like this museum could have been twice as large since there was so much to learn about the history of the foundation. The foundling tokens alone could be there own museum. I left feeling like there was so much more I could have learned. I regard not buying one of the book in the gift shop.
Macedonboy
Sep 22, 2019
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The Foundling Museum is a specialist museum exhibiting the history of the Foundling Hospital, the Foundling Hospital Collection as well as the Gerald Coke George Handel Collection. The exhibitions show just how far we've come as a society since the days Foundling Hospital was established as the UK's first children's charity, aimed at providing a home for children who would otherwise be forced to live on the streets. This was way back in the days when women could forced to give up their children for various reasons such as poverty or having a child out of wedlock. The ground floor exhibition mainly
Yi-Ru Guo
Jul 05, 2019
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