Founded in 1123, this London hospital has survived fires, wars, and near-closure campaigns.

Science · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: St Bartholomew's Hospital, known as Barts, is Britain's oldest hospital still operating on its original site. From its 12th-century origins to its modern role as a cardiac and cancer centre of excellence, it has weathered centuries of change, including the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the Blitz.

Established by Rahere in 1123, Barts has maintained a continuous presence in the City of London for over 800 years. Although the Dissolution of the Monasteries stripped the institution of its income, it was refounded by Henry VIII in 1546. The hospital's architecture reflects its long history, featuring a main square designed by James Gibbs in the 1730s and a 15th-century tower at the associated church, St Bartholomew-the-Less. Remarkably, the site survived both the Great Fire of London and the Blitz, preserving its status as a historic medical landmark.

The hospital has been a crucible for medical advancement. In the 17th century, William Harvey conducted his circulatory system research there, while 18th-century surgeons Percivall Pott and John Abernethy established foundational principles of modern surgery. By 1872, the hospital managed 676 beds and treated over 100,000 out-patients annually. Despite its prestige, the hospital faced a severe threat in 1993 following the Tomlinson Review, which suggested central London had too many hospitals. A massive public campaign, bolstered by the hospital's cultural fame as the fictional alma mater of Sherlock Holmes, successfully prevented its total closure.

Following the campaign, Barts underwent a £500 million transformation completed in 2016, refocusing its mission on cardiac and cancer care. Today, it operates under the Barts Health NHS Trust, formed in 2012. The site also houses the Barts Pathology Museum—noted for its collection of over 4,000 specimens—and continues to serve as a hub for medical education. The hospital's legacy is further preserved through the Barts Health Archive, which holds records spanning from 1137 to the present day, documenting the evolution of healthcare in London.

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