Bloomsbury's Contribution to Health Care History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

50 min Private tour

The School for Medicine for Women became the school for the nearby Royal Free Hospital in 1898 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

A play shed, one of the few remaining buildings of the Foundling Hospital established by Thomas Coram in 1745 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

In the 18th century the only health care provided in Bloomsbury was the Foundling Hospital, one of the most magnificent buildings in London. Soon after, this small area of London attracted reformers who changed health care in fundamental ways that shape today's services. Exploring with Nick Black, a leading expert on health care, you will see the first hospital for children in England, the only hospital for Italians, the first hospital established by nurses, the first hospital for those paralysed and epileptic, and the medical school created by and for women who were otherwise excluded from such a career. While Bloomsbury is rightly recognised as the home of radical changes in literature, art and penal reform, it was also a cradle of reform for health care. The tour is ready whenever you are and the audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.

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At a glance

Duration: 50 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

Ages: Adults (6–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Lifetime access to Bloomsbury's Contribution to Health Care History tour
Included: VoiceMap Application
Included: Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata

Not included

Not included: Smartphone
Not included: Transportation
Not included: Food/Drink
Not included: Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route

Itinerary

The Foundling Museum

Passing by

The Foundling Museum in Brunswick Square, London recounts activities at the Foundling Hospital, Britain's first home for kids in danger of abandonment. The gallery houses the broadly significant Foundling Hospital Collection and the Gerald Coke Handel Collection, a globally significant collection of material relating to the composer George Frideric Handel and his peers. This small museum evokes the tragic tales of mothers and children cared for by the hospital.
The Queen Square Park and Garden

Passing by

We will walk round this small green oasis which has been seen the greatest concentration of hospitals of anywhere in England devoted to children, homeopathy, Italians and those with neurological conditions.
Thomas Coram statue

Passing by

Captain Thomas Coram was a donor who started the London Foundling Hospital in Lamb's Conduit Fields, Bloomsbury, to care for abandoned youngsters. It's believed to be the world's first incorporated charity.
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Room

Passing by

The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Obstetric Hospital and its previous institutions gave health care to ladies in London from the mid-Victorian period. It was named after Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, one of the first women in ENgland to qualify as a doctor, and who established the New Hospital for Women on this site.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Tour starts at Russell Square underground station. Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace.

End point

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

[REMOVE FOR DRIVING TOURS]This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.[REMOVE FOR DRIVING TOURS]

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

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1. Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

2. Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

3. Create an account

4. Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

5. Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.

This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.

When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.

Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT

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For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]