1. Foundling Museum (Photograph: Laura Gallant for Time Out)
    Photograph: Laura Gallant for Time Out
  2. Foundling Museum (Photograph: Laura Gallant for Time Out)
    Photograph: Laura Gallant for Time Out
  3. Foundling Museum (Photograph: Laura Gallant for Time Out)
    Photograph: Laura Gallant for Time Out
  4. Foundling Museum (Photograph: Laura Gallant for Time Out)
    Photograph: Laura Gallant for Time Out
  5. Foundling Museum (Photograph: Laura Gallant for Time Out)
    Photograph: Laura Gallant for Time Out
  6. Foundling Museum (Photograph: Laura Gallant for Time Out)
    Photograph: Laura Gallant for Time Out

Foundling Museum

  • Museums
  • Bloomsbury
  • Recommended
Rosie Hewitson
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Time Out says

What is it? 

Opened in 2004 on the site of the original Foundling Hospital, Bloomsbury’s Foundling Museum tells the story of England’s first hospital for abandoned children, founded by philanthropist and campaigner Thomas Coram in 1739.

As well as looking after some 25,000 children during its 200 years in operation, the Foundling Hospital is also notable for housing the first public art gallery in the UK. Established through donations from leading artists including Gainsborough, Reynolds, Hudson and key supporter William Hogarth, the gallery was one of eighteenth century London’s most fashionable venues, and continues to be a source of revenue for Coram, the charity continuing the hospital’s important work today. Key pieces from the Foundling Collections are on display in the museum’s Picture Gallery, alongside loans and donations from contemporary artists including Tracey Emin and Yinka Shonibare. It also stages temporary exhibitions on its lower ground floor, with recent subjects including the representation of foundlings in comic books, the untold stories of African and Asian children cared for by the hospital, and musical networking in Georgian London.  

Why go? 

Because where else can you delve into the history of abandoned children and wonder at art from people who have made huge differences in young people’s lives? 

Don’t miss

Besides the paintings, other notable exhibits include are eighteenth-century interiors preserved from the original hospital, a copy of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ and a collection of Handel memorabilia collected by Gerald Coke. The composer was involved in fundraising for the hospital during his lifetime – in 1750 he donated the chapel organ and from that year onwards the ‘Messiah’ was performed under his direction on an annual basis for the Hospital’s benefit.

When to visit 

Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm, closed Mondays. 

Ticket info 

Adult tickets for the Foundling Museum cost £12.75, concessions are £10.50 and under-21s go free. Those tickets will give you unlimited free entry to the museum for one whole year!

Time Out tip

Pick up Foundling Museum family trails and children’s activity backpacks at the reception desk.

Details

Address
40 Brunswick Square
London
WC1N 1AZ
Transport:
Tube: Russell Square
Price:
£12.75, concs £10.50, under-21s free
Opening hours:
Tue-Sat: 10am-5pm, Sun: 11am-5pm, closed Mon
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What’s on

A Grand Chorus: The Power of Music

The chances are, at some point in your life, you’ve probably heard the ‘Halleluljah Chorus’ by the George Frideric Handel. In a new exhibition, the Foundling Museum will explore how this exhilarating piece of classical music is still a banger today. Why is the Foundling Museum dedicating an exhibit entirely to one piece of music? You might be wondering. Well, originally composed as part of his famous Messiah oratorio, Handel later incorporated the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ into an anthem he created specially for the Foundling Hospital that premiered in 1749 to help raise money for the charity. Bringing together musical scores, librettos, and musical instruments as well as paintings, photographs, audio, video, personal testimony, and other archival material, A Grand Chorus: The Power of Music will shine a light on the history of the composition and examine the profound effect it has had on people over the past three centuries. 
  • Exhibitions
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