2025 at Glenside Hospital Museum in Bristol
Victorian patient portraits: a talk with Dr Paul Tobia 19th March 2026
Join us for a chance to connect with the past like never before
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to wear a straitjacket?
On Saturday 7th March 2026 for National Lottery Open Week, Glenside Hospital Museum is opening its doors for a unique experience.
This one-day event is ideal for anyone looking for interesting, affordable things to do in Bristol, especially those who enjoy museums, social history, and thought-provoking experiences.
Read on to find out about this fantastic opportunity...
National Lottery Open Week: Sat 7th March 2026
When you book general entry tickets for Glenside Hospital Museum on Saturday 7th March and bring along any National Lottery ticket or scratchcard you’ll gain exclusive access to 'History in Your Hands': a rare, hands-on encounter with original objects from our remarkable mental health care collection.
We do not usually offer this experience to individual visitors so is an exciting look into the past, where you can explore a variety of artefacts that reveal how patients were treated at Bristol Lunatic Asylum (later Glenside Hospital) from 1861 to 1994.
A dedicated collection will be ready for physical exploration and comprises a straitjacket, deactivated ECT machine, emotive patient artworks and Victorian medicine bottles among other things. Not to mention the huge collection to explore at the museum, which permanently features a padded cell visitors can walk into.
These objects speak volumes about changing approaches to mental illness, from early institutional care to more compassionate practices.
Mental health history is often distorted by films, myths, and alarming news headlines. This special experience invites you to slow down, look closely, and form your own informed and balanced perspective.
Expect to be surprised. Expect to be intrigued. Expect to learn. And perhaps, in unexpected ways, to be moved.
Join us for a chance to connect with the past like never before.
Admission and pricing
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Normal museum entry applies
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Suggested £5 donation for an annual pass
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Under 18s go free
This makes the event a great option for anyone searching for cheap days out in Bristol, affordable museums, or free activities with a donation.
Though we would prefer visitors to book tickets, prior booking is not essential. We will also welcome payment on the door.
Aside from their National Lottery ticket visitors don't need to bring anything to enjoy this experience.
