Tea in the Turret
Private guided tours at a historic Bristol museum
Glenside Hospital Museum is set within the stunning grounds of UWE Glenside, in the Fishponds area of Bristol.
In 2024 we celebrated our 40th anniversary, validating our museum as a longstanding cultural and educational institution. We are one of just 3 mental health museums in the whole of the UK.
Private group tours
We offer private 1- 2 hour explorations of our museum for 2-6 people with a curator. We can open the museum especially for you and at a time that suits you.
A standard booking costs £70.
For larger groups, we offer an exciting hands-on experience with our handling collection. Please visit this page for more information.
Every tour includes exclusive access to visit our secret Grade II listed turret room, with Tea in the Turret as an optional extra.
Looking for unique things to do in Bristol with friends, family or colleagues?
Step inside one of the city’s most remarkable heritage buildings and unlock stories rarely told, as featured in Bristol 24/7 author Martin Booth's book "111 Places in Bristol That You Shouldn't Miss".
This private tour offers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience of the Grade II listed Glenside site, where striking Victorian architecture meets powerful histories of mental health care, creativity, and community. It proves a convenient option for tourists visiting Bristol, or anyone looking to visit outside of our current opening hours.
Explore extraordinary medical collections, fascinating artefacts, thought-provoking artworks within captivating exhibitions that make Glenside one of the most unusual places to visit in Bristol.
Tailoring your tour
Customise your visit
One of the joys of a private tour is having an experienced tour guide all to yourselves, so whether you’re drawn to the eclectic collection of Victorian books in our library, fancy a cheeky dig into the archives, or want to explore the artist Sir Stanley Spencer and the hospital’s wartime stories, we’ll shape your tour around what interests you most.
Discover hidden stories
With extra time and a guide focused solely on your group, you’ll have the rare chance to discover far more than the average visitor.
There are hidden stories tucked around every corner of the museum, and this is your opportunity to discover them all.
The perfect ending
Tea in the Turret is an optional add-on to our private tours, allowing you extra time to relax and unwind in our secluded balcony, previously inaccessible to the public.
It’s the perfect way to reflect on your visit in a cosy creative environment.
Min. £30/2 guests, add £10 for each additional guest.
Booking your guided tour
Our knowledgeable guide will bring the museum vividly to life, making this a standout activity for friends, family days out, Glenside and Stoke Park Hospital staff hosting reunions, work team-building in Bristol, or anyone simply curious about the city’s history.
Book your private tour today and discover why Glenside Hospital Museum is fast becoming one of Bristol’s most memorable and rewarding cultural experiences.
