Visit Us
Glenside Hospital Museum is in the Fishponds area of Bristol, housed in the beautifully decorated former asylum church. This heritage site offers a unique glimpse into Victorian mental health care and is a fascinating attraction for anyone interested in history.
Adult annual pass: £5
Under 18s: free
Your annual pass allows return visits to explore at your own pace. Accompanied children visit for free, making it an ideal family day out in Bristol.
There’s no need to book, you’re welcome to turn up and pay, though pre-booking options are also available below.
Visitors usually spend about 90 minutes exploring the engaging displays, medical curios and artefacts.
Our postcode is BS16 1DD. See below for our full address and travel information.
Group Bookings & Tours
We are also open for group bookings and tours for 12 or more people.
Learning experiences
Educational hands-on workshops for adults and young people.
Accessibility
We are committed to providing a welcoming environment for all. We want to be open and accessible to all visitors to ensure that the widest number of people can enjoy the building, collection and exhibitions. For assistance or specific accessibility concerns, please contact us in advance.
The Museum is wheel-chair accessible, with the exception of our altar area where there is a step to the final metre of the display.
We have an accessible toilet and onsite parking (Saturdays only).
There is lot to see, and some audio, but we do not currently offer audio descriptions. We do have volunteers however who are available as guides if required.
Visit Us Virtually
Explore Glenside Hospital Museum anytime, anywhere with our free Bloomberg Connects app. Whether you're viewing from home, planning your visit or already walking through our unique collection, the app is your perfect companion.
Explore our exhibitions, discover our collections, follow our specially curated 20 items highlights, and before you leave take our self-guided outdoor tour, exploring hidden history in the beautiful grounds.
Getting Here
Glenside Hospital Museum is located in the northeast of Bristol, just 3 miles (5 km) from the city centre.
We are situated in the Grade II listed church within the grounds of the old psychiatric hospital, now used by the University of the West of England as their Health and Social Care Campus.
Our address:
UWE Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Stapleton, Bristol, BS16 1DD.
(Please note: Our postal address is The Porters Lodge, UWE Glenside Campus)
There are two entrances to the UWE Glenside Campus. If you’re coming up Blackberry Hill from the Broomhill direction, our entrance is past the main UWE Glenside ‘Blue’ entrance, labelled the ‘White Entrance’. If you enter via the main UWE entrance, take a right at the mini roundabout and head past the front of the building. At the next mini roundabout, take a right, and the church will be on your right just before you exit the site.
Exploring the Fishponds area on foot
There are some picturesque walks near the old hospital. The River Frome runs below the grounds, and the Frome Valley Walkway follows it, including the restored Snuff Mills, a real Bristol hidden gem near Stapleton Village, where the stone used to build the church and hospital was cut.
Visitor feedback
"I just wanted to say how much we all enjoyed our visit today to your fascinating museum. There was so much to see and take in, and we will be returning in the future to see more.
The presentation of the exhibits is excellent, and the marriage of science and art so cleverly done. Such a warm welcome from yourself, followed by a brilliant introductory talk, which clearly show the passion you hold for the museum. The museum is truly a place of excellent learning, and well placed on a University campus.
The exhibition 'Answering the Call' is an eye opener allowing one to see how the newly formed NHS relied on the recruitment of nurses from the commonwealth to facilitate the vision for universal healthcare in the UK.
Overall the museum showcases how mental health care has developed over the centuries, and also how the basic tenets from it's inception (good diet, exercise, fresh air, sleep and occupation) have been rightly recognised in current times, and are not just a result of new thinking!
A big thank you to all the volunteers and Trustees of the charity!"
Jenny Sinclair (visited January 2025)
