Museum of the Order of Saint John

Nestled away in the charming Clerkenwell district of London lies a treasure trove of history – The Museum of the Order of St John. While it may not be the most well-known museum in the city, a visit here is a rewarding experience for anyone interested in chivalry, medical history, and the fascinating story of a centuries-old order. From the moment you step through the historic gatehouse, you're transported back in time. Interactive displays and informative panels bring the story of the Order of St John to life, from its humble beginnings as a hospice for pilgrims in Jerusalem to its modern-day role as a global humanitarian organisation. The museum delves into the Order's rich history of caring for the sick and injured. Exhibits showcase fascinating medical instruments from bygone eras, shedding light on the evolution of medicine over the centuries. The dedication of the Knights Hospitaller, the Order's military-medical branch, is particularly inspiring, highlighting the long tradition of service that continues to this day with St John Ambulance. Whether you're a history buff fascinated by medieval orders or simply curious about the origins of St John Ambulance, The Museum of the Order of St John is a gem waiting to be discovered. It offers a unique glimpse into a fascinating past, reminding us of the enduring power of compassion and service.

Excellent museum. Great tours. Lovely staff. Clean facilities.

Exquisite architecture, the Museum of the Order has a lot charm, elegance housing thousand of years of knowledge. The Order has a fascinating history of serving others in need and battles to keep this missing alive. It was moving seeing extraordinary paintings and statues of Good Samaritan. Also see the extraordinary work of Christians, Muslims and Jews working to serve those in need, the poor and the sick.

Museum is free. Several tours are available which includes the Orders crypt, church and rooms. The museum traces the history of the order from Jerusalem through expulsion and running battles through Rhodes to Malta with the expanding Muslim empire in the Mediterranean. And the Reformation and the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The order was restored under Queen Victoria.

Interesting look at the history of St. John's ambulance from the Crusades and the Knights Templar to modern times. I just visited the downstairs which is FREE and takes about 40 minutes at a very leisurely pace. The staff were friendly and helpful. The crypt and upstairs have to be pre- booked for a fee that includes a guided tour. It's a shame as I would gladly have paid to have a look at the historic crypt. The church across the square from the gate can also be viewed for free and has a tranquil herb garden.

You can walk past this small museum and not even know it is there. Tucked inside an old gate house that dates back to 1504 is a great little museum tracking the history of the Order of Saint John. If the name is familiar it is because today this ancient order is now in fact Saint John's Ambulance service. Even though it is small it is full of well laid out and well presented artifacts. The history of the order is fascinating and amazing to find out. The staff are all extremely friendly and helpful, I would thoroughly recommend that if you are in the area do visit.

Beautiful garden with thoughtful planting related to the Order of St John. Beautiful place to sit and enjoy, but also has fun facts scattered around. Would be perfect for families looking for an interesting outdoor activity.

A small museum with two buildings and a total of three viewing rooms in both buildings. In the museum, by and large, there is not much to see. Since this Order is a functioning organization they provide for public viewing at additional charge under the pretext of two excursions at £ 12 each: in one building - a meeting room; and one room in the chapel, - it is in any circumstances would be difficult to call it a good value for money or reasonable to have it as two separate tours. The community was organized in the 10xx and positioned itself as a community for the provision of medical services, but as is often the case with similar orders such as the Jesuit and the like, a banal way of enriching themselves on medical services inaccessible at that time, kind of soft power, which is confirmed by their exhibition, mentioned the wealth of the order and the use of jewellery in decorating buildings, can't imagine that jewellery is critical for medical treatment; the military orientation of the order declared in the exposition, most likely, implies the looting inherent in such institutions at that time. It was a great discovery for me that the hospital museum that I saw in Valletta, Malta was their property, sounds like they are everywhere.