A local’s guide to visiting Guy’s Hospital in London Bridge, a hidden gem with historical buildings, remnants of the old London Bridge and John Keats statue!
I only discovered Guy’s Hospital and its secret courtyards a couple of years ago, when I lost myself even deeper in Southwark’s beauty.
London Bridge, I’ve said it before, is one of my favorite areas in London: it’s filled with hidden gems, historical buildings, unique shops and viewpoints on the Thames.
If you’re looking for lesser-known photo spots, whether you’re planning your first trip to London or have been living here a while, you’ll find Guy’s Hospital to be one of the best kept secrets of the city.
London’s Secret Courtyards: How to Visit Guy’s Hospital
Located close to the Shard (only seconds, really, from the building), Guy’s Hospital is, to this day, a working hospital.
It’s situated on St Thomas Street, which, from Borough High Street on one end to Bermondsey Street on the other, is filled with spots to visit, like Vinegar Yard and various coffee shops dotting the street.
Those in love with the Dark Academia aesthetic, historical sites, or lovers of pretty picture spots will love to visit Guy’s Hospital – and the best part?
You can wander around completely for free.
Visiting Guy’s Hospital, London: How to Access It
The easiest way to reach Guy’s Hospital is by entering the grounds from St Thomas Street.
You can alight at London Bridge Station and go out Shard-side; from there, it’s a really short walk.
Both the Jubilee line and Northern line stop there, and if you were planning on visiting Borough Market or nearby Southwark Cathedral, you’ll find it only takes a few minutes to Guy’s Hospital’s entrance.
Visiting Guy’s Hospital, London: What to See
If you want, you can enter the hospital grounds via the main courtyard (the General Court) from Great Maze Pond or Collingwood Street as well, which will make you see some of the city’s most hidden courtyards.
While I particularly wanted to highlight the courtyard pictured in this guide, there are some other really beautiful places to see around, like the hospital chapel, complete with mosaic panels and stained glass.
This chapel is one of the oldest surviving hospital chapels in England, and outside, as you walk through the courtyards, you’ll find many architectural elements from the 18th-century layout.
Inside Guy’s Hospital’s courtyard, you’ll also come across a statue of Thomas Guy, founder of the hospital, along with a statue of a sitting man lost in thought – poet John Keats.
Visiting Guy’s Hospital, London: The John Keats Statue
What makes it interesting to see isn’t only that you wouldn’t expect to see the statue of a poet inside a hospital.
This statue of John Keats (made by Stuart Williamson, 2007) is sitting inside an alcove originally from the old London Bridge, demolished in 1831.
The poet trained as a surgeon-apothecary at Guy’s Hospital from 1815-16, hence the commemoration on the hospital’s grounds – the stone structure around the statue makes the setting doubly historic.
Guy’s Hospital, London: Visiting Tips
The hospital grounds are active, but the public can access the courtyards during daytime.
The chapel interior has some restricted areas, so make sure you check if public access is permitted when you want to visit.
I would also recommend you visit the Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret nearby on Thomas Street as well, so you make a little medical-history itinerary for yourself.
The place is creepy, considering the presence of old tools on-site, and really interesting to see.
Visiting Guy’s Hospital, London: What to Do Nearby
When you’re done visiting Guy’s Hospital’s courtyards and admiring the statues and London Bridge alcove, there are plenty of hidden gems to see nearby:
- Vinegar Yard, interesting for street food and vintage shopping
- Borough Market, with the Bread Ahead Bakery and other food spots
- Southwark Cathedral, a medieval site and Shakespeare location
- London Bridge’s shops, with concept stores, artisan and mainstream brands
- London Bridge’s dessert spots
- Bermondsey Street with its Moroccan Store, maritime buildings and rustic bakeries/coffee shops
- The Fashion and Textile Museum on Bermondsey Street as well – perfect for a fashion itinerary in London
London’s Secret Courtyards: How to Visit Guy’s Hospital
Guy’s Hospital isn’t just a modern medical facility – like many buildings in London, it has a deep architectural and cultural history.
Its poetic connection of John Keats, remnants of the old London Bridge and 18th-century wings and colonnades make it one of the best historical sites to visit when you’re around London Bridge Station.
Now, if you’re interested in hidden, lesser-known areas, history and architecture, these are a few other spots and guides I recommend you read to complete your bucket list: