Founded over 500 years ago in 1518 by a Royal Charter from King Henry VIII, the Royal College of Physicians is England's oldest medical college. Today, the RCP continues to play a vital role in raising medical standards and shaping public health.
The RCP Archive, Heritage Library and Museum look after the RCP's historic collections, which have been collected over it's over 500-year history. We use the collections to engage, inspire and entertain people with the history of medicine and the importance of physicians within it. The collections and Grade I listed building are used for research, tours, exhibitions, and public events that include talks, exhibition launches, Lates and special events, covering topics from art to architecture, history to medicinal horticulture.