THE FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE MUSEUM is located at St. Thomas's Hospital, 2 Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1, tel: 0171 620 0374. Museum hours are from 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday through Sunday and public holidays. The museum is closed on 1st January, 25th and 26th December, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Admission charges are £3.50 for adults and £2.50 for children and students. The closest Underground stations are at Westminster and Waterloo.


One easy and interesting way to get there is to take the Underground to Westminster and turn right as you exit the station. Cross Bridge Street and turn left, continuing on across Westminster Bridge. You'll have a wonderful view of the Thames, and in front of you, St. Thomas's Hospital on the right and Jubilee Gardens and the County Hall on the left. Halfway across the bridge, be sure to turn around for the postcard view of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. When you get to the far side, follow the road around the curve to the right until you get to the emergency entrance to St. Thomas's. Walk in the driveway and you'll see the museum entrance on the right.


Claydon House, in Middle Claydon, near Buckingham, houses another museum dedicated to Florence Nightingale. Now owned by the National Trust, Claydon House was formerly the home of the Verney family. Nightingale often stayed here while visiting her sister, Lady Verney. The Museum Room contains numerous mementoes of her and her nursing career. It is open 22nd March through 2nd November, Saturday through Wednesday and Bank Holiday Mondays 1 to 5 pm. Tel: 01296 740349.