Image
A whimsical cartoon of a child in pyjamas and a Father Christmas-style dressing gown. The child is opening a door and being greeted by flying papers, books and clocks.
Sat 30 Nov 2024 - Sun 5 Jan 2025
The Night Before NHS Christmas
Guided Tours
Heritage
Museum
Family friendly
Event organiser:
Thackray Museum of Medicine

Come with us on an enchanting Christmas journey as Thackray is transformed into a stunning winter wonderland throughout December.  

‘Twas the night before Christmas

When all through the land

The sick were still cared for, by an NHS hand.'

Every year we snuggle down in our beds on Christmas Eve waiting for the big day, whilst staff in hospitals across the land get ready for another night on shift, looking after everyone who needs care over the holidays. This year, Thackray will share these hardworking voices – from porters to nurses, anaesthetists to paediatricians – taking you into their world and bringing their stories to life, both with care and a great big dollop of festive feeling.

Working with renowned illustrator and paper artist Andy Singleton we will be decking our halls with his trademark ornate paper sculpture and illustration. Drawing influence from memories shared with us by staff from across the NHS Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Andy will turn our building into a delicate winter wonderland of scenes straight out of a picture book. Every weekend, local award-winning theatre company Wrongsemble will add an additional dose of medical magic to the narrative, bringing these extraordinary experiences to life through pop-up performances of theatre and song across our building.  

Cosy up in your dressing gown and slippers, grab a fresh cup of cocoa and prepare to be immersed in a unique and heartwarming take on a festive classic, The Night Before Christmas.

This experience is free with your museum ticket and a must to get you in the festive spirit.  

Keep an eye on our What’s On pages for more craft and hands-on workshops exploring this magical world, set to be announced soon.

    Date
    Sat 30 Nov 2024 - Sun 5 Jan 2025
    Show all dates/times
    Sat 30 Nov 2024
    10:00 am
    Sun 1 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Mon 2 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Tue 3 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Wed 4 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Thu 5 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Fri 6 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Sat 7 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Sun 8 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Mon 9 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Tue 10 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Wed 11 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Thu 12 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Fri 13 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Sat 14 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Sun 15 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Mon 16 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Tue 17 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Wed 18 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Thu 19 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Fri 20 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Sat 21 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Sun 22 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Mon 23 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Fri 27 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Sat 28 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Sun 29 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Mon 30 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Tue 31 Dec 2024
    10:00 am
    Wed 1 Jan 2025
    10:00 am
    Thu 2 Jan 2025
    10:00 am
    Fri 3 Jan 2025
    10:00 am
    Sat 4 Jan 2025
    10:00 am
    Sun 5 Jan 2025
    10:00 am

    Ticket price

    Box Office
    0113 244 4343

    This experience is free with your museum ticket and a must to get you in the festive spirit.   

    Keep an eye on our What’s On pages for more craft and hands-on workshops exploring this magical world, set to be announced soon. 

    Accessibility

    We want everyone to enjoy the museum. It is fully wheelchair and buggy accessible, entry is free for essential companions, and we welcome assistance dogs (and our team are more than happy to arrange a bowl of water for hard-working thirsty dogs – please just ask).

    The museum offers quiet openings on the last Sunday of each month from 10am–11am when the lights will be up and the sounds down.  You can download a copy of our gallery map, which includes some sensory information and other details here.

    You can find more accessibility information by visiting our guide hosted on
    Visit Britain’s website.

    You can also download the PDF version of the guide.

    Baby changing facilities
    Buggy friendly
    Wheelchair access

    Thackray Museum of Medicine

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