Tea in the Turret at Glenside Museum

This is a unique experience we’ve created for visitors to enjoy in 2025 as part our PoW (Protect our Wellbeing) project, with thanks to our National Lottery Heritage Fund grant.

We invite you to relax while enjoying a cup of tea and a slice of cake in this quirky little secret space, alongside a visit to our museum of mental health care.

• Tea in the Turret slots are 90 minutes long and the tickets are priced per person, with a maximum capacity of 4 in the room.
• Your booking is a private party, so whether you're 1, 2, 3 or 4 people so we'll close the slot once tickets are booked (unless you message us to request it kept open for other members of your party to buy tickets).
• Please arrive 5-10 minutes before your booking time to allow us to check you in at our reception desk.
• If you have specific dietary requirements please let us know at least 7 days ahead of your booking. Given adequate notice we can cater for gluten free, dairy free and vegan diets.
• As well as tea, we offer coffee, and herbal teas if you'd prefer this.
• Children age 5 and up are welcome to join in, with a £6 add-on ticket to enjoy the experience with tea and cake (other refreshments available on request).

You may stay for as long as you like exploring the main body of our museum during opening hours (10am-4pm).

Annual pass holders

If you hold a valid Glenside Hospital Museum annual pass with us, you are entitled to a £5 discount on your individual ticket. Please send us a photo of your annual pass via social media or our website to obtain the offer code.

More information about the Tea in the Turret experience

The turret room and balcony are part of our Grade II listed chapel, constructed in 1881. While once it played host to the hospital's medical superintendent and his family during church services, we’ve now transformed it into a lighthearted reflection of the content of our museum.

Tea in the Turret is a playful showcase of the 5 elements of mental health care in a pre-Medic*tion era: a good diet, adequate exercise and plentiful sleep, alongside purposeful occupation and pleasant surroundings.

An uplifting homely environment was thought to lift to the spirits in a way that could improve mental health, so the wards were often decorated in patterned wallpaper and cheerful colours. This can be seen in the artist Stanley Spencer’s painting “bed making”, inspired by his time here as a medical orderly during the institution’s time as Beaufort War Hospital.

Occupation often comprised work on the hospital farm for men, and laundry or needlework for women.

If you have any questions about this experience, please don’t hesitate to drop us a message via Eventbrite, social media or our website.

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Host or Publisher Glenside Hospital Museum