Travel: The Alexander Fleming Laboratory

Alexander Fleming Laboratory penicillin Paddington London

Everything you need to know about the home of penicillin

If you have time and you are near to Paddington Railway Station, or Edgeware Road, then a visit to the home of penicillin, the Alexander Fleming Laboratory is an educational diversion.

St Mary’s Hospital is where Alexander Fleming discovered the antibiotic penicillin in 1928.  Not only did his discovery lead the way to save many lives but it also earned him a Nobel Prize.

History

Born in 1881, Sir Alexander Fleming was a Scottish biologist, physician, microbiologist, and pharmacologist. He is known for discovering the enzyme lysozyme in 1923 and the world’s first antibiotic substance benzylpenicillin (Penicillin G) from the mould Penicillium notatum in 1928.  He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 with Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chain. (Florey and Chain developed the drug from the lab into production).

Sir Alexander Fleming had been investigating the properties of staphylococci. He left his cultures of staphylococci on a bench and went on holiday. When he returned, he noticed that one culture was contaminated with a fungus.  The colonies of staphylococci immediately surrounding the fungus had been destroyed, whereas other staphylococci colonies farther away were normal.  He grew the mould in a pure culture and found that it produced a substance that killed a number of disease-causing bacteria. He identified the mould as being from the genus Penicillium.

 

Finding the Alexander Fleming Laboratory

Look for the St Mary’s Hospital archway, 135a Praed Street.

Alexander Fleming Laboratory penicillin Paddington London

Look out for the blue plaque on the wall.

Alexander Fleming Laboratory penicillin Paddington London

Once you have found the entrance, press the buzzer for entry.

Alexander Fleming Laboratory penicillin Paddington London

It really is like stepping back in time – back to 1928 when Fleming walked up these steps to his lab.  This is a reconstruction of the lab, with some original items from Fleming’s laboratory.

Alexander Fleming Laboratory penicillin Paddington London

Alexander Fleming Laboratory penicillin Paddington London

As well as the lab itself, there is a short film to watch and an exhibition with information to read.  It’s not ideal for kids though as it’s a very traditional exhibition so there are no hands-on, interactive bleeping things here.

Alexander Fleming Laboratory penicillin Paddington London

Where

Alexander Fleming Laboratory

St Mary’s Hospital,
135a Praed Street,
London W2 1NY

 

Opening hours

The museum is open Monday – Thursday 10.00 to 13.00.

Closed public holidays and between Christmas and New Year.

Entry costs

Adults: £4.00
Children, students, senior citizens, Unemployed £2.00
Staff and students of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London School of Medicine can visit the museum for free if they show their ID badge.

Accessibility

No wheelchair access.

Alexander Fleming Laboratory penicillin Paddington London

Emma

Emma

Hello!

I am Emma and with my husband Mark write Foodie Explorers, which is a food and travel website.

I am a member of the Guild of Food Writers and British Guild of Travel Writers.

We have a wide range of judging experience covering products, hotels and have judged, for example, for Great Taste Awards and Scottish Baker of the Year.

Along the way Mark gained WSET Level 2 in Wine and I have WSET Level 2 in Spirits as well as picking up an award with The Scotsman Food and Drink Awards.    

Usually I can be found sleeping beside a cat.

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