Spend an immersive day exploring the history of plant medicine across two exceptional London sites. Begin at Chelsea Physic Garden, London’s oldest botanic garden and a former training ground for the Society of Apothecaries, with a guided tour of its medicinal plant collection led by the Horticulture team, followed by a talk from Historian Dr Rosalind Lintott drawing on rare books and manuscripts to explore health and healing from the 16th to 18th centuries.

After time to enjoy the Garden and a hot lunch, continue to the rarely opened Apothecaries’ Hall in Blackfriars, where Biocultural Historian Dr Kim Walker will deliver a lecture on botanical drugs, alongside tours and displays on plant medicine, herbals and the Apothecaries’ role in the historic drug trade. The day concludes with a hands-on bitters-making session and botanical drinks in the Hall’s picturesque courtyard.

Early bird £140 (until 30 April) | Full rate £150. Lunch, & botanical drinks reception included.

Event Details: 

Morning Session: 10.00 – 12.30

The first part of the session will take place at Chelsea Physic Garden 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS

The morning session will be led by Dr Rosalind Lintott, who teaches medieval literature and researches medieval and early modern literary culture. She has been cataloguing the Chelsea Physic Garden’s library since 2023.

This talk will examine the role of written texts in supporting medical treatment in professional and domestic contexts. Drawing upon a range of printed books and manuscripts in the collection at the Chelsea Physic Garden, we will explore how and why early modern readers engaged with botanical works in Latin, English, Italian and French, and will consider what the Garden’s collection reveals about health concerns in the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries.

Lunch: 12.30 – 13.30

There will be a hot lunch served (included in your ticket). Refreshments will be provided throughout the day.

Travel: 13.30 – 14.00

Afternoon Session: 14.00-16:45  Apothecaries’ Hall Black Friars Lane, London EC4V 6EJ.

The afternoon session will be led by Dr Kim Walker, with support from the historical and archival team at Apothecaries’ Hall.

Dr. Kim Walker is a biocultural historian at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Her work focuses on alkaloid drug histories, including quinine (derived from the fever tree and found in tonic water) and cocaine (from the coca plant). At the CPG workshop, Kim’s lecture will explore the powerful plants that have contributed some of our most important medicines in history and guide you in creating a bespoke bitter tonic mix to take home.

Botanical Drinks Reception in the Courtyard at Apothecaries’ Hall: 16:45 -17:45

Please Note: travel between the locations is not included but information will be provided on public transport options. The fee includes lunch and entry to the Garden, botanical drinks at Apothecaries’ Hall and a bitter tonic mix to take home..

Accessibility: This event will take place in our ‘Gallery’ space, which is in a historic building with existing accessibility challenges. While we have worked to make the space as user-friendly as possible, it does not offer wheelchair accessibility. For accessibility inquiries, please contact us at .