Monthly opening of Barts Great Hall and Hogarth Stair

Barts Great Hall and Hogarth Stair are open to the public on Sunday 3 January, part of the monthly open day for these two restored spaces inside St Bartholomew's Hospital. It's a rare chance to step inside a working hospital and see a part of it that's usually kept under wraps.

The Hogarth Stair is the real draw here. It's hung with two huge murals by William Hogarth, and the whole thing has stood for nearly 300 years. The Great Hall is just as much a piece of the hospital's history, with the names of its benefactors lining the walls. Both were recently restored, so you're seeing them in their best shape since they first went up.

Under normal circumstances, these rooms only open on Mondays and Tuesdays, which doesn't exactly suit a weekend trip. That's why the monthly Sunday opening is the one to mark down if you're not in the area during the week. The closest entrance is right next to Smithfield Market, so it's easy to combine with a wander around the market if you're in the city for the day.

It's open from 10:00am to 4:00pm, and entry is free, though donations are accepted. The address is Barts Great Hall and Hogarth Stair, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE.