Inside the World’s Oldest Psychiatric Hospital: Dreams and Nightmares on Display

Bethlem Royal Hospital, the world’s oldest psychiatric institution, is presenting a powerful new exhibition titled Between Sleeping and Waking at its Bethlem Museum of the Mind.

The exhibition explores the strange and universal world of sleep, dreams, and nightmares, drawing on more than two centuries of artwork created by patients treated at the hospital as well as contemporary artists.

Among the highlights is Canadian artist William Kurelek’s chilling painting Nightmare, which captures the terrifying hallucinations he experienced during treatment in 1950s London.

Visitors can also see unusual works like an ode to a pet squirrel penned by a man who once attempted to assassinate a British king, and detailed dream journals from 20th-century psychiatrists.

Contemporary artist Kate McDonnell contributes Night Tides, a vast installation made of duvets and bedding, designed to embody the weight and anxiety of insomnia.

The exhibition also reflects on the deep connection between mental health and sleep, with researchers noting that dreams often echo fear and unresolved emotions.