Objectives: To determine the activity level of people admitted for an acute hospital medical admission and to describe the location of and people present at the activity. Design: Prospective observational behavioral mapping study. Participants: 102 patients admitted to general medical wards. Intervention: Participants were observed 1 min every 10 min during a working day from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. Outcome measures: Highest level of activity was recorded; location, activity and person/s attending the participant. Results: Data from 76 participants were analyzed; mean age 67 (SD 19) years, 38 (50%) male. Participants were observed for 450 min. They spent 394 (88%) min in their rooms, 18 (4%) min in the bathroom and 27 (6%) min off the ward. Of the time in their rooms, participants spent a median 315 (IQR 205-398) min lying in bed, 10 (IQR 0-38) min sitting on or out of bed and 1 (IQR 0-20) min standing or walking. Participants spent a median 115 (IQR 70-158) min doing nothing, 80 (IQR 43-160) min resting or sleeping and 75 (IQR 40-168) min talking, reading or watching television. Participants were alone 280 (IQR 230-340) min and with one person 90 (IQR 50-130) min. Participants were with staff a median 120 (IQR 73-180) min; nurses 35 (IQR 20-60) min, medical staff 10 (IQR 0-18) min and allied health staff 10 (IQR 0-20) min. Conclusion: People admitted to general medical wards are inactive during hospital stay; spending the majority of the working day in their rooms, in bed and alone.