Guildhall
/ About
Guildhall has been the seat of the City of London Corporation for more than six centuries, and its Great Hall has staged the Lord Mayor's Banquet since 1502. The medieval hall survived both the Great Fire and the Blitz, and is the only secular stone structure in the City to predate 1666. Under the Gothic stained glass at either end, the room takes 900 for a reception and seats 704 at sprig tables, with an in-built stage and galleries overlooking the floor.
Eight spaces are let across the Grade I-listed building, and they are unusually varied. Below ground are the East and West Crypts, dating to 1042 and the largest surviving medieval crypts in London, their vaulted ceilings carved with bosses of shields and flowers and lit by bespoke uplighting in place of daylight. The Old Library runs to Victorian neo-Gothic beneath a high vaulted roof. The Livery Hall, a museum until 1939 and restored as an event space in 2008, carries a built-in coloured lighting system and a screen. There is also a Roman amphitheatre, uncovered in 1988 and lit beneath a glass floor.
Hire is corporate only: Guildhall does not take weddings, engagements or birthday parties. Catering is appointed from an approved list rather than an in-house kitchen, and every room includes a PA system and a supporting technician. The building publishes no music, amplification or licensing policy, so DJ setups, sound levels and finish times are worth settling with the events team at the outset.
/ Rooms Available
Great Hall
PrivateThe setting for the Lord Mayor's Banquet since 1502, and the largest space in the building. A vast medieval hall with a soaring arched ceiling, five-foot walls and two Gothic stained-glass windows bearing the names of past Lord Mayors. An in-built stage suits back projection, and the galleries overlooking the floor take production, photography or musicians.
Old Library & Print Room
PrivateBuilt in 1872 and home to Guildhall Library until 1974, once holding a collection of over 40,000 volumes. A north-end stained-glass window brings daylight into the room, under a high vaulted ceiling carried on columns. The adjoining Print Room, a former public reading room, is included and works as a breakout space.
East & West Crypts
PrivateDating to Edward the Confessor in 1042, these are the largest surviving medieval crypts in London. Divided into two rooms of different character, with vaulted ceilings carved with bosses of shields and flowers. The only spaces in the building without natural light; bespoke uplighting picks out the stone instead. Kitchen facilities adjoin.
Guildhall Art Gallery
PrivateHome to the City of London Corporation's art collection, from the Pre-Raphaelites to depictions of London's past. The galleries hang above a grand entrance and extensive cloakrooms, and make a talking point for a spacious drinks reception. Available to hire after 6pm.
Livery Hall
PrivateDesigned by Sir Horace Jones in 1872 and used as a museum until the outbreak of the Second World War, the Grade II-listed room was restored and reopened as an event space in 2008, taking its name from the City's livery ties. Coloured lighting picks out the vaulted Victorian Gothic architecture. A built-in screen and projector, private entrance, cloakroom and adjoining kitchen serve the room directly.
Roman Amphitheatre & Undercroft Gallery
PrivateThe Roman amphitheatre dates from AD 70 and was uncovered beneath Guildhall Yard in 1988. Guests walk a glass floor above the original ruins, with the scale of the arena drawn out in light. The Undercroft Gallery adjoins it. Kitchens and a private entrance serve the space, which is available to hire after 6pm.
Basinghall Suite
PrivateSelf-contained within the Art Gallery, a spacious and versatile room with natural daylight, an adjoining kitchen and a small ante-room that extends the space. Suits lunches, receptions, meetings and presentations.
Chief Commoner's Parlour
PrivateOnce the Librarian's office and set next to the Old Library, an intimate room with a large oval table, an open fireplace and ornate detailing. Works on its own for a dinner or a meeting, or as supporting space for a larger Old Library event.
/ Perfect For
/ Features
AV Equipment
- – PA System
- – Stage
- – Projector
Catering
- – External Catering Allowed
- – Kosher Available
Venue Specs
- – Private Entrance
- – Cloakroom
- – Wheelchair Accessible
- – Wi-Fi
- – Dedicated Events Team
- – Load-In Access
/ Getting Here
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