
/ About
The Charterhouse has stood on the north side of its square since 1371, first as a Carthusian monastery, then from 1545 as the Tudor mansion Sir Edward North made of it, and since 1611 as the almshouse founded under the will of Thomas Sutton. Elizabeth I stayed five days here before her coronation and held her first Privy Council in the Great Chamber; James I created 133 knights in the same room in 1603. It is still a working almshouse, home to a resident community known as the Brothers, and it opened to visitors in 2017 with a museum display curated with the London Museum.
Twelve spaces are available to hire. Indoors they run from the Great Hall, with its arched ceiling, carved wooden screen and Edmund Kinsman fireplace, to the Great Chamber, the last surviving Tudor great chamber in London, hung with portraits beneath its plaster ceiling. The Norfolk Cloister is the oldest of them: a 14th-century monastic walk of Tudor brick and stone flags, later turned into a garden gallery by the Duke of Norfolk. Outside there are three courtyards and Charterhouse Square itself, which the Charterhouse owns and lets both exclusively and non-exclusively.
Because the Brothers live on site, events run between 8.00am and 10.00pm, and DJs and dancing are confined to the Norfolk Cloister and the Old Library until 9.30pm; live music at a lower volume is possible in the other rooms. Catering comes through the house's preferred supplier or one you bring yourself, and the venue keeps an approved list covering catering, production, floristry and entertainment. Every hireable room other than the Chapel and the Chapel Cloister is licensed for civil ceremonies.
/ Rooms Available
Charterhouse Square
Semi PrivateThe privately owned square in front of the gatehouse, lawned and planted with mature trees, wild meadow and beds, and ringed by Georgian and Art Deco buildings. It has been part of London's history since the mid-14th century and is available both exclusively and non-exclusively.
Master's Court
PrivateThe original entrance courtyard to the Tudor mansion, with a lawn, a central lamppost and a stone-flagged path. The Great Hall's stained-glass windows, the crest of Charles I and the Sutton sundial look on to it. In the evening the surrounding windows light the court.
The Norfolk Garden
PrivateThe garden running along the outside of the Norfolk Cloister, laid out in its present form after the Second World War and planted in the English garden style, with an old cherry tree, arbours and secluded corners. Designed as a haven for the almshouse residents.
The Great Hall
PrivateThe original Tudor reception hall, presided over by Lord North and the Duke of Norfolk. An arched ceiling, tall windows, a gallery, an ornate carved wooden screen and a fireplace by Edmund Kinsman. Used for receptions, formal dinners, recitals and filming.
The Norfolk Cloister
PrivateA 14th-century monastic cloister of Tudor brick and stone flags, later made into a garden gallery by the Duke of Norfolk, with the remains of a doorway that once led to a Carthusian monk's cell. In the 18th century Charterhouse School boys played cloister football along it. One of only two rooms where DJs and dancing are permitted, until 9.30pm.
The Great Chamber
PrivateThe last surviving Tudor great chamber in London, where the young Elizabeth I prepared for her coronation and James I knighted his favoured noblemen. Green silk walls, a Tudor plaster ceiling and a Jacobean fireplace; it takes a dinner, a concert or a presentation.
Washhouse Court
PrivateOne of the earliest parts of the site, built to service the monastery and later the Tudor mansion: laundry, bakery and kitchens. Original cobbles, half monastic stone and half red and black Tudor brick. Used for photoshoots, product launches, fashion events and filming.
The Old Library
PrivateOnce Lord North's parlour chamber, then the auditors' hall, then the school dining room; it took its present name late in the 19th century and still carries scars from the Blitz. The second of the two rooms where DJs and dancing are permitted, until 9.30pm.
Sutton Room
PrivateThe one modern room in the building, designed as part of the Revealing the Charterhouse project. Spot lighting sits in octagonal ceiling coffers that invert the chapel ceiling above. Equipped for meetings, lectures and presentations, and it dresses well for dining.
The Chapel Cloister
Semi PrivateOnce a monastic cloister, now a wide airy space with a stone flag floor, pale stone walls and tall arched windows looking on to the chapel garden and Charterhouse Square beyond. Memorials to early Charterhouse School alumni and former Brothers line it.
The Governors' Room
PrivateA smaller room in elegant wood panelling, hung with prints of the Charterhouse. It suits meetings, intimate receptions, breakout sessions from a larger meeting, or a green room.
The Charterhouse Chapel
Semi PrivateA Jacobean chapel with ornate wooden carving throughout and the memorial to the charity's founder, Thomas Sutton. Light-filled, with good acoustics, and suited to concerts, talks and services. It cannot host weddings or civil ceremonies, though blessings are possible.
/ Perfect For
/ Features
Catering
- – External Catering Allowed
Venue Specs
- – Wheelchair Accessible
- – Dedicated Events Team
- – Private Entrance
- – Green Room
- – Outdoor Terrace
/ Getting Here
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