Open House Festival

Guildhall

civic, library

John Croxton, 1440

71 Basinghall St, EC2V 7HH

The City's seat of municipal government since 12C. Grade I listed, rare example of medieval civic architecture. Historic banqueting hall and a site of major moments in British history that is still used today.

Getting there

Tube

Bank, Moorgate, St. Paul's, Mansion House

Train

City Thameslink, Liverpool Street, Cannon Street

Bus

8, 76, 100, 25, 43, 141, 21

Access

Facilities

Accessibility notes

Staff are on hand to assist and support visitors with access needs.

What you can expect

The Great Hall is very large with high-vaulted ceilings, and multiple colours and patterns. There are step-free routes, lifts, and seating.

Create a free visitor account to book festival tickets

Drop in activities

Sat 20 Sep

10:00–16:00

Drop in: Open day

Drop in for a look round at your leisure.

Sun 21 Sep

10:00–16:00

Drop in: Open day

Drop in for a look round at your leisure.

Activities

Sat 20 Sep

Guided tour

10:30–11:00

Guided tour

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

BSL guided tour

11:30–12:00

Guided tour with BSL

This tour led by one of our expert guides will be accompanied by an accredited British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

Guided tour

12:30–13:00

Guided tour

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

Guided tour

13:30–14:00

Guided tour

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

BSL guided tour

14:30–15:00

Guided tour with BSL

This tour led by one of our expert guides will be accompanied by an accredited British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

Guided tour

15:30–16:00

Guided tour

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

Sun 21 Sep

Guided tour

10:30–11:00

Guided tour

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

BSL guided tour

11:30–12:00

Guided tour with BSL

This tour led by one of our expert guides will be accompanied by an accredited British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

Guided tour

12:30–13:00

Guided tour

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

Guided tour

13:30–14:00

Guided tour

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

BSL guided tour

14:30–15:00

Guided tour with BSL

This tour led by one of our expert guides will be accompanied by an accredited British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

Guided tour

15:30–16:00

Guided tour

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

About

History

As the home of the City of London, Guildhall has been the centre of City government since the Middle Ages.

The word 'guildhall' is said to derive from the Anglo-Saxon 'gild' meaning payment, so it was probably a place where citizens would pay their taxes. The present Guildhall was begun in 1411 and, having survived both the Great Fire of London and the Blitz, it is the only secular stone structure dating from before 1666 still standing in the City.

It is likely that at least one earlier guildhall existed on or near the current site. References to a London guildhall are made in a document dating back to 1128 and the current hall's west crypt is thought to be part of a late-13th century building. Remains of a long-lost Roman amphitheatre discovered in 1987 underneath what is now Guildhall Yard indicate that the site of Guildhall was significant as far back as Roman times.

The Great Hall

The Great Hall is the third largest civic hall in England, where royalty and state visitors have been entertained down the centuries. It has been the setting for famous state trials, including that of Lady Jane Grey in 1553.

The imposing medieval hall has stained glass windows and several monuments to national heroes including Admiral Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill.

Guildhall Yard

Guildhall Yard is an outdoor space used for public and private events throughout the year.
It is where the Guildhall Great Hall and Guildhall Art Gallery are located.

In 1988, during excavations taking place in preparation for the new Art Gallery building project, it was found that the capital's only Roman amphitheatre was located in what is now Guildhall Yard. The black circle laid into the stone of the Yard now indicates where the amphitheatre stood.

Online presence

www.thecityofldn.com/directory/guildhall-great-hall

twitter.com/thecityofldn

Nearby

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