As the home of the City of London, Guildhall has been the centre
of City government since the Middle Ages.
How to get to Guildhall
How to hire Guildhall
Building works around Guildhall
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 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.
The Old Library building housed the
Guildhall library and the Guildhall Museum from 1873 until
1974, when the collections moved to the newly constructed west wing
and the Museum of London. Both the Old Library and the
adjacent Print Room are now used as reception rooms. Beneath
Guildhall lie the largest medieval crypts in London.
Today Guildhall still plays an important role in the City. It
provides a venue for state and civic banquets, meetings of the City
of London's elected assembly, the
Court of Common Council and for the Honorary
Freedom of the City ceremony.
How to get to
Guildhall
Guildhall map (233kb)
Guildhall is easily reached from St Paul's, Moorgate, Bank and
Mansion House tube stations and Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street,
Blackfriars, Cannon Street, Moorgate and City Thameslink railway
stations. The nearest bus routes are to Bank, Moorgate, Cheapside
and London Wall. Wheelchair accessible entrances and facilities are
available at Guildhall.
Guildhall is open free of charge to the public when it is not
being used for events.
To check opening times, tel 020 7606 3030.
For information on disabled access visit
Disabled Go.
How to hire Guildhall
For bookings please telephone 020 7332 1313 or email
guildhall.events@cityoflondon.gov.uk.
Please download our
terms and conditions before making a booking.
Remembrancers Department, City of London, PO Box 270, Guildhall,
London, EC2P 2EJ
For further information about Guildhall as a venue please visit
the Guildhall Events website.
Below are links to further information about hiring Guildhall:
Room capacities (13kb)
The approved list of
caterers (12kb)
Click here to download a list of rates of hire
for Guildhall (11kb)
Click here to download the conditions of hire
for the Guildhall (53kb)
Click here to download a list of livery halls
and other venues available for hire in the City (75kb)
Download the list of recommended
suppliers (14kb)
Download the Old Library
floorplan (240kb)
Download the Great Hall
floorplan (271kb)
Download the East Crypt
floorplan (293kb)
Download the West Crypt
floorplan (275kb)