The Mansion House is one of the grandest surviving Georgian town palaces in London and a Grade I listed building of national importance.
This prestigious building serves as the Lord Mayor of the City of London’s official residence and private office, operates as a City of London Corporation department, and functions as a hub for business engagements, conferences, formal dinners, and City of London hospitality.
The Mansion House is renowned for its grand Palladian architecture and historical significance. In addition to the Lord Mayor’s private quarters and the offices of the staff that support him, the Mansion House’s public state apartments comprise several superb reception rooms and a magnificent banqueting hall – the Egyptian Hall. Despite its name, the hall’s design draws inspiration not from Egyptian architecture, but from Roman architect Vitruvius’s designs of Roman structures in Egypt, characterised by imposing columns supporting a narrower attic space.
Designed by architect George Dance the Elder, the Mansion House has served as the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London since its completion in 1752. It acts as a venue for the City of London Corporation’s most prestigious official functions, including the notable annual dinner at which the Chancellor of the Exchequer delivers their ‘Mansion House Speech’.
Situated opposite the Bank of England and the Royal Exchange in the heart of the City of London, the Mansion House now operates as a centre for business engagements, conferences, formal dinners and City of London hospitality. The Mansion House is owned and managed by the City of London Corporation and is also available for public tours and commercial hire.
Mansion House houses an exceptional collection of gold and silver plate – widely recognised as one of the world’s finest and still employed regularly for official and private events. The House holds many of the City’s finest treasures including the Lord Mayor’s famous Collar of SSs, dating back to the 1520s, and the City’s ceremonial swords.
The building also showcases an impressive collection of sculptures and one of London’s most distinguished art collections outside public galleries. The highlight is the Harold Samuel Art Collection, comprising 84 masterful 17th-century Dutch and Flemish paintings by renowned artists including Frans Hals, Nicoleas Maes, Jacob Ruisdael, and Jan Steen. This collection, arguably one of Britain’s finest assemblies of Dutch art, further enhances the Mansion House’s Georgian interior.
To find out more, email
mansionhousetours@cityoflondon.gov.uk
All tours are guided by a City of London Guide and include the 18th century public rooms and the art collection. Tours start at various time and last one hour.
The Lord Mayor is the Head of the City of London Corporation, the governing body of the City of London. The City, also known as the “Square Mile”, is the historic centre of London as well as the financial and business heart of the United Kingdom.
Since 1752, Mansion House has served as the Lord Mayor of London’s official residence and workplace. Elected annually, the Lord Mayor serves as an Ambassador for the UK’s Financial and Professional Services Sector and for London as a global financial centre. This unpaid, apolitical role stands distinct from the Mayor of London’s position, which carries a salary and political responsibilities over a four-year term.
Each year, the Mansion House is the focal point of the Lord Mayor’s Show – an annual parade in which the new Lord Mayor swears their oath of allegiance to the Monarch. The Lord Mayor’s Show, dating back to the 1200s, is the oldest, longest, best loved and least-rehearsed civic procession in the world. Around a quarter of a million people attend each year.
Mansion House is in the heart of the City of London. It’s easily accessible by public transport and is opposite Bank underground station.
If you have a specific event in mind please click on Book Now. If would like to find out more about using Mansion House for an event, please fill in the form opposite or use the contact details below.
