Reading Room Explore our rooms

The Reading Room has some of the best views of The Mall and St James' Park, and its large windows provide lots of natural light. It was originally four-time Prime Minster William Gladstone’s dining room and he occasionally held cabinet meetings here. The artwork is a series of prints from Tom Phillips’s illustrated translation of Dante’s Inferno.

The room has beautiful high ceilings, with soaring arches and an alcove area. This is perfect for a meeting that requires catering in the same room, while remaining discrete and away from the main space. It is great during a drinks reception to house a full bar, and neatly creates a small standing drinks reception space for a smaller dinner. It adjoins The Library, which works well as a breakout space or catering room, or for pre-dinner drinks.

The books in the room are all related to the social sciences, written by fellows of, and academics sponsored by, The British Academy. You can find out more about how the money from events goes back into funding this research here by visiting our dedicated page.