community/cultural, religious
Henry Vaughan Lanchester and Edwin Alfred Rickards , 1909
Storey's Gate, SW1H 9NH
A masterpiece of Edwardian neo-baroque architecture opposite Westminster Abbey. Second largest self-supporting ferro-concrete dome in world. Its Great Hall was the venue for the Inaugural General Assembly of the United Nations in 1946.
Westminster
Victoria, Waterloo, Charing Cross
11, 24, 88, 159, 87, 453, 148, 1, 100, 126
Apart from the dome the whole building is easily accessible.
Stunning views, amazing architecture, wonderful organ music.
13:30–17:00
Welcome to this Grade II* listed historic building, inspired originally by the Opera House in Paris. The Grand sweeping staircase with marble floors leads to the 2,000 seat Great Hall featuring the second largest dome of its kind in the world. The centre-piece, a 4,731 Grand Pipe Organ, was built by Hill & Sons, who also built the Organ for Westminster Abbey and other famous places of worship. Outside balconies give visitors a unique view of Westminster Abbey and a breathtaking panorama of London’s celebrated skyline.
In its history, Central Hall Westminster has functioned as the headquarters building for the Methodist Church; as an air-raid shelter during the World War II; as the venue for founding the United Nations (1946); and its present role as a conference and events centre. Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill and King Charles III have all spoken here and Central Hall’s beautiful 1912 decor has become the backdrop for films including Calendar Girls, Jekyll and Hyde, Red II and Suffragettes.
Other famous speakers include Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Charles DeGaulle, the Dalai Lama, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Grand Staircase: the 55 steps are cut from Hoptonwood stone from Middleton in Derbyshire.
Much of the inspiration for the design of the building including the Grand Staircase came from the Opera House in Paris. At the top of the staircase are columns and pilasters carved from Italian Arno Alto marble.
The Great Hall: seating over 2,000 people this hall is currently used for Religious Sunday services and as a large conference and events space.
The dome is constructed of ferro-concrete, a self-supporting structure and the second largest of its kind in the world after the State Library in Melbourne, Australia
Drop in
community/cultural, military
A Grade 2 listed former Territorial Army Drill Hall featuring restored elements of the original 1882 design. It has a triple height central hall with the restored wrought iron balconies and roofing. Notable Neo-Georgian design brickwork. It is also unique in being the last ever military drill hall built in the UK.
Oliver Hill RIBA, 1952
