Testimonial, not ratedWedding
Review
It will be hard to find a venue in a better location with such unique and diverse spaces.
Film by Royal Society of Arts
United Kingdom · Historic hall
RSA House
A Grade II listed Georgian townhouse behind the Strand in central London, with licensed ceremony rooms and a brick vaulted party space
£6,900Starting fromvenue hire
Up to 220Guests130 seated for dinner
12 kmNearest airportin a straight line, London City
RSA House is a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse behind the Strand in central London, hired exclusively for weddings with three licensed ceremony spaces and dining for 130 guests.
RSA House is a Georgian townhouse at 8 John Adam Street, set behind the Strand and completed in 1774 with original features by the Adam brothers. The Grade II listed building began as five separate town houses and is the home of the Royal Society of Arts, so its rooms keep mosaic and marble floors, sweeping staircases and original fireplaces. Part of the revenue from every hire supports the society's charitable work.
Weddings take the entire house from noon to midnight. The Great Room, hung with James Barry's series of paintings and lit by a glass dome, is licensed for ceremonies and seats 130 for dinner. The Benjamin Franklin Room, with a Troika chandelier and a large window over the Strand, is also licensed, and the Vaults beneath the house offer exposed 18th century brickwork and a dancefloor for an evening party of up to 220. Muse Bar, the Tavern Room and further reception rooms give space for drinks before dinner. The house's own chefs cook the menus, a wedding coordinator runs the day, and the late licence can be extended beyond midnight.
RSA House
Gallery
25 photographs
Images courtesy of RSA House
RSA House
The venue on film
Weddings at RSA House: Your Love, Our Home
Have your wedding at RSA House
Welcome to RSA House
Highlights, Sophie and Ben, RSA House
RSA House Wedding Highlights Film, Felicity and Chris
At a glance
The Essentials
- Where
- John Adam Street, behind the Strand, central London
- Capacity
- 130 seated in the Great Room, 220 for an evening party in the Vaults
- Ceremony
- Licensed in the Great Room, the Benjamin Franklin Room and the Vaults
- Price
- Venue hire from 6,900 pounds including VAT
- Exclusive use
- The whole house from 12:00 to midnight
- Catering
- In house chefs, with a menu tasting for the couple
- Evening
- Midnight, with late licence extensions to 1am or 2am
- Spaces
- 13 event spaces over several floors
A townhouse by the Adam brothers
RSA House is a Georgian building completed in 1774, with original features by the Adam brothers. Originally five separate town houses, it keeps mosaic and marble floors, sweeping staircases and original fireplaces, and its corridors were walked by Charles Dickens.
The room that heard the telephone
The Great Room was designed by the Adam brothers in 1774, and its six paintings, The Progress of Human Knowledge and Culture, took the artist James Barry 23 years to complete. Alexander Graham Bell gave one of the first practical demonstrations of the telephone here in 1877, under a glass domed ceiling that now lights wedding tables and ceremonies.
The Vaults beneath the Strand
The subterranean Vaults began as warehouse storage that led onto the Thames and were later used as wine cellars. Four interconnecting spaces with exposed 18th century brickwork now hold an evening party of up to 220 guests, with their own entrance from the Strand.
The Great Room
The largest room, framed by James Barry's paintings and lit from a glass dome, licensed for ceremonies of up to 150 guests and seating 130 for dinner.
Benjamin Franklin Room
A ground floor room with a Troika chandelier, two original Adam fireplaces and a large window over the Strand, licensed for ceremonies of up to 100 guests.
The Vaults
Interconnecting rooms of exposed brick arches, with a dancefloor and uplighters, hosting up to 220 guests for a party and licensed for ceremonies of 40.
Muse Bar
A cocktail bar with its own private entrance, holding up to 120 guests for drinks when combined with the adjoining Tavern Room.
The whole house
Venue hire gives exclusive use of the entire house from 12:00 to midnight, with early access and late licence extensions available.
In house catering
Seasonal menus from the house's own chefs, a menu tasting for the couple and a wedding coordinator on the day.
Enquire about your wedding at
RSA House
Share a few details about your wedding at RSA House and your enquiry will be passed on to them. A reply cannot be promised, and no time can be given for it.
Location
United Kingdom
London City (LCY)12 km in a straight line
Heathrow (LHR)23 km in a straight line
RSA House
RSA House, 8 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6EZ, United Kingdom
Things to do nearby
- Victoria Embankment Gardens
- Adelphi Theatre
- Covent Garden Market
- Royal Opera House
- Somerset House
- Trafalgar Square
Getting there
- London City (LCY)
- Heathrow (LHR)
Pricing and what to expect
What a wedding here costs
From£6,900Venue hire, exclusive use, VAT included
Typically includes
Exclusive use of the entire house from 12:00 to midnight
In house banqueting tables, chairs, crockery and cutlery, white linen tablecloths and napkins
Wired uplighters and a dancefloor in the Vaults
An AV technician for up to 8 hours, 2 handheld microphones and a PA system for the Benjamin Franklin Room and the Great Room
A wedding coordinator on the day, with all food, beverage and service staff
Option One: 140 pounds per adult including VAT, with chef's choice nibbles, a three course dinner, tea, coffee and petit fours, a one hour sparkling reception and half a bottle of house wine (minimum 75 guests)
Option Two: 185 pounds per adult including VAT, with four canapés, a three course dinner, a 90 minute sparkling reception, half a bottle of house wine and an evening food choice (minimum 75 guests)
Option Three: 225 pounds per adult including VAT, with six canapés, a three course dinner, a 90 minute Champagne reception, half a bottle of upgraded wine and an evening food choice (minimum 75 guests)
Late licence extensions to 1am at 1,440 pounds and to 2am at 2,880 pounds, including VAT
Capacity
- Seated dinner130
- Standing reception220
- Ceremony150
Frequently asked questions
RSA House
How many guests can RSA House host for a wedding?
The Great Room seats 130 for dinner, and the Vaults hold up to 220 guests for an evening party. Licensed ceremonies take up to 150 guests in the Great Room, 100 in the Benjamin Franklin Room and 40 in the Vaults.
Are ceremonies licensed at the house?
Yes. Licensed wedding ceremonies are held in the Great Room, the Benjamin Franklin Room and the Vaults.
How much does a wedding cost?
Venue hire starts from 6,900 pounds including VAT, for exclusive use of the whole house from 12:00 to midnight. Three catering options are priced at 140, 185 and 225 pounds per adult including VAT, with a minimum of 75 guests.
Is the house hired exclusively?
Yes. Venue hire includes exclusive use of the entire house from 12:00 to midnight, with early access from 8am or 10am and late licence extensions to 1am or 2am available as extras.
Who provides the catering?
The house's own chefs cook all food, with a menu tasting for the couple, and the venue hire fee includes all food, beverage and service staff.
Is there anything for couples who book at short notice?
New wedding bookings made and held within 8 months of enquiring receive a complimentary couple's cocktail reception, 1,000 pounds towards the evening bar spend and 1,000 pounds off room hire.
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