After a 10-year hiatus, we're once again welcoming Open House Festival visitors through our doors. Book your ticket and drop in on Sunday 18 September 2022 to see some of RSA House's key architectural highlights. Over the course of the day we will be offering you the chance to explore:
- Architect Robert Adam’s original plans of No 8 John Street, part of Adam's Adelphi complex, as well as indentures, prints, letters and minutes from meetings relating to the building's construction.
- Archive material relating to the 250th anniversary of laying foundation stones in 1772.
- Document of 1772 time capsule plus original medal that was buried in it.
- A participatory activity to consider what would go in a time capsule of today.
You'll also be able to visit a host of other RSA House highlights including:
- Great Room, decorated on all four sides with a frieze painted by the artist James Barry, started in 1772, completed in 1801.
- Benjamin Franklin Room and Troika chandelier based on Franklin's design for a bi-focal lens.
- Atrium, previously the rear yard of the main building, that includes the original flagstones and an award-winning staircase.
- The vaulted Durham Street Auditorium with the original stone road and pavements incorporated into the design.
- The Vaults underpinning the building used as warehousing and now as unique event spaces.
- Follow the Library's journey from its first location in the House to it's current home following the 2018 redevelopment.
- The Long Gallery with a full length 1754–2018 mural, that chronicles the history of the RSA including the crucial role the society played alongside Prince Albert in organising the world-famous Great Exhibition of 1851.
During the day, there will also be:
- Fellowship recruitment opportunities.
- A wishing tree - add hopes and dreams for the future to regenerate people place and planet.
- A chance to explore our eleven private hire event spaces
- Light refreshments available to purchase from our Coffee House open throughout the day.
