Banqueting House is a historic building in London, part of the Palace of Whitehall, designed by Inigo Jones in the Palladian style. It was mainly used as a reception and ceremonial space by the British royal family and can be rented out as a venue. It was also used as a public reception and function hall by British monarchs and was converted into a chapel in 1698. It was restored to its original appearance and opened to the public in 1962.
Banqueting House is a historic building located in London, England. The building consists of warehouses and a single large room suitable for public meetings. The Banqueting House was part of the complex of buildings that made up the Palace of Whitehall from 1530 to 1698. Originally built to host performances, the hall was mainly used as a reception and ceremonial space by the British royal family.
Inigo Jones, one of the leading English architects of his day, designed the present Banqueting House for James I. The design was one of the first Palladian-style structures built in Britain. The Palladian-style architecture was modeled on the work of Andre Palladio, one of Italy’s greatest architects during the Renaissance.
The Banqueting House replaced earlier structures built on the same site as a venue for entertainment and special occasions. There are storage areas on the lower floor and one large room, with some associated utility areas, on the upper floor. The great hall is two stories high, and from the outside the building appears to have three stories. A painted ceiling and very large windows add to the stately look.
The building is owned by the Queen of England, as the representative of the nation. It is maintained and managed by Historic Royal Palaces, who also maintain Kensington Palace and other historic palaces. The building is open to the public for guided tours, concerts and community events, as well as courses, workshops and conferences, and can also be rented out as a banqueting or entertainment venue.
An earlier permanent banqueting house had replaced a temporary Elizabethan structure following the accession of James I. That building burned down in 1619 and was rebuilt on the same site to a design by Inigo Jones. The new building was used as a public reception and function hall by British monarchs from Charles I to William and Mary. It was a banquet hall that Charles I was executed in 1649 and it was there that Charles II and Parliament first met when the monarchy was restored in 1660.
In 1698 the rest of the buildings that made up Whitehall Palace burned down and the Banqueting Hall was converted for use as a chapel. The chapel was closed in 1890; from 1893 to 1962 the building was used as a museum by a private body. In 1962 it was returned to the national government, restored to its original appearance and opened to the public.
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