Reading Room

{10-11} Carlton House Terrace

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Elegant Reading Room at Carlton House Terrace, ideal for conferences and workshops.
  • From £900
  • Charing Cross
  • From £900
  • Charing Cross
Home of The British Academy in a Grade 1 listed Georgian townhouse with exclusive St James's Park views and prestigious Mall location.
Anna Suñé Urbistondo
Anna Suñé Urbistondo

Venue Expert @ Hire Space

  • Dedicated catering alcove
  • Ground floor location
  • St James's Park views
  • Grade 1 listed Georgian architecture
  • Built-in screen for presentations
  • Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Natural light from large windows
  • Library section with British Academy books

The Reading Room is a wonderfully bright and light room situated on the ground floor of the Number 10 side of the building. The Reading Room has a library section with books donated by the British Academy and a lovely alcove section perfect for your catering requirements.

The type of events perfect for the Reading Room are; conferences, seminars, evening receptions, private dinners, wedding ceremonies and wedding receptions.




Frequently asked questions

Venue hire rates vary by room and timing. For example, the Reading Room costs £1,900 VAT exempt for 6pm-10pm with access from 5:15pm, while the Council Room is £1,750 VAT exempt for evening hire. The Lecture Room is £1,100 VAT exempt for 9am-12:30pm with access from 8:15am. Base prices include room hire only - catering, AV equipment, and additional services are charged separately.

There's a minimum evening catering spend of £1,000 + VAT that applies to all bookings. Basic refreshments start from £3.75 + VAT per person for tea and coffee, while full meals range from £25 + VAT per person for sandwich lunch to £66.50 + VAT per person for a 3-course dinner. Breakfast options range from £6.50-£15.75 + VAT per person.

The Reading Room holds up to 70 guests for standing receptions. The Council Room seats up to 70 for dinner. The Beatrice Webb Room accommodates up to 50 guests in cabaret style or 94 in theatre style. The Music Room alone is not suitable for dinner and drinks for 50+ guests and requires booking an additional room.

Most daytime events run 9am-5pm with organiser access from 8:15am. Evening events typically run 6pm-10pm with access from 5:15pm. Wedding hire runs 2pm-midnight with supplier setup access from 12pm. Additional hours after 10pm cost £500 VAT exempt per hour.

Yes, the venue has a detailed list of Approved Suppliers for Audio Visual, Production, and Floristry, plus Recommended suppliers. Use of any third-party suppliers outside this approved list must be agreed in writing by the venue before booking. Searcys is the exclusive in-house catering partner.

Basic AV packages include up to two microphones and are available for corporate events. Upgrades include adding a stage for £350 + VAT, or upgrading to packages with up to 4 microphones and a sit-in technician. The Reading Room has a built-in screen. Full AV brochures are provided with detailed pricing upon enquiry.

To proceed with booking, you need to provide full signatory details, organisation information, contact details, and address. A signed hire agreement is required, after which a 50% deposit invoice is sent. You must wait to receive the invoice before making payment and quote the invoice number when paying.

Yes, there's a catering fee of £300 + VAT per hour for any catering service required before 8am. Late catering fees of £300 + VAT per hour apply after 11pm. Access to spaces typically starts from 8am, with earlier access requiring additional arrangements and fees.

The Festive Dinner & DJ package costs £145 + VAT per person with a minimum of 55 guests. This includes 2 rooms from 6:30pm-midnight, sparkling wine on arrival, 3-course dinner, half bottle of house wine per person, tea/coffee with mince pies, nibbles, manned cloakroom, and DJ from Blank Canvas Entertainment.




More about {10-11} Carlton House Terrace

Home of The British Academy, this Grade 1 listed building is in one of the most fashionable postcodes of London. {10-11} Carlton House Terrace was built in the 1820's as a suitable back drop to the Mall and St James's Park.

The venue boasts event spaces across the two original townhouses, with contrasting entrances which provide a real 'wow factor' for your guests on arrival.

This venue can offer exclusive hire of the whole building, dinners up to 100 guests, standing receptions up to 498 guests and conferences up to 100.