We're welcoming Open House Festival visitors through our doors for another year.
There's no need to book a ticket. Simply drop in on Sunday 17 September 2023 and explore our rich history and unique building.
Over the course of the day we will be offering you the chance to explore:
- Robert Adam’s original plans of No 8 John Street, (now John Adam Street), indentures, prints, letters, minutes etc
- Horwood's 1799 map of London
- Archive material relating to the laying of the 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
Guests will also be able to visit:
- The Great Room, started in 1777 and completed in 1801, to see James Barry’s paintings
- The Benjamin Franklin Room and Troika chandelier based on Franklin's design for bi-focal lenses
- The Atrium, previously the rear yard of the main building including the original flagstones and an award-winning contemporary staircase
- The vaulted Durham Street Auditorium with an 18th century stone road and pavements incorporated into the design
- The Vaults underpinning the building used as warehousing and now a unique event space
- The Library and learn about its journey from its first location in the House to its current home following the 2018 redevelopment
- The Long Gallery's full-length 1754–2018 mural, chronicles our history in the style of the RSA Animates
Explore these, plus much more with either the printed or digital visitor guides of RSA House and the unique Adam brothers Adelphi complex, from RSA House to Benjamin Franklin House, and vice versa.
There'll be a chance to celebrate the centenary of our flagship Student Design Awards programme and an opportunity to learn about becoming an RSA Fellow. As a family activity, visitors will be invited to hunt for the mural's historic characters and guests will be invited to attach their hopes and dreams for the future to regenerate people, place and planet on our wishing tree.
The Coffee House will be open throughout the day where visitors will be able to purchase with light refreshments.
