Welcome to Stately Homes

From its conception, Spencer House was recognised as one of the most ambitious aristocratic town houses ever built in London and is, today, the city's only great eighteenth-century private palace to survive intact.

Spencer House was built in 1756-66 for John, first Earl Spencer, an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-97). Situated in the heart of St James's, Spencer House is a short distance from St James's Palace, Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Westminster, and has a splendid terrace and garden with magnificent views of Green Park.

The Spencer family last lived in the House in 1926, they then let the building to a variety of tenants. As a result, the state rooms were used as offices from the late 1920s until 1985, when RIT Capital Partners plc acquired the lease.

Restoration

Under the direction of its current occupants and leaseholders, RIT Capital Partners plc, Spencer House has been the object of one of the most ambitious restoration projects to be undertaken this century. The House has now been restored to its original splendour and is used partly as offices and as a place where entertainments can be held in the historic setting of the state rooms.

A team of architects, engineers, designers and historians were drawn together for this unique project. Architecturally, the House has been restored as far as possible to its original late eighteenth-century appearance, retaining Henry Holland's alterations of the 1780s and 1790s, rather than as first completed in the 1760s. Holland, a major English architect, had played a particularly significant role in the buildings development.

Appropriate paintings, sculpture and furniture have been bought to furnish the state rooms. Other works have been borrowed from various sources, including the Royal Collection, The Royal Academy, the Tate Gallery and Temple Newsam, as well as private owners and dealers. Restoration of the House has enabled the return of some of the key pieces of furniture to their original locations, including Vardy's elaborate giltwood console tables in the Dining Room and the return of Stuart's Painted Room suite, both on loan from the Victoria and Albert Museum. For more details, visit their Splendid Website.

Opening Times - 2010:

Spencer House is open to the public for viewing every Sunday (except during January and August) from 10.30 a.m. - 5.45 p.m (these times may be subject to change, we suggest that you telephone the information line, +44 (0)20 7499 8620, for updated details).

Access is by guided tour, which lasts approximately 1 hour. Tours begin at regular intervals and the last admission is at 4.45 p.m. The maximum number of visitors on each tour is 20.


Admission Charges - 2010:

Adults - £9
Senior - £7

Banqueting and Entertaining

Spencer House is available as one of the most beautiful and stunning settings in London to entertain. Each client has the exclusive use of the House in it's entirety, whatever the size or scale of the occasion.

The state rooms have been restored to their former splendour of their late eighteenth-century appearance and are decorated with distinguished paintings and furniture, providing a magnificent setting for luncheons, dinners, receptions and meetings.

The eight state rooms available for hire provide an elegant backdrop for civil weddings, wedding receptions, musical evenings, lectures and press presentations. Receptions can be held for up to 450 guests, 500 if using the terrace, while seated lunches and dinners can be accommodated for any number from 2-138. Theatre style meetings can also be held, for a maximum of 100 guests.

Spencer House offers a complete service, all administration and catering is handled in-house including printing of invitations and menu cards, organising flowers, music and other entertainments as required. The kitchens at Spencer House are staffed by full-time expert chefs, who will devise each menu to suit the host's requirements - there are no set menus. The resident Chef, Steve Lattimer, who was Head Chef at the Garrick for nine years, is partnered by Vincent O'Toole, gold medal-winning Pastry Chef.

For further information, an appointment or private view telephone the Banqueting Department on +44 (0)20 7514 1964 or e-mail them by Clicking Here

Director: Jane Rick