Guildhall

★ 4.6 (983)Free

Guildhall has served as the City of London's centre of civic government since the medieval period, its Great Hall the site of state trials and civic banquets for centuries, while an excavated Roman amphitheatre lies preserved beneath the building's basement, discovered only in 1988. Reviewers with a 4.6 rating highlight both the historic hall — used today for everything from livery ceremonies to receptions — and the free amphitheatre exhibit as reasons to visit somewhere most tourists overlook. Its free entry and 30-minute duration make it an easy, low-commitment way to see a genuinely old layer of London history in the heart of the financial district.

✨ Reasons to go

1A Roman amphitheatre lies preserved beneath the building's basement, discovered only in 1988.
2The Great Hall has hosted state trials and civic banquets for centuries as the City of London's centre of civic government since medieval times.
3Entry is free and the visit takes about 30 minutes, covering a building not usually open to the public.

💡 Good to know

1Don't skip the Roman amphitheatre remains in the basement, free to visit and easy to miss if you only see the Great Hall
2check opening times carefully, as access can be restricted during civic events
3combine it with the nearby Guildhall Art Gallery, which shares the same complex.

⏱️ Typical visit

30 min

🕰️ Best time

morning, lunchtime or afternoon

🚶 Walking intensity

Moderate walking

📍

Address

71 Basinghall St, London EC2V 7HH, UKGoogle Apple

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Booking

Walk-in

What people say

"I recently had the pleasure of attending a meeting with a fizz reception and dining in the crypt. A very interesting building dating back to Roman times. The food was pretty good (small portions) and the seating very tight which made it difficult to enjoy the meal."

— John Dakin

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