"Whitehall's Banqueting House, one of the few survivors of the vast Palace of Whitehall, is due to reopen this summer, but is having a few preview days before fully reopening. Inside the highlight is the painted ceiling by Sir Peter Paul Rubens, commissioned by King Charles I and installed in 1636. That painted ceiling would also have been one of the last things the King saw when he was led out onto the scaffolding to be executed."
"The building closed in May 2024 for restoration, to replace the 1960s floor with something more in line with the building's heritage, and to modernise the old facilities, such as the heating and electrics, which were inefficient and lacked capacity for modern use. They also installed a lift to replace the rather undignified stair climber, so there will be proper step-free access to the main floor for the first time."
Whitehall's Banqueting House will fully reopen to the public in the summer of 2026, with several preview days available before then. The interior highlight is the 1636 painted ceiling by Sir Peter Paul Rubens, commissioned by King Charles I. The building closed in May 2024 for restoration work that replaces the 1960s floor with a heritage-appropriate surface and modernises heating, electrics and other facilities. A lift has been installed to replace a stair climber, providing step-free access to the main floor for the first time. Preview tickets are on sale for specific dates, with priced admission and nearby tube access.
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