A passenger lift installed at the 400-year-old Banqueting House in Whitehall, London will offer visitors step-free access to Peter Paul Rubens’ masterpiece ceiling for the first time.
Built for King James I in 1622, the Banqueting House is last complete piece of the lost royal Palace of Whitehall, most of which perished to fire in 1698. The building recently reopened following a major project by Historic Royal Palaces to upgrade the building’s facilities and carry out essential improvement works, preserving this historic building for years to come.
Installed in the North Annex, the brand-new lift enables guests visiting the Banqueting House to have step-free access to the Main Hall, a grand space housing the only artwork by Rubens to still be displayed in the original space for which it was created: “The Glorification of King James I”, also known as the dazzling “Rubens ceiling”.
The lift installation follows years of planning from expert conservators, historic buildings curators and other specialists, enabling the integration of modern accessibility into a Grade-I listed building at the heart of Whitehall.
To help preserve the condition of the historic Rubens ceiling for future generations, new air-source heat pumps installed onto the roof, combined with a re-routing onto the Whitehall District Heating System, will significantly improve the temperature and humidity control of the building.
The building has been re-serviced to be net-zero ready, ensuring that the Banqueting House is more resilient to climate change and working towards Historic Royal Palaces’ long-term sustainability goals.
Sneak previews of the Banqueting House will be available to visitors on 21 February, 20 March, 3 April, 1 May, 29 May and 26 June. Guests are invited to explore last piece of the lost Palace of Whitehall ahead of the Summer Opening in August.
From 1 August – 20 September, the Banqueting House will open with a new visitor experience, bringing 400 years of history, art and architecture to life.
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