Venue

The Geological Society

The Geological Society, founded in 1807 and the world's oldest national geological society, has occupied Burlington House, a Grade II listed building in central London, since 1874. Its spaces combine Victorian architecture with modern facilities, making it ideal for conferences, meetings, receptions and intimate dinners. The lecture theatre anchors the ground floor, while the lower library and smaller rooms on upper floors offer flexibility for groups of varying sizes.

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Lecture Theatre & Library at The Geological Society

Lecture Theatre & Library1 / 7

⌖ Mayfair · W1J 0BG

The Geological Society

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Lecture Theatre & Library

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On the ground floor, this space pairs a lecture theatre with the lower library, which was originally the Society's main library before the first floor rooms housed its museum collection. The theatre was refurbished in 1972-73 after its former parliamentary-style layout, with the president seated on a raised dais. Further refurbishments followed with support from the Society's Petroleum Group in 1999 and again for the Bicentenary in 2007. Named the Janet Watson Lecture Theatre in 2009 to honour Professor Janet Vida Watson FRS, the Society's first woman president from Imperial College London, it now hosts lectures and meetings of the Society and related organisations. The lower library, used mainly for foreign periodicals, serves as a social gathering space and refreshment area during scientific meetings. A meeting room is accessible through two doors from the library.

Space photos

Seated172

Standing150

PrivacyPrivate

Price guideHire fee from £2,510

Other spaces

Gertrude Elles Room at The Geological Society

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This wood-panelled first-floor room overlooks the courtyard of Burlington House. Arranged with a u-shaped table, it suits boardroom-style meetings, elegant seated lunches and dinners, and drinks receptions.

Seated: 20
Standing: 30
Privacy: Private
Price guide: Hire fee from £800

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Located on the first floor beyond the grand staircase from reception, this recently refurbished room was formerly used for council meetings and other Society committee gatherings. Abundant natural daylight makes it a pleasant setting for meetings.

Seated: 32
Standing: 40
Privacy: Private
Price guide: Hire fee from £1,230

William Buckland at The Geological Society

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The basement room was converted for use as a Committee Room in 1988 when bookcases were installed to house the library's collection of rare books. With up-to-date facilities and unique, classy interior, this space will be perfect for any kind of meetings for up to 12 delegates. The Rev. William Buckland was a fellow of the Royal Society (1818) and Professor of Mineralogy at the University of Oxford. He became Oxford's first Reader in Geology (1819) and was President of the Geological Society from 1824-26, when the Society obtained its Royal Charter.

Seated: 14
Standing: Unknown
Privacy: Private
Price guide: Hire fee from £660

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This multi-level Victorian library on the first floor is particularly suited to film and photographic shoots. Guests are surrounded by prestigious books, archives and maps of considerable value, creating a sense that time has paused. Bespoke hire packages are available based on specific requirements.

Seated: 25
Standing: 40
Privacy: Private
Price guide: Hire fee from £6,600

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Named in 1984 to honour Arthur Holmes and his profound contribution to Earth science, this ground-floor room is used for committee meetings and to host speakers at the Society's scientific meetings. It provides a versatile space for small boardroom meetings, breakout sessions or intimate private dinners.

Seated: 14
Standing: Unknown
Privacy: Private
Price guide: Hire fee from £800