The Undercroft


This is a great place for a party, and James I thought so too!

The Undercroft

Why see it?

The vaulted undercroft of the Banqueting House was designed as a drinking den for James I and his friends.  At one end there was a ‘grotto’ decorated with shells which has now disappeared. 

After James I’s death, the undercroft began to be used for holding lotteries.  John Evelyn describes one gambling session in 1664, at which ‘the King, Queen-Consort and Queen Mother’ won only ‘a trifle’ – as he did himself!

 

They said it...

Poet Ben Jonson, the Shakespeare of his day, wrote this dedication for the Banqueting House’s undercroft as a drinking den in 1623:

Since Bacchus, thou art father
Of wines, to thee the rather
We dedicate this Cellar
Where now, thou art made Dweller

Functions and events

Interested in having an event at Banqueting House? James I’s ‘drinking den’ makes an imaginative party space.

Please contact our Banqueting House events team to discuss booking a venue. Click here to learn more.

Hear the full story

Audio guides are available in a range of languages with first-hand historical accounts and stories of the Banqueting House’s history, so that you can learn more about the stunning architecture and the magnificent Rubens ceiling.

More information

Looking for information to plan your visit to Banqueting House? Click here to find everything you'll need.