Image credit: Bjørn Erik Pedersen / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 2016-08-21 ↗
Freemasons’ Hall and Museum of Freemasonry
Covent Garden / Great Queen Street · Trafalgar Square → Strand → Somerset House → Temple · Art Deco interior / hidden institution / museum
Story
The imposing Art Deco building on Great Queen Street, with its monumental façade, looks exactly like the kind of place a non-Mason would never be allowed to enter. In reality, the opposite is true: Freemasons’ Hall welcomes the public and contains a Museum of Freemasonry with free admission. This site has been used for Masonic meetings since 1775, and the present building, the third on this spot, was constructed between 1927 and 1933 as a memorial to Freemasons who died in the First World War. Inside, the building features 22 lodge rooms, extensive ceremonial spaces, vast vestibules, and a Grand Temple, making a visit a very different experience from an ordinary museum. The museum's collection, which dates back to 1838, preserves objects, archives, and records connected with almost three centuries of Freemasonry. The exhibits offer a window into the history and traditions of this institution, allowing visitors to understand its evolution over time.
What to look for
Look for the impressive Art Deco architecture of the façade. Inside, observe the vast vestibules and the Museum of Freemasonry. If you take a guided tour, you can access the Grand Temple and the lodge rooms.
Secret detail
Despite its solemn and often perceived secretive appearance, the museum within Freemasons' Hall is open to all visitors and offers free admission when the building is open to the public.
Where exactly
The main entrance is at 60 Great Queen Street. Use the public doors and pass through reception/security.
Orientation
Main entrance on Great Queen Street.
Why it matters
This building reveals a discreet but historically significant facet of London: the presence of Freemasonry. Its architecture and museum offer insight into an institution that has influenced the city's society and culture for centuries.
Access & opening
Normally Tue–Sat 10:00–17:00. CLOSED specifically on 22 Aug 2026 for essential maintenance, plus other published closure dates.
Museum free; guided tours/ticketed experiences may charge
We never show live status. Check opening hours before you go.
Accessibility
Main entrance has automatic doors; lift, accessible toilets and wheelchairs available.