Welcome to the Society

We exist for "the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries"

Save Burlington House

We need your help!

The Society has launched a campaign to contest the rapidly escalating rental rates set by Government, in order to remain at Burlington House – its home for over 140 years.

A hub of discovery for the UK, the building houses thousands of unique artefacts, books, and works of art spanning centuries of human history, under the guardianship of the Society of Antiquaries. The result of nearly 300 years of acquisition, people come from all over the world to study the collections at Burlington House, where enthusiasts meet experts, and ideas are shaped in the Library and lecture room.

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Opening times update

Burlington House is closed during lockdown

Due to the England-wide lockdown restrictions implemented by the Government on 5th January 2021, Burlington House and the Library will be closed to all visitors until lockdown is lifted. Staff will be working remotely during this time and are contactable by email. You can all the details here.

Please see information about visiting the Library for further updates. For updates about the Society’s operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, please see our latest news.  

About us

The Society of Antiquaries of London is an educational charity that promotes understanding of the human past and recognises distinction in this field through election to its Fellowship.

The Society was founded in 1707 and today our 3,000 Fellows include many distinguished archaeologists and art and architectural historians holding positions of responsibility across the cultural heritage. The Fellowship is international in its reach and its interests are inclusive of all aspects of the material past.

As a registered charity (207237), the Society’s principal objectives are to foster public understanding of that heritage, to support research and communicate the results and to engage in the formulation of public policy on the care of our historic environment and cultural property.

We support those charitable objectives on a daily basis through our Library and Museum collections (at Burlington House and at Kelmscott Manor), through our conservation and research grant awards, our programme of events (lectures and seminars), communications such as publications, our website and our e-newsletter.

The Society of Antiquaries receives no direct support from public funds.

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What we do

Not sure what we do? Find out here.

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Visit Kelmscott Manor

Kelmscott Manor was the inspirational Cotswold retreat of William Morris, Victorian textile designer, poet, novelist & Father of the Arts and Crafts Movement.

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How to find us

The Society is within a short walking distance of Piccadilly Circus and Green Park tube stations.

Society of Antiquaries of London
Burlington House
Piccadilly
London
W1J 0BE

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