The John Madejski Fine Rooms

The Fine Rooms will be closed to the public on 17 September, 2 October, 9 October, 6 November, 7 November, 18 November, 19 November and 4 December 2026.

As we embark on an ambitious new project to expand our Collections Gallery, we invite you to come and see works from the RA Collection on display in the magnificent Fine Rooms.

From 16 December 2025 until early 2027, these working rooms – usually closed to the public – will be open from 11am until 4pm each day (and until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays). Best of all, entry is free to everyone*.

You will have the chance to see works by Thomas Gainsborough RA, Laura Knight RA, LS Lowry RA, Mary Moser RA and Frank Cadogan Cowper RA, as well as contemporary artists such as David Hockney RA, Nigel Hall RA, Olwyn Bowey RA and Diana Armfield RA.

While the Fine Rooms have been adapted by successive generations you will still be able to take in much of the decorative scheme first envisioned by Lady Juliana, Dowager Countess of Burlington around 1710. Within these surroundings, you can enjoy still life paintings in our General Assembly Room – the former banqueting space where our Royal Academicians now meet. In the adjacent rooms, you can explore the development of landscape painting at the Academy, while the large Reynolds Room, formerly a triple-cube ballroom, showcases a variety of 20th-century works themed on people and place. Finally, in our last room you’ll find some of the Collection’s most beautiful and intriguing works of the 19th century.

The Fine Rooms tell a unique story that reflects the art, architecture and history of the Royal Academy – we’re looking forward to sharing it with you.

Free, drop-in, 15-minute spotlight talks from one of our RA team will take place in the Fine Rooms on Thursdays at 11.45 am.

*Please note, on occasion one or two of the rooms may have limited access

Everyone is welcome to visit the Fine Rooms. Plan your visit.