The Royal Hollaway Founder’s Building

The Founder’s Building at Royal Holloway College, University of London (RHUL), is a stunning example of French Renaissance architecture, based on the Chateau de Chambord in France. Opened by Queen Victoria in 1886, this historic building features the Picture Gallery, which houses over 70 pieces of Victorian-era art donated by Thomas Holloway. It also includes the university’s lecture theatre, a non-denominational chapel, and a reading room.  The lavish interior decoration of the Chapel has green and gold painted patterns on the walls, with pews facing each other across the aisle, representing the early monastic foundations of the Oxford and Cambridge collages when students were training to be priests. The brightly decorated interior with many elaborate paintings depicting many different biblical stories are stunning to view. The ceiling is also covered in fabulous paintings, presented slightly differently to traditional representations, such as the story of Creation, whereby instead the creation of Man, it is the creation of Women, possibly that the College was originally founded for women. The Chapel on its own, is well worth taking the time to visit.

The Founder’s Building also contains many administrative offices and three notable towers: the Clock Tower in the north, the Dragon Tower in the south, and the Lantern Tower in the centre, which houses a lantern. The Founder’s Building has been featured in several films and television programs.

The tour guide will meet the group at 10:55am at the North Tower Gate (a map will be provided).

From 11am-12.30pm a guided tour will be provided of the Founder’s Building: Chapel, North Quad, Founder’s Dining Hall (if available), Main Lecture Theatre, South Quad, Founder’s Reading Room, Victorian Corridor, Small and Large Board Rooms (if available).

Lunch will take place in the Picture Gallery from 12.30-1.15pm consisting of sandwiches (a selection of meat, fish, vegetarian), fruit platter, coffee, tea and mineral water

After lunch, 1.15-2pm a talk on the paintings will take place, followed by a half hour opportunity to spend time in the picture gallery, until 2.30pm, when the visit will end.

The price is £30, that is £25 per head (including VAT*) plus a contributory tour guide fee of £5 per person.   

Website :  https://royalholloway.ac.uk

Founder’s  https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation/undergraduate/founders/

Address : Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX.

The Visitors’ Information Centre is located in the central entrance of Founder’s Building, opposite the Emily Wilding Davison Building.

Location on Google Maps : https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Royal+Holloway/@51.4259714,-0.5660685,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x48767755f3ce74c9:0xd04339084bd84568!8m2!3d51.4247097!4d-0.5667494!16zL20vMDF4NWZi?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Parking :  There are several car parks and a map will be provided for them. There is also a pay and display car park in Englefield Green (5 mins walk) if needed.

Bookings