170 Queen's Gate Celebrates 125 Years

Completed in 1889, 170 Queen's Gate celebrates 125 years this year

This year, grade II listed 170 Queen’s Gate, events venue and home to the College’s President & Rector, celebrates 125 years. Completed in 1889 by architect Richard Norman Shaw, 170 Queen’s Gate is a red brick house with stone dressings – an important example of English domestic architecture of the period – and is one of a number of houses on this prestigious street designed by Shaw. This historic building exchanged hands a number of times before being acquired by the College in 1947.

170 Queen's Gate in 1900

Sally Jensen, Head of Events at the College, says: “170’s long and rich history just adds to its character and appeal. Visitors and event organisers are always captivated by the building’s sense of history and character and have told us that venues with a story to tell genuinely make their job of attracting event attendees that much easier. We are hugely proud of 170 Queen’s Gate’s past and present and very much look forward to being part of its future.” 

170 Queen’s Gate’s architecture loosely follows the Queen Anne Style, which Shaw became internationally famous for. The four-storey house was commissioned by cement manufacturer, Frederick Anthony White and faces out onto Imperial College Road.

Following the College’s acquisition, consultant architect to the College, Sir Hubert Worthington, altered the house slightly to adapt it to College. It’s future was threatened in the 1950s and 1960s when Imperial was looking to expand the South Kensington campus.  

170 Queen's Gate as a venue today

Today, 170 Queens Gate is an iconic and integral part of the South Kensington campus. As well as being home to the College’s President & Rector, the house also provides guest accommodation for visitors and the ground floor and garden are used as a grand venue for a range of events from weddings, dinners and parties to meetings and conferences. 

For more information on hiring 170 Queen's Gate, visit the 170 website.