W Bro Roy Cooper writes:
The United Grand Lodge of England offer tours to Masons of Great Queen Street to members only. They do this most days and need a minimum of ten Brethren to make up a suitable number to operate the tour.
As the Secretary of Salvus Securus Lodge No 9113, I recently arranged for a tour of Freemasons’ Hall
Vini, our tour guide, met us at the Museum entrance just before 12:00; and explained that the tour would take about 75 minutes. He checked that we were all Masons and what level we had attained. We had a couple of Entered Apprentices among us, so he adjusted his presentation so as not to give anything away that the EAs hadn’t yet discovered.
We started in the Museum, and Vini began with the history of the Fraternity and how “two became one”. He explained various areas of the Museum, for example the Kings Chair. We were able to adapt the message and teach our new Brethren simple things about aprons and collar jewels – something we never seem to find as much time as we would like to in a Lodge meeting.
The tour can also take you into a number of Lodge rooms depending on availability. We were lucky enough to spend time in Lodge room 10, the Egyptian or Indian room (depending on who you are talking to), and we were pleased to note that we had in fact used this very room in the past – in fact one of the Brothers on the tour had had been passed to the 2nd degree in this very room.
We naturally ended up in the vestibule where Vini explained the Hall Stone Jewel and the impact that it had had on the construction of the building; with all the Lodges that had donated being engraved into the marble walls. We also visited the Grand Temple; a magnificent sight – Vini took time to give us an insight into the doors, the organ and, of course, the magnificent ceiling decorations.
I’ve personally arranged this tour regularly over the years as I like to bring new Masons to show them around “head office” as we meet in Mark Masons’ Hall. And I have to say, I learn something new every time. Thank you, Vini, and all at Great Queen Street.
You can book the tour through the website (or by ringing direct) – and there is even a “Pie and Pint” deal afterwards in the bar!
This article is part of Arena Magazine Issue 59 – Christmas 2025.
Arena Magazine is the official online magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.
Read more articles in Arena Issue 59 here.
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