Lambeth Palace

About Lambeth Palace

Official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Lambeth Palace is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England, since the 13th century, situated in north Lambeth on the south bank of the River Thames about 370 metres south-east of the Palace of Westminster, home of Parliament, on the opposite bank. The archbishopric acquired the estate around 1200 for its closeness to Westminster and the City, and the archbishop still lives here alongside his other residence at the Old Palace in Canterbury; the building is Grade I listed. The palace brings together architectural layers of many centuries: the grand red-brick gateway of Morton's Tower from the late 15th century, the 13th-century chapel, the Lollards' Tower once used as a prison, and the Great Hall with its timber roof, rebuilt after the Civil War and housing Lambeth Palace Library, the oldest public library in England and the principal library for the history of the Church of England, which gained a modern building in the palace gardens in 2021. Extensive gardens surround the palace, among the oldest continuously cultivated private gardens in London. The palace is not open for casual visits, but pre-booked guided tours reveal its halls and gardens, and it can be seen from outside from Lambeth Bridge and the riverside, with a famous view of Parliament across the water.

Where:

London, United Kingdom