Hidden within the heart of the City of London, the Honourable Artillery Company is one of Britain’s oldest institutions and one of the capital’s most remarkable event venues. Established in 1537, its historic headquarters and expansive gardens provide a unique setting where centuries of military tradition meet contemporary cultural and corporate events.
For automotive enthusiasts, the Honourable Artillery Company is best known as the home of the London Concours, one of Europe’s leading concours d’elegance events. Each summer its immaculate lawns are transformed into an open-air gallery showcasing some of the world’s rarest collector cars, supercars and automotive masterpieces.
Today the venue occupies a distinctive place within London’s event landscape, combining historic architecture, landscaped grounds and one of the city’s most exclusive settings for luxury exhibitions.
In Brief
- The Honourable Artillery Company was founded in 1537.
- It is the oldest regiment in the British Army.
- Artillery Garden is one of the largest private open spaces in the City of London.
- The venue hosts the annual London Concours.
- The estate combines nearly five centuries of military heritage with modern luxury events.
- Armoury House remains the ceremonial headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company.
History
The Honourable Artillery Company was founded in 1537 under the reign of Henry VIII, making it the oldest regiment in the British Army and one of London’s oldest surviving institutions.
Its headquarters occupy Artillery Garden, a historic open space that has served military training, ceremonial duties and civic gatherings for centuries. Despite the rapid development of the surrounding financial district, the estate has preserved an extraordinary sense of openness rarely found within central London.
In recent decades the grounds have evolved into one of the capital’s premier outdoor event venues, hosting international sporting events, corporate functions, cultural festivals and luxury exhibitions while maintaining their historic military identity.
The Estate
The Honourable Artillery Company combines historic architecture with one of central London’s largest private green spaces, creating a remarkable estate within the densely developed surroundings of the City. At its centre, the Artillery Garden provides more than five acres of open lawn, while the eighteenth-century Armoury House remains the ceremonial heart of the Company.
The expansive garden gives the estate much of its distinctive character, providing space for ceremonial occasions, outdoor hospitality and major events while preserving an unexpected sense of openness close to the Square Mile. Armoury House complements this landscape with its Georgian architecture, providing an elegant historic setting for receptions, dinners and official functions.
During events such as the London Concours, temporary pavilions, hospitality areas and automotive displays transform the grounds without obscuring their historic identity. The relationship between Georgian architecture, landscaped lawns and the modern City skyline creates an unusual setting in which automobiles become part of the estate itself rather than exhibits contained within a conventional exhibition venue.
The Honourable Artillery Company has become an important fixture in British automotive culture as the home of the London Concours, which has been held within its Artillery Garden since 2017. The event brings significant classic cars, competition machinery and contemporary performance automobiles into the heart of the City of London.
London Concours combines automotive heritage with modern performance and design, presenting carefully selected vehicles from private collections alongside specialist displays and manufacturer participation. The event has developed into a major summer gathering for collectors and enthusiasts while retaining a more intimate character than a conventional motor show.
The HAC’s particular significance comes from the contrast between automotive culture and its historic London setting. Cars are displayed across five acres of private lawns beside the Georgian Armoury House, creating an unusual garden-party environment where important automobiles are presented against centuries of British military and architectural heritage.
Visitor Experience
Visiting the Honourable Artillery Company during the London Concours offers an experience that differs significantly from traditional motor shows.
Rather than vast exhibition halls, visitors stroll through landscaped gardens where exceptional automobiles are displayed beneath mature trees and alongside historic buildings. Fine dining, champagne lounges, specialist retailers and luxury hospitality create an atmosphere more closely associated with an English garden party than a conventional automotive exhibition.
Outside major events, access to the estate is generally limited, reinforcing its exclusive character.
Location
The Honourable Artillery Company is situated in the City of London, close to Liverpool Street Station and within walking distance of many of London’s financial institutions.
Despite its central location, the estate remains one of the capital’s largest enclosed green spaces, offering an unexpected sense of tranquillity amid the surrounding urban landscape.
Address
City Road
Armoury House
EC1Y 2BQ London
Greater London, England
United Kingdom
Website