We are very fortunate that following a talk by Baroness Sue Grenfell, President of the Royal Institution in Great Britain  to the Rotary Club of London, Professor Frank James has agreed to take us around the newly refurbished Royal Institution. The Tour will be followed by Tea and Cakes in one of their new splendid rooms.

The Royal Institution is an independent charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. We're about discovery, innovation, inspiration and imagination. We're also an events space, a museum and a place to eat and drink. But we're more than that as well.

We don't just talk about science - we also do it. Research has been part of the RI for 200 years, and the tradition continues today with cutting-edge work on nanotechnology and health science.

We're a place for all ages. The Christmas Lectures for children are probably our most famous activity, but adults will find plenty of thought-provoking things to do and see at the RI throughout the year.

Anyone can join the RI. If you're interested in how the world works, or how to make it work better, the RI is the place for you.

The Royal Institution is a registered charity, no 227938.

The Collections of the Royal Institution include the original apparatus and papers of many of those who have researched, lectured and lived in the building including Humphry Davy, Michael Faraday, John Tyndall, James Dewar, William Bragg, Lawrence Bragg and George Porter. In addition the Royal Institution has important collections of iconographical material in various media, books, scientific instruments, historic furniture as well as a large administrative archive, covering all aspects of the work of the Royal Institution.

The historic papers of the Royal Institution are collected in the archives, held in our purpose built climate controlled vault. The associated archive reading room is open to the public by appointment.

As part of the recent £22million refurbishment project at the Royal Institution, the Faraday Museum has been expanded to cover the three public floors and to reflect the diversity of the heritage collections. There are now over a thousand objects on public display: about 20% of the apparatus collection, including important apparatus associated with some of our most famous scientists.

The displays combine traditional display cases and the reconstructed Faraday Laboratory with more artistic installations which showcase some of our reserve collection which it would not otherwise have been possible to display. These include the Threshold Displays, containing historic glassware and acoustic apparatus, and the dramatic Spottiswoode Spiral. Details of the new exhibition can be found here.

The collections department runs tours explaining elements of the history and architecture of the building as well as telling the stories behind some of the exhibition displays for groups of up to 20 people. Click here for more information, prices and details on how to book.