Win 100% Off Your Boardroom Hire

A Milestone Worth Celebrating

In 1926, 20 Cavendish Square became the home and headquarters of the Royal College of Nursing. The story of how it got there is one worth telling…

The RCN was founded in 1916 with just 34 members. It was driven into existence by Dame Sarah Swift, a prominent matron who approached Sir Arthur Stanley, an MP and prominent leader in the Red Cross, for support in creating an organisation to advance nursing standards amid the demands of World War I. At the time, nursing was entirely unregulated; anyone could claim to be a nurse. That was what they set out to change.

By the end of its first year, the RCN had over 2,500 members. The College was growing fast and needed a permanent home worthy of its ambition. It was Rachael Cox-Davies, one of the founding members, who secured what would become the permanent home.

During a short taxi journey with Lady Cowdray, she made the case for purchasing the former Asquith house at 20 Cavendish Square. Lady Cowdray bought the freehold from the former Prime Minister H. H. Asquith for £20,000. 20 Cavendish Square formally opened as the headquarters of the College of Nursing in 1926 and has been the heart of nursing in Britain ever since. That same year, Queen Mary, a keen supporter of nursing, became the College’s patron and a regular visitor to the building.

It’s a history we are enormously proud of. Today, 20 Cavendish Square operates as a not-for-profit venue; every booking supports the RCN’s ongoing work.

Introducing the May Prize Draw: Win 100% Off Your Boardroom Hire

Every new or existing booking made for a date in May 2026 will be automatically entered into our 100th anniversary prize draw. One lucky winner will have their name drawn at random and receive 100% off the cost of their boardroom hire – a prize that must be redeemed within six months of being drawn.

We are offering our ground-floor executive boardrooms as part of this draw. Sarah Swift, Jean McFarlane and Mona Grey are intimate, period-rich spaces steeped in the history of 20 Cavendish Square. Seating up to 14 delegates in a fixed boardroom layout, these elegant period rooms come fully equipped with 4K video conferencing technology and dedicated AV support, everything you need for a seamless hybrid or in-person meeting in the heart of London.

How to Enter? 

It couldn’t be simpler:

1. Book a meeting room for any day in May
   All new and existing meeting room bookings for May dates are eligible.
2. You’re automatically entered
   No forms, no hoops. Your booking is your entry.
3. We make the draw
   After May, one booking will be drawn at random by our team.
4. The winner receives their prize
   If your name is drawn, you receive 100% off the cost of a qualifying meeting room hire.

Why 20 Cavendish Square?

Booking a venue is easy. Trusting that a venue will deliver on the day is the hard part.

At 20 Cavendish Square, we’ve spent a century earning that trust. From the moment you get in touch, our team goes the extra mile, not because of policy but because it’s who we are. With years of experience supporting focused boardroom sessions to larger conferences, we know our venue inside out and are with you every step of the way.

The building itself is stunning, too. Our beautifully restored Georgian townhouse sits a short walk from Oxford Circus and Bond Street stations, making it one of the most accessible venues. Inside, you’ll find a blend of period architecture and modern AV technology, flexible room layouts, and natural daylight. It’s a setting that impresses without overstepping.

Ready to book?

Get in touch to check availability, discuss your requirements or arrange a no-obligation site visit; and if you’re booking in May, you’ll automatically be entered to win 100% off your room hire as part of our 100th anniversary prize draw.