The breathtaking Banqueting House is filled with stories. Built by Inigo Jones for the performance of court masques, it is however most famous for real-life drama.On 30 January 1649, Charles I passed beneath the magnificent Rubens ceiling, painted to celebrate the glory of monarchy, as he made his way to a scaffold outside where he was beheaded.The first major classical building in England, constructed in the Italian Palladian style, the Banqueting House is a survivor of flood, fire and war, whose ability to impress has only increased with age.Discover the fascinating tales of this unique palace, from the brutal culmination of the English Civil War to decadent court celebrations and royal ceremonies.