In celebration of International Women’s Day (8th March 2025) a number of our member venues have been supporting this day throughout this month with their own activities including curated programmes of live events, dedicated tours remembering the forgotten stories of women and how they are connected to their venues. Immersive audio experiences uncovering the hidden lives of women, talks revealing in the history of females from all sectors of life, leadership pieces and conferences supporting the urgency of addressing systemic barriers and biases to achieve gender equality and drive progress.

Royal Museums Greenwich

This March, you can enjoy a curated programme of live events and talks at RMG in honour of this year’s International Women’s Day!

You can find out more about pioneering women who worked at observatories in the late 1800s in an evening panel discussion and film screening at the Peter Harrison Planetarium; join multidisciplinary artist Love Hannington and learn more about African Caribbean herbs for women’s health, especially womb health at The National Maritime Museum' Sips of Wisdom  or even attend a talk on the importance of women’s bodily autonomy at Queen’s House's Bodily Autonomy, exploring challenges and opportunities for women today.

Each event you choose to host at RMG helps raise funds, enabling us to continue crafting a live programme of cultural events like this one. So, join us for your next celebration, we can't wait to start dreaming your next event with you! Contact RMG now at events@rmg.co.uk or on 0208 312 8517.

Southwark Cathedral

Southwark Cathedral’s Women of Southwark the Untold Story Tour looks to remember some of the forgotten stories of Southwark women and women connected to the Cathedral. Including Victorian pioneers like Octavia Hill and Isabella Gilmore, as well as benefactors Dorthy Appleby and Elisabeth Newcomen who provided funds for poor people in south London. The tour will showcase the impact of Queen Mary I on cathedral life and those she condemned to death in this building. Our Cathedral guides undertake extensive training to learn 900 years of cathedral history and volunteer their time to deliver tour and walks for the cathedral.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, this tour took place on 7th March, but for those who still wish to enjoy this tour content, as well as many others, tours can be an booked for groups or added to conferences booked at the Cathedral – tour details here. 

The Royal Institution

The Royal Institution celebrated International Women’s Day this year in classic Ri fashion – with science! Microscopist Anwen Bullen took guests on a journey through the history of microscopy, and how some of the smallest structures in cells can have the biggest effects on our sensory world.

Pioneering female scientists have shaped the Royal Institution and science as a whole throughout our 226-year history. Irish crystallographer Kathleen Lonsdale determined the structure of benzene in 1929 at the Ri, and went on to give a Discourse titled ‘Women in Science’ in 1970. The first talk given by a woman at the Ri was all the way back in 1926, and we continue to champion women in leading-edge research in our public programme talks, Discourses, and of course the CHRISTMAS LECTURES. 

Revel in the history of female scientists at the Ri whilst hosting your event here, and help us continue to elevate female scientists. For more information, please contact venuehire@ri.ac.uk

Westminster Abbey

Throughout the month of March Westminster Abbey will be offering tours about the remarkable lives of various women buried and commemorated in the Abbey.

The tours are called: Fascinating Women of Westminster Abbey tour. 

From actresses, writers and spies to philanthropists, social reformers and modern martyrs - discover the extraordinary lives of some of the women buried and commemorated in Westminster Abbey.

For further information please click here

Historic Royal Palaces

For centuries, women have shaped history, including that of our palaces. 

Experience Hampton Court Palace like never before with the world premiere of Still The Hours, an exclusive after-hours journey behind closed doors. As twilight falls, hear the echoes of women who lived and worked here over the past 500 years. Imagine the stories the walls could tell! Join small groups of 11 to wander through iconic rooms, guided by a captivating soundscape that brings the palace to life and reveals its secrets. 

This immersive audio experience uncovers the hidden lives of women—from queens to maids, suffragettes to mistresses—celebrating moments of resilience and survival amidst the ordinary and extraordinary. Combining binaural headphone audio with a unique sound environment, this unforgettable event has been crafted by an award-winning artistic team, in consultation with advisors from the visually impaired community. Don't miss this unique opportunity; it will stay with you forever. 

Still The Hours | Hampton Court Palace | Historic Royal Palaces

66 Portland Place, the home of RIBA

Each March, Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day provides RIBA with the opportunity to reflect on the advancements in tackling the structural barriers that uphold inequality and hinder women’s achievements in the architecture profession. This year’s theme “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” calls for action that will address gender inequity and provide opportunities for a future where no one is left behind.

RIBA will be sharing resources and thought leadership pieces throughout March that direct attention towards the significant contributions of women in architecture and how we can all address gender inequality in the built environment.

These include a blog from the Inclusion Emergency contributors that will cover issues such as how to retain women in architecture and make the workplace more inclusive; a booklist selected by the RIBA Books team with titles including ‘100 Women: Architects in Practice’ and ‘Thrive: A field guide for women in architecture; and thought provoking RIBA Journal content.

More information and resources can be found here: RIBA celebrates Women’s History Month 2025

No.4 Hamilton Place

No.4 Hamilton Place is home to the Royal Aeronautical Society. As the only professional body dedicated to aerospace, aviation and space communities, the society exist, to further the advancement of aeronautical art, science and engineering around the world. 

With that, they host many of their internal events at the venue and the Women in Aviation, Aerospace, and Space Committee (WAASC) proudly hosted an inspiring hybrid conference celebrating International Women’s Day 2025, proudly sponsored by GKN Aerospace, in the Bill Boeing Lecture Theatre on 7th March. 

This year’s theme "Accelerate Action," highlighted the urgency of addressing systemic barriers and biases to achieve gender equality and drive progress in the aerospace, aviation, and space sectors. 

Guests heard from inspiring keynote speakers and thought leaders, and also engaged in panel discussions exploring challenges and opportunities for women in the industry.

London Museum Docklands

Head to London Museum Docklands on the weekends in March to celebrate Women’s History Month with an exciting line up of free talks, storytelling events and a special paid event on ‘African Women in Tudor London’.

This month’s programme includes ‘Tales time: Emmeline Pankhurst’, a performance which brings the Suffragette leader’s story to life (8-30th March); ‘Women sailors in the age of sail’, a talk on the remarkable women who defied social norms by working at sea (9th March); ‘Poly Styrene: Godmother of punk’, which explores the life of the woman who helped shape punk music; and ‘Repopulating Poplar & Call the Midwife’, a talk on 29th March about life in the 1950s as a midwife and district nurse. 

Book your free tickets today and get ready to uncover hidden stories and fresh perspectives in this extensive programme to celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. Find out more here: Women's History Month talks | London Museum

Central Hall Westminster

This International Women’s Day, we celebrated and thanked all the incredible women on our team at Central Hall Westminster, a group of inspiring, talented, and driven individuals who shape our vision and make a real impact every day.

Rhiannon Thomas, our Head of Sales and Marketing, recently shared her thoughts on #AccelerateAction and how we can drive real change in the hospitality industry:

"To truly accelerate action in hospitality, the industry must normalise flexible working arrangements at all levels. Providing options such as adjusted hours, remote work, compressed weeks and job sharing ensures that flexibility is accessible to all genders, allowing for a better balance between work and personal responsibilities.

Additionally, I would like to see more mentorship programmes to create opportunities for individuals to connect with experienced professionals, helping to guide career development and build a more diverse and inclusive leadership pipeline. At Central Hall Venues we are proud to have five female leaders! By taking these steps, we can create a more equitable industry that supports the growth and success of all."

Read the full article here

Here’s to empowering, uplifting, and championing women 💜

The HAC

Celebrating Women in the Honourable Artillery Company

On International Women’s Day 2025, the HAC is shining a light on the women of the Honourable Artillery Company, an historic military unit where women are breaking barriers and transforming traditions.

While the military has been seen as male-dominated for years, the HAC, which was founded in 1537, has embraced change and women now actively participate in all aspects, from training to leadership. They excel in this demanding environment, balancing civilian careers with military service, and serve in key roles, including artillery operations and leadership.

The HAC is committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion (EDI) and by embracing diverse talents has strengthened its performance and fostered a thriving, inclusive environment. As more women rise into leadership, the unit benefits from better decision-making and stronger teams, proving that equality is a powerful advantage.

This IWD, we celebrate the achievements of the women of the HAC and look forward to the next generation of female leaders.

Find out more about hosting an event at the HAC here: Venue Hire Central London | The Honourable Artillery Company