A Day in St James’s & Private Visit to Fortnum and Mason

A Day in St James’s & Private Visit to Fortnum and Mason.

Starting at the Armoury of St James’s, 17 Piccadilly Arcade, London SW1.

Wednesday 17th June 2026 at 11am.

Cost: £30; Guest Price: £35.

In our day in St James’s guests will be visiting three members of the BADA whose expertise is extremely varied. We begin at the Armoury of St James’s whose knowledge of ceremonial and royal presentations items is second to none. They also hold an ever-changing stock of beautiful diamond set navel and military brooches. Other specialities include representations of Churchill, Nelson, and Wellington.

From here we take a short walk to Amir Mohtashemi who is a leading specialist in Indian and Islamic art from painting and miniatures to ceramics, metalwork, furniture, textiles and arms and armour. Amir has over 30 years working in this field and has sold numerous items to major museums in the UK and worldwide. This beautiful gallery is full of exquisite objects and is a feast for the eyes.

The group will then visit the neighbouring gallery Messum’s. Here you will meet Cheska Hill-Wood who will introduce you to the artists Wilfrid De Glehn and his French cousin Lucien Monod. Established in 1963, by David Messum Messum’s continues to be one of the country’s leading art galleries and a pioneer in the field of British Impressionism, the Newlyn and St Ives Schools and represents many contemporary British artists. Cheska will also touch briefly on the mechanics of hanging an exhibition.

After all this culture there will then be a break for lunch. We will then reconvene at Fortnum and Mason where Archivist Lucy Woof which take us on a tour of this iconic shop. Ever since the store opened its doors in 1707, the Piccadilly flagship has remained the beating heart of Fortnum’s and a must go to destination in London. Founded by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason, they originally started life selling Queen Anne’s leftover candles.

From then on, the story has been marked by endless innovation and playing a part in history, from inventing the Scotch Egg to supplying hampers to the Suffragettes, fuelling the intrepid explorers who scaled Mount Everest in 1922 and putting beehives on the roof. Today, the emporium now boasts five floors of extraordinary things to see, taste, and do. This day will be full of beautiful, interesting, and rare items with plenty of history along the way.

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