About Guildhall

Guildhall School is a vibrant, international community of musicians, actors and production artists in the heart of the City of London.

Student sits on the floor to paint a piece of the set for Beasts of London

Guildhall School is a vibrant, international community of musicians, actors and production artists in the heart of the City of London.

Ranked as number one in Arts, Drama & Music by the Complete University Guide 2025, one of the top five institutions in the world for Music and Performing Arts in the QS World University Rankings 2024, as well as the number one higher education institution in the Guardian University Guide music league table, we deliver world-class professional training in partnership with distinguished artists, companies and ensembles.

A global leader in creative and professional practice, we promote innovation, experiment and research, and are also one of the UK’s leading providers of lifelong learning in the performing arts, offering inspiring training for children, young people, adult learners, and creative and business professionals.

About us

Historical image of the concert hall in John Carpenter Street

Our history

Guildhall School of Music first opened its doors on 27 September 1880. Find out more about our history. 

Guildhall sign on Silk Street

Our structure

Our Board of Governors has oversight of the School, while responsibility for the day-to-day running of the School lies with the Principal, assisted by the Senior Management Team.

Teacher and student standing at a piano and smiling

Staff

We have over 700 staff; our establishment staff have expertise in higher education management and arts administration, while our teaching staff are active practitioners with strong profiles of public engagement.

Damian Lewis

Alumni

Whether you graduated last year or decades ago, we're here to help you stay connected to Guildhall School and your worldwide network of fellow Guildhall alumni. You can also find out more about people who studied at Guildhall.

Teacher and students kneeling on the floor during a class

Work with us

Find our latest job vacancies, from teaching roles to jobs in professional services.

Milton Court Exterior

Visiting us

We're based in the heart of the City of London, next door to the Barbican Centre. Although we are unable to provide public tours of our buildings there are still a number of other ways you can visit us.

Visitors use VR technology at Culture Mile Beastly Party

News

Guildhall School is a busy, vibrant institution with lots going on. Our latest announcements and events can be found here; we also regularly publish interviews with staff, alumni and visiting artists.

Browse our latest news stories

Our commitments

Lakeside terrace shot from above on a sunny day with students eating lunch and socialising outside

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Guildhall School is committed to making our institution inclusive for everyone. Find out more about the work we're undertaking to ensure this happens.

Silk Street building and Lakeside terrace in the early evening

Sustainability

Guildhall School is committed to reducing our impact on the environment. Read more about the plans we have to achieve this.