The Octagon is one of Britain's finest spaces. This vast and magnificent hall boasts a rich and beautiful acoustic. It is a part of the original People's Palace that was not damaged by the fire of 1931. It was created as a library and was based on the design of the Reading Room of the British Library, situated at the British Museum. It is over 23 metres in diameter, benefits from two cast-iron galleries that encircle the entire building. It rises to a height of over three storeys with an elegant central dome with fine central window.
Busts of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dryden, Milton, Johnson, Wordsworth, Scott and Byron are complimented by plaques to Pindar, Homer, Virgil and others. The Octagon is now used for a variety of events, not least as a rehearsal and concert space. BBC TV is a frequent visitor and several editions of Question Time have been broadcast from The Octagon.