for the premises at Burlington House, and if they cannot pay then they will face eviction. The imposition of higher rents on the Courtyard Societies who are reliant on charitable funds and membership income is set to bankrupt them unless they leave, effectively ending 150 years of joint intellectual effort and public scientific meetings at Burlington House. Negotiations between the Courtyard Societies and the MHCLG under Robert Jenrick continue as of 2020. Present occupants Burlington House is most familiar to the general public as the venue for art exhibitions from the Royal Academy. The academy is housed in the main building at the northern end of the courtyard. Five learned societies occupy the two wings on the east and west sides of the courtyard and the Piccadilly wing at the southern end. Collectively known as the Courtyard Societies, these societies are as listed below: Geological Society of London (Piccadilly/east wing) Linnean Society of London (Piccadilly/west wing) Royal Astronomical Society (west wing) Society of Antiquaries of London (west wing) Royal Society of Chemistry (east wing) Burlington House has been listed Grade II* on the National Heritage List for England since February 1970. Public access The courtyard of Burlington House, known as the "Annenberg Courtyard", is open to the public during the day. It features a statue of Joshua Reynolds and fountains arranged in the pattern of the planets at the time of his birth. The Royal Academy's public art exhibitions are staged in nineteenth-century additions to the main block which are of little architectural interest. However, in 2004 the principal reception rooms on the piano nobile were opened to the public after restoration as the "John Madejski Fine Rooms". They contain many of the principal works in the academy's permanent collection, which predominantly features works by Royal Academicians and small temporary exhibitions drawn from the collection. The east, west and Piccadilly wings are occupied by the learned societies and are generally not open to the public unless for attending public lectures or academic exhibitions by appointment. See also Burlington Estate 6 Burlington Gardens References David Pearce, London's Mansions (1986). . External links Burlington House – arts and sciences in the heart of London – The Burlington House lectures represent a joint interdisciplinary initiative organised in conjunction with the Royal Academy and the five learned societies that occupy this historic building. Survey of London – very detailed coverage of Burlington House from