The great drawing room is located in the centre of the south front of the south range at Audley End, between the little drawing room and the vestibule. It was a space intended for use by gentlemen, while the ladies used the opulent little drawing room next door.

The ceiling of this room is comparable to that in the gallery at Syon, and, as at Syon, the ceiling was unfashionably low, and Adam was required to install a low dado and low furniture to try and improve the proportions of the room.

The chimneypiece design shown in Adam volume 22/131 was executed with alterations, most notably with an alternative frieze. This is the only Adam chimneypiece in the house which remains in its original position.

Adam designed the furniture for this room in 1771, and there is a drawing for the legs and frieze of the pier tables at the house.