London's best unusual Christmas party venues

Inject some friendly competition into this year's festivities and get the team racing at F1® Arcade - there’s a private hire space for 90 available, complete with private bar and a load of gaming chairs, so everyone can get behind the wheel of a virtual F1 car. With a range of food packages available too, F1® Arcade has something for everyone.

Christmas at a beach club might seem like an unorthodox move but Limin’s Caribbean food and rum-based cocktails are guaranteed to keep the chill away. Besides, half the world has Christmas in the summer - just pretend you’re on holiday and swap the sand for snow, or get everyone in Limin’s cosy Rum Bar for some expertly-made cocktails.

One of the key things when looking for a venue for office Christmas parties is the size - and Hilton London Metropole is certainly not short on space. With a capacity of up to 1350 people, there is ample room to get the festivities started, plus various drinks packages to keep it going all night.

This low-lit private hire playground plays on a unique and mysterious atmosphere, with walls covered in curios like children’s dolls and Venetian masks, and a Moulin Rouge-themed stage which hosts live acts on many nights. It’s the perfect private hire Christmas spot if you’re looking for something a bit different, and TSQ has two private dining rooms for smaller gatherings, as well as AV equipment for karaoke, supported on an 85-inch TV screen.

If you’re in charge of the Christmas party and are looking to create something memorable, why not test out everyone’s cooking skills at The Avenue Cookery School? This south west London based culinary hub will tick off the activity and dinner in one hit, as well as promoting a bit of healthy competition among colleagues for best chef.

Inamo’s private hire Onyx Room combines cutting edge tech and easy-going pan-Asian food to make something completely unique. A pair of 65-inch screens can be used for anything from live sport and films to console gaming, and there’s karaoke available too. Plus, the tables themselves are touch sensitive, so you can use the table surface to play touch sensitive arcade games like air hockey and Space Invaders.

This impressive marquee fits up to 1500 for receptions and 650 for seated dinners, making it an ideal spot for an unusual corporate Christmas do. There’s enough room for you and all your guests inside, plus performers such as stilt walkers, fire breathers and aerial silk gymnasts. The Big Top is fully temperature controlled too so no need to worry about the weather.

The Grade-II listed London Transport Museum is one of Covent Garden’s most recognisable landmarks, but did you know you can have a Christmas party here? There are multiple spaces inside available for private hire, but none more unique than the Museum Galleries, where guests are immersed in London’s transport history before being treated to a traditional Christmas banquet.

Electrowerkz may well be the ultimate party venue for those looking for a big night out this festive season. It’s made up of five rooms, comes complete with stages perfect for DJs and it’s licensed until 5am - oh and there’s capacity for 350 people, so there’s no need for anyone to miss out.

The Postal Museum doesn’t sound like the most exciting place to spend Christmas, but don’t judge until you’re aboard the special passenger train that snakes through the Post Office’s secret 100-year-old subterranean mail railway. The main festivities can take place in the huge underground depot, which has been restyled as an impressive blank-canvas events space.

Nothing screams Christmas quite like competing against your colleagues in a Squid Game inspired challenge, right? Try something different this festive season and dive into a fully immersive experience at Sandbox VR. For smaller teams of up to 6 players, you're able to physically interact and communicate with each other in this mind boggling virtual reality. It'll definitely be one to remember.

Just a minute's walk from Oxford Circus station, Swingers West End couldn’t be better placed for Londoners in search of a bit of crazy golf action. The West End site boasts three mini golf courses, as well as a huge range of private rooms for large and small gatherings and street food from well-known brands like Patty&Bun and Pizza Pilgrims.

London’s famous DC-inspired restaurant is an automatic pick for any unusual venues, largely thanks to The Monarch Theatre, where guests are wowed by an 11-course tasting menu, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling screens and 360-degree projection mapping that immerses the group in Park Row’s unique Batman-themed experience. There are more rooms available too, all with their own specific DC themes.

Christmas in a castle? Sounds alright to us. Le Gothique’s Disney-esque turrets and spires make it an almost fairytale-like setting for Christmas. Inside it’s full of character too, with a fantastic, award-winning bar and a hidden walled garden. Keep your fingers crossed for snow to complete the storybook Christmas.

Clay pigeon shooting, 4x4 off road driving, quad biking and duck herding are just some of the unusual activities on offer at The West London Shooting School - all guaranteed to get you and your group into the festive mood! Once you've built up an appetite, get stuck into bacon rolls, pigs in blankets, and a proper Christmas lunch.

Ever fancied trying your hand at curling? The Curling Club makes this unusual winter sport accessible for all, packaging up a shortened curling lane with plenty of drinks and snacks to keep the team going, as well as burgers and hot dogs for those with bigger appetites.

Like Swingers West End, Swingers City is a massive crazy golf venue that has it all when it comes to hosting Christmas parties. Standard packages include a round of mini golf plus food and drink, and there are a wide variety of large and small private areas available to hire for your Christmas festivities.

The Barbican’s Conservatory and Garden Room is definitely up there for one of London’s most impressive, unique venues; it’s amazing that this rooftop conservatory - home to over 2,000 species of tropical plants and exotic fish - isn’t more well-known. Enjoy festive drinks under the conservatory’s jungle canopy, or head to the Garden Room for a Christmas banquet.

Start warming up your vocal chords and sing your heart out this Christmas. Lucky Voice Soho is the perfect place to host this year's Christmas party with private karaoke rooms available for up to 30 people. Now offering a whole new menu of festive finger food, and even Christmas pizzas complete with turkey and pigs in blankets. 

Spark a bit of competition this festive season at Pitch and challenge your colleagues to play some of the world’s most famous golf courses. With a variety of different levels, from novice to expert, all the team can enjoy this state of the art simulation. Offering bookings for up to 120 guests, it’s a great choice for larger parties who want something a little different this Christmas.