The best 40th birthday party venues in London

From personal experience, we know the Crispin team are event-making specialists. This East London restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor hire, hosting it all from drinks and canape events to full-on feasts in the private dining room. Take over the dining room with 40 seated or 100 guests, and make the most of seasonal plates.

Complete with a private bar, comfortable atmosphere and brilliant sound systems, this plush red venue is sure to imbue a sophisticated vibe. Taking cues from late-night Paris, food follows French classics, with the option to create a bespoke menu. If you’re hoping all your guests will get their glad rags on, Mistress of Mayfair is just the ticket.

If you’re worried about a stuffy, gentleman’s club vibe, don’t worry. The Groucho Club was founded as an alternative to just that. Instead, it’s a haven for creatives, offering several beautiful, elegant, and quirky spaces for hire. It even has a snooker room, in case you’re hoping for something more relaxed.

Award-winning Asian cookery school turned event venue, School of Wok is great for those looking to add an interactive activity to the celebrations. Catering to groups between 18 and 32, choose from hands-on classes covering cuisines from Thai and Korean to sushi and dim sum. Don’t worry, you get to sit down and enjoy your feast.

601 Queen’s Road is a contemporary, light-soaked venue with a wrap-around terrace and a sleek, urban-modern aesthetic. Offering semi-private areas as well as full-venue hire, depending on guest count, guests can enjoy sunset views from the terrace, then move indoors to continue the party with tailored playlist options or a DJ setup.

Something of a bougie boozer, with a rep for brilliant Basque dining, we envy anyone who hosts a birthday celebration here. The Prince Arthur’s upscale ambience guarantees an elegant edge to the festivities, plus the team can offer buffet options for standing events, as well as a full sit-down meal in The Restaurant Above.

Specialising in glitz and glamour, The Maine Mayfair’s extravagant brasserie offers a clubby cabaret club. It’s a stunner, but this venue comes with myriad options, including a speakeasy-style Tavern with a cosy old-world feel, a secret private bar concealed behind a mirrored wall, and The Drawing Room - a laid-back space with an airy feel.

An understated gem on Clapham Common, No 32 The Old Town's warm interiors (all timber, leather banquettes and glowing bar-light) create an inviting environment for mid-sized birthday gatherings. There’s a private upstairs for exclusive hire, complete with its own bar, and the kitchen can provide everything from curated canapés to a full dinner service.

The Phoenix Arts Club is a theatrical, cabaret-style venue ideal for birthday parties with a private club atmosphere, performances, or live music. It delivers on all fronts. Plus, the team can provide it all from live music and full cabaret shows, to karaoke, walking illusionists and contortionists. Food, meanwhile, is taken care of by varied package deals.