Best large summer party venues in London

If you’re looking to impress your guests, then the Johnson Roof Terrace at IET London: Savoy Place may be the venue for you. With space for up to 200 guests, you can take to the terrace and marvel at the 180° views of London’s iconic skyline, whilst dining on plenty of delicious canapes and bowl food.

London 2012 put London Stadium on the map, but since then it has become one of London’s premier large event venues. A variety of spaces vary in size, but The Great Briton and The Academy are bright, modern spaces, with capacity for up to 230 and 450 respectively. Or check out The Forge - a striking, modern space with a panoramic glass wall on one side, and room for 400 guests.

With a range of global cuisines all under one roof, Arcade Tottenham Court Road is perfect for a big bash where you’re feeding a lot of people and you want to provide options. Exclusive hire gives you capacity for up to a whopping 400 guests, with spaces including a games room, private bar and outdoor terrace.

Three bespoke crazy golf courses, a host of bars and street food vendors and room for a whopping 800 guests - Swingers should always be in consideration when you’re organising a big event. The team offers a huge range of packages for big groups, so you’re in good hands here.

The Tower of London is famous for its ancient vaults, armouries and towers, but there are also outdoor spaces for hire at this historic venue. The Tower’s newest space is The Reveller - a contemporary out-building nestled under the arches of Tower Bridge, with private riverside terrace and beautiful skyline views. And of course, there’s always the Tower of London moat area, with capacity for up to 2,000 people.

The highly Instagrammable Langham Hotel boasts one of the largest private garden spaces in London’s West End - a gorgeous, south-facing 250-capacity courtyard with climbing greenery and enough space to host a banquet or a standing drinks reception. As well as the space you also have the exceptional Langham events team on hand to help you organise your do, which is a treat in itself.

What more is there to say about Hampton Court Palace? Built for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in 1514, then handed over to King Henry VIII, this is one of the most majestic venues in the country, and has played host to many historic events over the years. If you’re planning a big outdoor summer party, take a look at the tranquil 20th Century Gardens, or the spectacular Fountain Court, built for William III and Mary II in the early 1700s.

Just minutes away from the hubbub of Oxford Circus, this four-storey Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse is a flexible and elegant space, with a variety of rooms to suit all occasions. By far the most impressive, though, is the bright and airy Orangery and attached Courtyard Garden. The two combine to have a max capacity of 280, and are equipped with lighting, PA systems, multiple screens and a private entrance.

Who needs a holiday in the Caribbean when you can have your very own beach in London? Play games, build sand castles, bury your mates and relax on the beach area, or in the colourful VIP beach huts. There’s an indoor area available as well in case the weather gets a bit dicey, and the City Beach events team can help out with organising street food and entertainment.

Sitting right on the banks of Teddington Lock, The Wharf has the large al fresco space you need for a big summer party. You can host around 300 people across both floors of this bright, airy space, and the menu focuses on fresh fish and seafood, which is perfect fodder for summer.

Grade-I listed Inner Temple makes a striking space for any event, but with a total capacity of up to 600 it’s perfect for big summer parties. The venue’s gardens are available to hire in May, June and July as well - ideal for a big garden party.

Grade II-listed Goodenough College sits within the confines of a pretty garden square in Bloomsbury, but within the college’s red brick walls you’ll find the Quad - a beautiful manicured lawn, which is the perfect tranquil, secluded spot for garden parties in the summer months. 

Without a doubt, The Barbican’s rooftop conservatory is one of London’s best kept secrets. This beautiful verdant space is totally incongruous with the rest of the Barbican’s concrete jungle - it houses exotic fish and over 2,000 species of tropical plants under its glass roof. Its treetops are overlooked by the large Conservatory Terrace, while the Garden Room on level three works well for drinks receptions, dinners and small awards ceremonies.

If you’re planning a huge summer party, you can’t go wrong with one of the world’s most famous stadiums can you? Wembley’s Great Hall hosts up to 2,000 guests on its own, and there are plenty of other large spaces for big gatherings, many of which are flexible and well equipped. You can even take a private tour that includes the dressing rooms and the pitch.

Nothing says summer like cricket, and Sixes makes it ultra-accessible, letting you and your guests smash some boundaries whilst enjoying easy-going diner food and cocktails. Sixes is great for casual events where you want guests to relax and let loose, and exclusive hire of the whole venue is plenty big enough for a few hundred guests.

Thames-side Sea Containers offers a host of different spaces to accommodate every possible type of event or party, but it’s the rooftop terrace that’ll interest you most if you’re organising a big summer bash. You can get 200 people on the Sea Containers roof and enjoy 360 degree views of Central London.

The totally secluded garden at Stationers’ Hall is one of the City of London’s greatest hidden treasures. With space for up to 150 standing, this serves as a refreshingly tranquil space for any outdoor party or events.

Always dreamed of having your own island? Raven’s Ait Island is surrounded on all sides by the River Thames, and though it’s just a ten minute walk from Surbiton station, the island has the feeling of a complete escape and tranquillity. There is a selection of suites available for hire, but in the summer you can also rent the whole island - a perfect, secluded green space for around 400 people to get away from the big city.

The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), a six-acre estate in Finsbury Park, is a historic events venue with a list of impressive spaces, but most notably, its large garden boasting both modern and traditional surroundings. It also gets extra points from us for being easy to travel to, as it sits just a stone’s throw from Liverpool Street Station.

Yes, you can hire Will and Kate’s official London residence for your garden party. The glass-fronted Pavilion can hold up to 800 guests and opens up onto the immaculately manicured outdoor spaces, which include the palace’s famous sunken garden. When it comes to décor and catering, Kensington Palace runs its events in conjunction with preferred suppliers, so you can relax knowing you’re in good hands.

Iconic department store Harvey Nichols has something special on the fifth floor, a flexible dry-hire space called CANVAS, which can be turned into almost anything with enough time. CANVAS has hosted anything from fashion launches to networking events over the years, and it’s well-equipped with state-of-the-art AV tech and high speed WiFi.