The best gala dinner venues in London

The Westin’s slick, modern Ballroom has room for banquets of up to 200, and includes a private entrance, cloakroom and washroom, providing complete privacy for all your guests. It can be divided too, in case you’re planning a smaller gathering, or you want separate reception and dinner areas.

If you want to impress, royal palaces are guaranteed to do the trick. Kensington Palace has lots of historic rooms suitable for gala dinners, including the recently renovated Orangery, which features huge arched windows and capacity for 200 seated dinner guests.

Without a doubt one of the most breathtaking venues in London! The majestic Great Hall, with its Ruben's painted ceilings, huge columns and Baroque design, can pack in an impressive 380 seated guests. Or, choose the cosier Undercroft space for 120 (banquet style), complete with grand archways, snug corners and ambience aplenty. 

Pan Pacific offers a luxurious setting for gala dinners, accommodating up to 360 guests in the piller-free Pacific Ballroom. Expect state-of-the-art technology, customisable lighting, and a separate kitchen for external catering. With dedicated event experts and a prime City location, Pan Pacific ensures a memorable and sophisticated gala experience.

The stupendous Grade I-listed Mansion House is sure to blow your guests away, located in the City near the station of the same name. Check out the lavish Egyptian Hall if you’re planning a large-scale dinner. It can host nearly 400 between its towering pillars and decorative domed ceiling.

Armourers' Hall boasts four rooms available for hire, but its wood-panelled Livery Hall is the largest and most atmospheric. Standout features include a gothic barrel-vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows and hanging brass candelabra, with guests invited to dine by real candlelight. There’s also a grand piano for special performances, if required.

Glaziers Hall’s Banqueting Hall does what it says on the tin, but there are more options inside this impressive riverside venue, many of which boast impressive views of the Thames. We love the London Bridge Arches room as well, situated among the renovated Georgian brick arches underground.

We hate to have favourites, but The Banqueting Hall at this historic venue is without a doubt one of the most impressive spaces in London. While it boasts a myriad of spectacular original features, from ornate gold ceilings to stained windows, it‘s also fully equipped with state-of-the-art AV and IT capabilities. Host up to 200 seated guests here.

What could be more impressive than hosting a fundraiser at The Tower of London? The New Armouries Banqueting Suite has been built for such occasions, presenting a relatively contemporary space that still provides easy access to the more historic areas of the venue. There’s also the more modern Reveller, which looks out onto the Thames through large panoramic windows.

Inner Temple Hall has capacity for 240 dinner guests within its walls, and a talented catering team handles all the food and beverage on the evening, leaving you with less to worry about. From May to July you can also hire the huge gardens - the second largest private green space for hire in the City.

This 18th century Georgian townhouse has a huge range of private event spaces spread over four floors, but gala dinners are often held in The Great Room - a stunning 130-seater hall with a domed glass ceiling.

Host your gala dinner in one of London’s most iconic cultural historical buildings. The Royal College of Music has trained and hosted some of the most important musical composers in history: from Holst to Turnage. Opt for the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, featuring a stunning Flentrop Orgelbouw organ, for an event with wow-factor.

This luxury Mayfair hotel sits in a perfect spot for you to gather guests from far and wide, and boasts a huge, well-equipped ballroom that seats up to 650 guests, complete with stage and curtains at one end of the room and a private entrance.

Situated on Level 58 of the City of London’s tallest building, Horizon 22 elevates gala dinners to new heights. Perfect for charity or corporate events, guests indulge in immersive surround sound and exquisite Searcy menus, all while enjoying breathtaking 300-degree views of the city.

Hidden underneath Shakespeare’s Globe, The Underglobe is one of London's most impressive under-the-radar event spaces. Able to host up to 250 seated guests, it’s well-suited to large events, with its own private riverside entrance, AV equipment, and an experienced events team to bring your gala dinner to life.

Event venues don’t come more impressive than the Houses of Parliament. The historic Churchill Room and Members’ Dining Room are both large enough for a memorable gala dinner, but the more modern, river-facing Terrace Pavilion is also worth checking out.