Best riverside venues for hire in London

With views of the Thames, Tate Modern, and the Globe Theatre, you’d be hard pressed to find a better location than this. The Westin offers several adaptable spaces for all manner of events, whether you’ll need AV facilities or great food and drink, the team here are ready for anything.

Kings Place is a striking, multi-purpose venue near King’s Cross, housed in an award-winning building overlooking Regent’s Canal. It offers impressive, flexible event spaces, including the on-site Rotunda restaurant, which offers a large waterside terrace and serves excellent beef and lamb from its own Northumberland farm.

BONE is a restaurant famous for its ‘keep things simple’ philosophy, offering a single, concise menu of comforting, indulgent dishes. Exclusive hire of the restaurant includes the rear, canal-side terrace, which looks out onto one of London’s most serene stretches of water at Regents Canal and Kingsland Basin.

Moored on the Albert Embankment, Tamesis Dock boasts incredible views across London, including the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, and Battersea Power Station. Choose to hire the entire boat, or opt for a single deck for a more intimate experience. Additional features include a TV screen, bespoke lighting, and AV capabilities. Basically, it's kitted out for a proper party.

Never mind riverside, Thames Luxury Charters comes armed with three distinctive vessels available for private hire, sailing down the Thames. Guests enjoy bespoke catering, fine wines, and panoramic views of London’s iconic skyline as they cruise past landmarks, making it an unforgettable riverside experience in the heart of the city.

A contemporary riverside hotel, Park Plaza Riverbank offers several flexible event spaces across 24 floors, which can be adapted to various events. With 645 stylish rooms, an indoor pool, and the award-winning Chino Latino restaurant, it’s also ideal for conferences, receptions, and private events for up to 660 guests

Sitting right on the edge of the water at Canary Wharf, Crate Brewery offers inside and outside hire for large groups, and specialises in relaxed events like birthday parties, engagement celebrations, drinks receptions and the like. Beer is a speciality of course, but Crate also does excellent pizzas - hand-rolled and stone-baked to order.

Set just 50 metres from the Thames, Watermans is a versatile pub venue with varied spaces for hire. Upstairs, the private dining room hosts 18 for seated dinners or 25 for standing events, while the main dining area accommodates up to 70 standing. The charming Garden Room, meanwhile, hosts 30 guests, complete with access to the outdoor patio.

From the top floor of the iconic OXO Tower, you’re in for spectacular views across the Thames. The flagship OXO Tower Restaurant provides a refined experience with modern British cuisine and impeccable service, while the Brasserie offers a more relaxed setting with classic dishes. Plus, there’s an alfresco terrace for sundown cocktails.

A riverside venue with close-up views of Tower Bridge? It doesn’t get much better than that. Vicinity comes with an outdoor terrace, featuring fire pits, a retractable roof, and all-important riverside views. Take over the entire restaurant for 120-person dinners, or just go for the Terrace with 100 standing for snacks, delicious cocktails, and impressive views.

Yes, this one’s a little outside London, but a fantastic riverside venue is always worth the travel. The Wharf is perfect for corporate events, private dining, and parties, accommodating up to 300 guests. With tailored menus and personalised service, The Wharf is a stellar choice for those occasions that deserve to be remembered.

This impressive riverside venue boasts seven unique spaces, alongside a pledge of sustainability with its ‘green packages’ available for your upcoming event. The River Room is the best spot for Thameside views, offering a sleek, blank-canvas option for up to 180 guests. 

Set right on the edge of the Thames with sweeping views across West London, Fulham Pier is one of London’s most impressive, cutting edge venues. Inside you’ll find a huge variety of spaces for hire, many of which boast river views through floor-to-ceilng windows. There’s even a Water’s Edge room, with a terrace that takes you right out over the Thames.

Once home to royalty, Hampton Court Palace is a truly unforgettable venue. The site has played host to lavish celebrations over the centuries, from gala dinners to festive banquets and historic meetings. State rooms, grand staircases, cobbled courtyards and riverside views make the venue one of the country’s most impressive palaces.

Fishmongers’ Hall’s breathtaking views of the Thames and London Bridge are just part of the draw of this historic venue. Inside, the Greek Revival styling is jaw-dropping, and it’s impossible not to be awed by the towering, barrel ceiling of the Banqueting Hall. The Court Dining Room boasts the best riverside views, if that’s what you’re after.

Set right on London’s South Bank beside Waterloo Bridge, the BFI offers a standout riverside setting right on Queen’s Walk, with unbeatable transport links. Its event spaces overlook the Thames, making it an ideal spot for gatherings of any size - from intimate suppers to lively receptions - all just moments from the river’s buzz.

Mercato Metropolitano Wood Wharf looks right out onto the still waters of Canary Wharf, from within the tranquil enclosure of landscaped gardens. The entire estate has capacity for up to 15,000 people, spread across five unique spaces, making Mercato ideal for the biggest of large-scale events. That said, there are lots of smaller spaces too, as well as fresco hire in the gardens overlooking the wharf.

This island venue is about as riverside a location as you could hope for, offering scenic views from every angle. Located just outside of Surbiton, Raven’s Ait is a truly unique spot that provides a complete escape for your event. The Marquee here sits against the banks of the river and has space for a party of up to 250.

Royal Gunpowder Mills is set inside an old gunpowder factory, nestled in the marshes and canalways of Waltham Abbey. This distinctive venue is perfect for creative workshop and corporate away days, with loads of large spaces for hire, including a theatre, gallery, light-filled cafe and a huge open grass meadow, with room for up to 1000 guests.

Steeped in a rich history, each of the rooms at the Tower of London’s has its own story: the White Tower houses the armour of Henry VIII, while the Medieval Palace makes a great summer party space. Plus, with picturesque views of the Thames, this venue really has everything.

Though it might be a little further from the centre, this Lee Valley venue comes with a laid-back atmosphere, plenty of team-building activities, and a private terrace for drinks receptions. All in all, whether it’s a corporate summer party, a social event, or a meeting, it’s worth going the extra mile.

As the name suggests, Bingham Riverhouse boasts a spectacular spot right on the Thames, with stunning gardens that back right out onto the river’s edge. The building combines two 19th century Georgian townhouses for hire, but there are also cosy Garden Domes available to hire for up to ten guests, as well as a beautiful Garden Room - ideal for BBQs and bespoke dining.

A standout riverside venue, you'll find Hawksmoor Wood Wharf set on an eco-friendly floating pavilion with panoramic water views. The venue offers flexible event spaces, including a heated waterside terrace, private dining rooms, and a lively bar, ideal for everything from corporate gatherings to celebrations. 

One of British history’s most famous ships is permanently in dry-dock near London Bridge, but it sits right by the water’s edge. Hire includes use of all five decks of the ship, from the hold to the upper deck, the latter of which is glorious for summer celebrations. You can also organise dinners in the hold for groups of up to 48.

The views at Swan London, next to Shakespeare’s Globe are appropriately dramatic from this waterside location. The bright, top-floor Balcony Room is a private space that looks out to the river and St Paul’s Cathedral, while a level below, the River Room showcases the Thames through double-aspect windows.

Permanently moored on the River Thames, Battersea Barge is a converted Dutch barge boasting three spacious desks and gorgeous views over the water. Choose to take over the whole space, or just one deck, depending on your party size, with options for live DJs, a projector and stage performances. And if you want to keep the party going, head onto sister site Tamesis Dock which stays open until 1am. 

Events in this British landmark’s historic spaces will resonate with groups both large and small. Situated on a Unesco World Heritage site, the Houses of Parliament hosts memorable events for guests across its varied spaces. Right next to the Thames, the all-weather Terrace Pavilion marquee offers close-up views of the river.