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etc venues County Hall
Max Meeting 400
Max Standing 700
Max Banquet 400
Riverside Building, Belvedere Road, Waterloo, London, SE1 7PB
Undoubtedly one of the most impressive of Etc Venues’ 15-strong portfolio, this riverside property occupies the County Hall building’s third and fourth floors. Hire options span flexible suites, exclusive-use wings and breakout spaces. We like the idea of hosting a conference in the sizeable County Suite before spilling out into the Thames Lounge for a drinks reception. From there, guests can enjoy uplifting views across the river to Big Ben.
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Searcys at The Gherkin
Max Meeting 140
Max Standing 260
Max Banquet 140
30 St Mary Axe, London, London, EC3A 8EP
Sitting under its glass apex, 180m up in the air, this impressive venue’s Bar & Restaurant enjoys 360° views of the capital – sunset is a particularly good time to visit. The result is a memorable space for important banquets, drinks receptions and conferences. The names of the venue’s PDRs are inspired by its sky-high location; Alto, Cirrus, Stratus, Cumulus and Nimbus are different types of clouds. Ideal for dining and celebratory gatherings, they offer great vistas from the 38th floor. Designed with flexibility in mind, small or large parties are welcome. All events are lavishly catered for with bespoke menus created by Searcys at The Gherkin’s head chef, Daniel Loftin.
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Roof Terrace & Riverside Room @ IET London: Savoy Place
Max Meeting 330
Max Standing 330
Max Banquet 330
2 Savoy Place, Covent Garden, London, WC2R 0BL
The Johnson Roof Terrace at the refurbished IET London: Savoy Place offers up a memorable Thames backdrop for barbecues and summer parties. It makes a fine extension for events taking place in the adjoining third-floor Riverside Room – the place for large-scale networking events, receptions and dinners. Stages and dancefloors are easily set up and, for smaller groups, the room can be split into five spaces. It has its own private balcony too.
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Hutong
Max Meeting 24
Max Standing 340
Max Banquet 100
Level 33, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, Southwark, London, SE1 9RY
A couple of floors above Aqua Shard, its Chinese sister Hutong has amazing views from the Shard’s 33rd floor. Based on the hip Hong Kong establishment of the same name, the place is inspired by the imperial cuisine of old Peking. The traditional interior nods to the Anglo-Chinese tea trade, and its two red-lanterned private dining rooms continue the theme. Exclusive hire is an option, and you can add Aqua Shard to take the overall standing capacity to 700.
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ArcelorMittal Orbit
ArcelorMittal Orbit
Max Meeting 140
Max Standing 270
Max Banquet 140
3 Thornton Street, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E20 2AD
The UK’s tallest sculpture is home to the world’s longest tunnel slide. Book one of the ArcelorMittal Orbit’s two sky-high event spaces, or its canopy-protected outdoor space, and you can add on the ride of a lifetime for each and every guest. With panoramic city views and a late licence, this is a special venue for business breakfasts through to evening drinks receptions and gala dinners – whatever your group’s mode of departure.
Southbank Centre
Max Meeting 295
Max Theatre 2500
Max Standing 300
Max Banquet 950
Belvedere Road, Southbank, London, SE1 8XX
This landmark cultural centre comprises the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Hayward Gallery. While the latter two are being refurbished (they are set to reopen early this year), the Festival Hall is open for business and makes an impressive space for big conferences and product launches. St Paul’s Roof Pavilion on the sixth floor is good for smaller groups, while the Weston Roof Pavilion suits relaxed business gatherings with striking views.
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Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire
Max Meeting 100
Max Standing 120
Max Banquet 72
31-36 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LH
Smack bang in Leicester Square, this smart hotel’s location is hard to beat. The venue offers a variety of small-to-medium-sized event spaces in a five-star setting. Its Penthouse Suite can host conferences, using the latest AV equipment, with impressive views of the London skyline adding to the appeal. Other notable spaces include Private Room 5, which is set up for HD screenings and presentations with cinema-quality surround sound.
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Strada Southbank
Max Meeting 200
Max Standing 250
Max Banquet 160
337-338 Belvedere Road, Southbank, London, SE1 8XX
Italian restaurant group Strada made its name serving fresh pasta and authentically thin and crispy pizzas at a time when they were rarely seen on the British high street. Today, its menus are familiar, but their comforting impact is the same. At the recently refreshed South Bank branch, groups can choose between the main dining room, an outdoor terrace and Foyles, a private area named for the famous bookshop next door.
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National Theatre
Max Meeting 100
Max Standing 400
Max Banquet 100
South Bank, Southbank, London, SE1 9PX
The South Bank’s National Theatre can accommodate a wide range of events, from conferences and dinners to product launches and hospitality in its foyers, restaurants and private meeting rooms. The theatre’s exclusive rooftop events space, with views across the Thames and London, is currently being revamped and will reopen later this year. Events packages can be tailored to include performances, backstage tours, workshops and drinks receptions.
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Sea Containers Events
Max Meeting 215
Max Standing 600
Max Banquet 150
18 Upper Ground, South Bank, London, SE1 9RQ
One of the big openings of 2017, this South Bank venue at the top of the Sea Containers building turned heads with its 2,300sq m of event space and killer river views. The Cucumber restaurant is the standout space, but the private dining room – with its balcony and sight line to St Paul’s Cathedral – is particularly popular. Those cityscape views get even better on the roof terrace. Catering is by Green & Fortune: expect seasonal and locally sourced food.
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The Yacht London
Max Meeting 35
Max Standing 250
Max Banquet 100
Temple Pier, Victoria Embankment, Blackfriars, London, WC2R 2PN
Permanently moored at Temple Pier, The Yacht London is a characterful 1927 steam vessel available for hospitality bookings. A 3am licence means parties can last way into the night, while its central location gives views of some of the capital’s iconic landmarks, including Big Ben and the London Eye. The alfresco Top Deck is the place to book in summer, and there’s the option to hire spaces in conjunction with one another.
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The View from The Shard
Max Meeting 120
Max Standing 400
Max Banquet 50
Joiner Street, London, SE1 9EX
Found at the top of The Shard, 244m above the capital, The View is an event space that justifies superlatives: the Renzo Piano-designed building gives guests 40-mile views in all directions. The View has two viewing platforms: Level 69 and Sky Deck on Level 72, which together can hold up its maximum in summer months, or 100 less for the rest of the year. Breakfast events are popular, as are evening networking and cocktail parties as the sun sets.
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The Deck
The Deck
Max Meeting 120
Max Standing 170
Max Banquet 100
National Theatre, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX
Sitting on the roof of the National Theatre, The Deck has been recently refurbished in time for 2018 summer events. The new space is wrapped in glazed panels, which means panoramic views of London can be enjoyed both inside and out on the terrace. State-of-the-art AV from the theatre’s Sound and Lighting departments means that conferences, away days and product launches will go without a hitch, while an in-house catering team looks after dinners and receptions.
CentrEd at ExCeL
Max Meeting 184
Max Standing 400
Max Banquet 230
1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL
Within Excel London, Centred is a state-of-the-art events facility for conferences, networking, training and meetings. Its spaces are easily configured to suit individual group sizes, incorporating up-to-date tech such as ceiling-mounted data projectors, internet stations and built-in AV services. Work done, delegates can take part in Europe’s largest escape game, Locked in a Room. Post-conference barbecues with views over the Royal Docks are another option.
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Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge
Max Meeting 40
Max Standing 250
Max Banquet 120
Tower Bridge Road, Southwark, London, SE1 2UP
Tower Bridge’s entertaining spaces may come as something of a surprise. A refurb has added a glass floor to the high-level Walkways linking its towers, giving fine views 42m above the river. A great spot for a private party, then. The Victorian Engine Rooms provide an atmospheric setting for drinks and dinner, while the North Tower Lounge works well for intimate lunches or evening events; with full AV, it’s also suited to daytime meetings.
Aqua Shard
Max Meeting 22
Max Standing 360
Max Banquet 180
Level 31, The Shard, London Bridge, London, SE1 9RY
London – all of it – is the backdrop to any event at Aqua Shard, on level 31 of western Europe’s tallest building. Even the toilets come with a view. A distinctly British theme runs through the venue, from the Liberty-print banquettes to a menu big on home-grown ingredients. There’s a spacious private dining room if your event is a little more exclusive, or the semi-private Gin Wing for larger affairs. Its little sister, Tea Wing, is another glass-clad event space.
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The Landmark London
Max Meeting 512
Max Standing 750
Max Banquet 504
222 Marylebone Road, Westminster, London, NW1 6JQ
This is one of the most sought after places in town for afternoon tea thanks to the Winter Garden, which showcases The Landmark London’s opulent Victorian design. The same stateliness echoes through its Grand Ballroom (high stucco ceilings, white-marble columns), which turns conferences and banquets into elegant affairs. Our pick of the 11 event spaces is the Tower Suite: with its grey-velvet chairs, it’s a striking spot for private dinners or high-level meetings.
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QEII Centre
Max Meeting 2500
Max Standing 1200
Max Banquet 930
Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London, SW1P 3EE
This purpose-built Westminster venue is no stranger to high-profile clients. Its 32 event spaces hold up to 2,500 delegates, and conferences and exhibitions work well here. A major refurb, including a renovated façade, new breakout spaces and improved lighting, was recently completed. We’re big fans of the Churchill, whose slightly raked seating means everyone gets a good view. The larger rooms work well for banquets and drinks receptions.
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Roast
Max Meeting 100
Max Standing 200
Max Banquet 110
The Floral Hall, Borough Market, Stoney Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 1TL
Roast has an enviable location in the glass portico above Borough Market with fine views of The Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral and the market itself. The restaurant is set over two floors, with views of its busy kitchen. Roast is a staunch advocate of British food and drink, with menus focused on sustainability. Available on an exclusive or semi-private basis, the venue is a good spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The bar can be hired for canapé receptions.
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Royal Garden Hotel
Max Meeting 550
Max Standing 800
Max Banquet 430
2-24 Kensington High Street , Kensington, London, W8 4PT
The five-star Royal Garden Hotel towers above Kensington Gardens, with spectacular views from its 10th-floor restaurant and many of the bedrooms. Event spaces range from meeting rooms equipped with up-to-date AV to large banqueting suites. The Balmoral and Highgrove rooms are popular for board-level meetings, while the Palace Suite suits grand affairs. It has its own entrance and bar with the potential to be split in two for multi-stage events.
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Bokan
Max Meeting 40
Max Standing 75
Max Banquet 40
40 Marsh Wall, Canary Wharf, London, E14 9TP
Modern design meets Docklands heritage on the top three floors of the newly built Novotel Canary Wharf – the tallest all-hotel building in Britain. Bokan matches UK-sourced food and European menus to industrial interiors in its 37th-floor restaurant. One level higher, its relaxed bar is a champion of locally distilled spirits. But the knockout space is floor 39: a laid-back alfresco roof terrace with its own specialist gin bar and 360° views across London and beyond.
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Illuminate at the Science Museum
Max Meeting 400
Max Standing 450
Max Banquet 400
Science Museum, Exhibition Road, Kensington, London, SW7 2DD
In February 2019, the events offer at the Science Museum will receive a new crowning glory. On floors four and five of the South Kensington landmark, purpose-built Illuminate will be a blank-canvas venue able to handle large-scale conferences, receptions and dinners. A panoramic window will define floor five, bringing fine city views and abundant natural light. Moving Venue has been appointed caterer; White Light will look after AV. Illuminate will be available for daytime and evening hire.
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The Crystal
Max Meeting 270
Max Standing 720
Max Banquet 190
1 Siemens Brothers Way, London, E16 1GB
This Royal Victoria Docks venue was built to showcase green technologies (it generates its own energy), but it’s also a state-of-the-art events venue. Beside the main Auditorium, a range of light and bright meeting rooms work well for events from workshops to product launches. For receptions, try the open-plan Street, and if you need more space, hire the interactive Exhibition with it. Tours can be built into event programmes.
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King's Venues Bush House
Max Meeting 395
Max Standing 400
Max Banquet 120
30 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4BG
Once home to the BBC World Service, this Grade II-listed King’s College London property in Aldwych has been refurbished to offer a versatile selection of event facilities. The Auditorium is where large-scale presentations and product launches are best delivered, while its Arcade handles the pre and post drinks. For private dinners, we like the eighth-floor hospitality suite, which has north- and south-facing terraces with views out over the London skyline.
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The Marylebone Hotel
Max Meeting 84
Max Standing 150
Max Banquet 88
47 Welbeck Street , London, London, W1G 8DN
You’ll find this contemporary Doyle Collection property in the middle of quaint ‘Marylebone village’. Recent additions are the Number Six spaces (two meeting rooms and a private bar), while 2017 saw the completion of The Marylebone Rooms – a set of event spaces designed to have the look and feel of a members club. Expect modern art and colourful furnishings alongside hi-spec AV and a fetching outdoor space. The Marylebone Suite – with its 40sq m terrace – works well for summer entertaining.
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Min Jiang
Min Jiang
Max Standing 20
Max Banquet 20
2-24 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London, W8 4PT
Min Jiang continues to win plaudits for its authentic cooking and all-round appeal: the Chinese restaurant’s lofty position on the 10th floor of the Royal Garden Hotel affords sweeping views over Hyde Park. Groups should check out the Chong Qing room as a space for private dinners and drinks. The room is shielded from the main space by a glass wall and shelves decked with elegant Ming vases. Don’t miss the kitchen’s speciality: wood-fired beijing duck.
IET London: Savoy Place
Max Meeting 34
Max Theatre 451
Max Standing 330
Max Banquet 330
2 Savoy Place , Covent Garden, London, WC2R 0BL
The refurbished Savoy Place offers increased capacity and cutting-edge tech. We like the idea of the Kelvin Lecture Theatre – with its original mahogany panelling – for presentations and product launches. Check out the Turing Lecture Theatre upstairs for a more contemporary feel. Our favourite spaces are the Riverside Room and Maxwell Library, which have fine views over the Thames. The Johnson Roof Terrace is made for summer parties.
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Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London
Max Meeting 120
Max Standing 140
Max Banquet 100
31 St Thomas Street, London, London, SE1 9QU
Occupying levels 34 to 52 of the soaring Shard, this hotel’s USP is self-evident. Apart from some of the best views in London, this five-star establishment offers event space notable for its top-spec AV kit, natural daylight and dynamic design. Ren, the headline space, is suited to conferences, meetings or banquets; for private dining, check out Yi or Li. If complete privacy is needed, groups can take over the hotel’s 34th floor exclusively.
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