Venues with a view

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.