If you wish to feel inspired at your next meeting, look no further than a unique venue. A range of landmark and heritage locations across the capital offer striking historical surroundings, stunning London views and all the necessary amenities for the perfect corporate event.
For meetings large and small, these beautiful settings are both relaxing and motivating, and provide adequate space for catering, AV services and additional teambuilding activities upon request.
Here are eight extraordinary venues guaranteed to keep delegates focused and stimulate their minds:
The British Library Boardroom, once used for just library executive meetings, has been available for exclusive private hire since 2017. Used by the library for important filming, contract signing and VIP visits, the Boardroom can also be hired for meetings. Seating up to 32 guests, the magnificent room is carefully looked after by the British Library Conservation Centre, with its silk walls and paintings reflecting the library’s history.
The room benefits from a soundboard for optimum acoustics, a retractable projector screen, Wi-Fi and laptop connection. The Boardroom is on a private floor with no public access, offering guests a unique and exclusive place to share ideas.
The Foundling Museum, conveniently located near Russell Square, King’s Cross St Pancras and Euston stations, has two large available spaces for hire that are ideal for meetings, away days and workshops.
The Creative Studio is a purpose-built, contemporary room designed by award-winning architect practice Jestico & Whiles. It is comfortable, bright and airy. The Study Studio is a south-facing, light and inspirational space, decorated with a mural by award-winning poet Lemn Sissay. Both spaces are ideal for a range of events and are available to hire any day of the week, with in-house AV equipment and Wi-Fi.
The whole museum is available for exclusive hire before 10:00 for breakfast and all day on Mondays, facilitating use of all of the galleries as well as both studios. Larger groups can therefore be subdivided for either a company away day or for a small conference when multiple sessions require more than one space.
The National Gallery’s meeting rooms are flooded with natural daylight and have integrated AV. Its world-renowned collection, however, is what makes it inspirational. Guests can have early access to the galleries before the crowds enter. This opportunity is a great way to help delegates reflect and recharge before their day begins. Whether meeting among serene Venetian masterpieces or watching the sunrise from the Portico terrace, delegates can find peace in the quiet and beautiful surroundings.
The Gallery also offers stimulating activities to improve mental wellbeing that can be worked around a daytime meeting. Delegates can hone their concentration by delving deep into the Gallery’s masterpieces. Taking inspiration from the colours, brushstrokes and depictions, experts will lead a meditative ‘slow looking’ of the paintings to help focus delegates’ minds.
In all, the Gallery’s central location, excellent transport links and 600-year-old collection make it the perfect venue for daytime meetings.
The Clive room is a stunning space within the Royal Albert Hall, boasting lots of natural daylight and views of Hyde Park and the Prince Albert Memorial. It can host a total of 12 people and is perfect for business meetings, as the space is intimate, exclusive and self-contained. It also has its own cloakroom, bathroom and kitchen for any potential catering.
The décor is designed by renowned interior designer Nina Campbell, which reflects the elegance of the rest of the Hall while also making it a very unique space.
Wren House offers magnificent views across the Royal Hospital’s gardens and out towards the Thames. Recently refurbished, it presents itself as a perfect space for more intimate gatherings and dinners or business meetings.
A bright and naturally lit southern-facing space, it comprises one plenary space for 40 pax in any orientation alongside two breakout spaces for up to 15 pax in each for separate workshops, brainstorming sessions and team-building activities. The space also offers two medium spaces, as an optional extra, on the first floor, ideal for additional breakout spaces.
The venue is offered for a half or a full day, depending on the programme, at very competitive rates with the added uniqueness of the beautiful grounds and service included.
For those who feel their office meeting space is slightly dull, the iconic Tower Bridge offers something a little bit different.
The intimate yet versatile North Tower Lounge will without a doubt make teams work productively. Steeped in history, the Lounge shows off the venue’s original architecture, in addition to exhilarating views of Tower Bridge and the River Thames through the dramatic Victorian neo-Gothic style windows.
Guests will also have complimentary entry to the Tower Bridge Exhibition during public opening hours, which includes the stunning Walkways with panoramic views over The Thames and London Skyline. They will also have access to the historic Engine Rooms which house the steam engines that were previously used to power the bridge lifts. The Tower Bridge events team can help guests arrange fun and memorable team building activities as well.
Copyright Matt Chung
Guildhall has an abundance of inspirational meeting spaces. With so much history, heritage, culture and tradition, the venue’s ten versatile event spaces are guaranteed to inspire guests.
From the Great Hall built between 1411-1440, a space of both past and present cultural and civic significance, to the historically fascinating 2,000-year-old Roman Amphitheatre, Guildhall is full of interest and intrigue. For those who appreciate the arts, the venue boasts an impressive art gallery, which serves as a thought-provoking and interesting backdrop for receptions. For those who enjoy literature, the Old Library provides a world of curiosity with its homage to famous writers such as William Shakespeare. When enjoying an event in the space, guests can immerse themselves in this previous home to 126,000 books.
The variety of Guildhall’s enchanting event spaces ensures that delegates, guests and clients engage even deeper with their experience at the venue, inspiring discussion and debate, and enhancing the event to ensure it’s a memorable occasion for everyone involved.
Pelham’s is an innovative venue in the Warner Stand, the newest building at the traditional Lord’s Cricket Ground, and is a perfect space for meetings. Featuring pioneering architecture and floor-to-ceiling sash windows, the space has a unique atmosphere, streams of natural light and magnificent views of the ground.
Guests can be inspired by the iconic J.P. Morgan Media Centre, the hallowed turf on which England’s men and women have both celebrated World Cup wins, and which features award-winning catering.
Environmentally aware, Lord’s uses 100% renewable power, segregates and processes waste onsite and donates edible leftover food to charity.