When choosing a venue for your event, there are lots of things to consider - location, size, facilities, price, ease of access, but what really makes your venue choice stand out from the rest and excites your guests, is what experiences your guests can enjoy during the event that they will remember. Our member venues have some wonderful and unique activities you can add, including unrivalled access to gallery and museum collections with engaging expert guides, historical object handling with conservation teams, workshops around design and sustainability for fun team-building exercises, opportunities to have post conference 'knock abouts' at indoor cricket centres, wow with fiery and explosive science demonstrations, marvel at world-class dance performances and music ensembles. There is just so much to choose from that can really add value to your next event.
Image credit: A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, Édouard Manet, 1882 © The Courtauld
The Courtauld Gallery holds some of the world’s most famous masterpieces in its collection. Offer your guests a deep-dive into the paintings through The Courtauld’s unrivalled expertise.
Treat your guests to creative experiences, such as unlocking the senses with a scent and cocktail experience to bring Manet’s Bar at the Folies Bergères to life. There are many hidden secrets behind this painting that your guests may never have known!
Courtauld tours can be tailored based on your group’s specific interests and requirements, spotlighting key pieces in the our collection to thematic tours focused on interests, such as the achievements of female artists, the use of metaphors inside the works of our collection and more.
Many of our experts are alumni of The Courtauld, rated as the top three universities in the world for the study of History of Art. Our experts know our collection inside out, creating a truly special, engaging and accessible experience for all.
For further information please contact: venuehire@courtauld.ac.uk
The Museum of Brands is a hidden gem in the heart of Notting Hill and Portobello Road Market. Our permanent collection, the Time Tunnel, takes clients through a journey of time from the Victorian era all the way until modern day, showcasing 200 years of consumer culture.
We offer fun trails and quizzes based on all kinds of topics, ranging from Sustainability to Brand Evolution, which can bring your team together and enhance any visit to the Museum. We also offer Introductory Talks which give clients an idea of consumer culture history, as well as a background of the collection and our founder, Robert Opie.
We have also recently launched our Workshops for adults, which can be booked by clients who are visiting the venue and looking for some fun team-building exercises to shake up the team away days. With workshops based around Chocolate Packaging Design and Sustainability, the Museum of Brands is sure to inspire anyone keen on branding, advertising, marketing, and design! Get in touch with Francesca or Rebecca today to book in your one-of-a-kind experience!
Image credit: Richard Murgatroyd
Experience elegance and sophistication by hosting your next event at Tate. Nestled amidst breath-taking architecture, our stunning spaces serve as the perfect backdrop for creating unforgettable moments.
Immerse yourself in a world of artistic wonders as you and your guests are captivated by world-class art exhibitions. As a corporate member, you'll enjoy exclusive access to private viewings, allowing you to truly indulge in the beauty and creativity of our exhibitions. Gallery 9 is home to artistic pioneers, such as Millais, Martin and Blake. Included in your bespoke event, you can invite Tate Art Experts to share their insights and perspectives with your guests.
Whether you want a guided tour of collections, or an introduction to the latest exhibition, their contribution always adds a special touch to make your event more memorable and engaging. From our creative gastronomy to our spectacular ambiance, hosting an event at Tate promises to be a remarkable affair that will leave your guests in awe.
For further information please contact: private.events@tate.org.uk
Image Credit: MCC/Jed Leicester
Tour of Lord’s – Entertain your guests by taking them on an exclusive tour of one of the most historic sporting venues in the world. The tour, which lasts around 45 minutes, will provide your guests with an opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Home of Cricket and explore some of the most famous sights in sport. The tour usually includes the following dependant on availability; the famous Honours Boards, the Dressing Rooms, the Long Room, the J.P Morgan Media Centre and the MCC museum, which is world’s oldest sporting museum and home to the famous Ashes Urn and Prudential Trophy.
MCC Indoor Cricket Centre – Fancy a post conference ‘knock about’ at the MCC Indoor Cricket Centre? Whether it’s learning the basics, sharpening your existing cricketing skills or simply enjoying a mini-indoor match, we will have the right package to suit you. The MCC Indoor Cricket Centre is London’s premier indoor cricket destination for groups to be coached of all abilities and ages. Sessions last one hour and can be tailored to suit your numbers.
There is an also an on-site Lord’s shop that includes England, Middlesex and London Spirit replica kit and Lord’s souvenirs including mugs, hats, and stationery. These could be the perfect gift for guests of your event.
Contact us: Events & Experiences 0207616 8501| events@mcc.org.uk
The Royal Institution of Great Britain
When you have a world-famous reputation for fiery and explosive science demonstrations like they do at the Royal Institution, it’s no wonder that many of the Ri’s clients choose to start their special event with a very special big bang!
The professional Ri Demo Team can put on a show for your event, with options varying in size and volume – in both senses of the word. From turning electricity into light using a gherkin to creating a liquid nitrogen clouds, the Ri can also create bespoke demonstrations where the only limit is your imagination!
Or maybe you’d prefer some dry ice to liven up your canapes as you enjoy the splendid Grade-I listed Georgian surroundings? Or a unique guided tour for your guests from the Ri’s expert curator, illuminating the 220 year-old story of the Ri? Significant discoveries made at the Ri have shaped the modern world and changed the way we live our lives. See Michael Faraday’s original Victorian laboratory or explore where the Christmas Lectures have been held every year since 1825.
Whatever you choose, make your day special with some hands-on exploration at the home of science.
For further information please contact: venuehire@ri.ac.uk
We are delighted to announce that we are now able to offer exclusive day-time hire of the entire museum, including our iconic, triple-height atrium. This incredible opportunity allows for more flexibility around set-up times and gives your guests the chance to enjoy sole use of the museum for the day.
This is ideal for larger briefs and those needing the privacy of an entire takeover, including filming, product launches, fashion shows, exhibitions, conferences, and other events with large, creative installs.
We will share our extensive knowledge of the spaces and previous successful projects to ensure you benefit from and present the best possible, most memorable experience for your brand, audience and everyone involved.
Get in touch with our Commercial Hire & Events Team today to start planning your event: events@designmuseum.org
Why not incorporate one of our shows in your event? Sadler’s Wells strives to make and share dance that inspires us all. As one of the world’s leading dance organisations, we’re dedicated to dance in all its forms and invite you to experience all it has to offer.
Our Mezzanine Level can be easily transformed into the VIP entertaining area for pre-performance and interval drinks receptions. Show tickets can either be purchased separately or by the Events team as part of a package.
All our event delegates also get a chance to purchase tickets to Sadler’s Wells shows with a discount.
Our Digital Stage content which can be found on Sadler’s Wells website and includes taster dance workshops is available online and can be enjoyed by everyone free of charge.
Please contact our experienced events team (events@sadlerswells.com) to discuss your next project.
When you choose to host your event with us, you’re supporting Sadler’s Wells Trust and its projects.
Image Credit - Lewis Bush
Have you ever had a whole Museum all to yourself? With our Exclusive Access and Pre-Opening Museum tours guests can experience the wonders of Sir John Soane’s extraordinary collection while the Museum is closed to the public.
Our Pre-Opening tours, available at 9am every day except for Mondays, can also include additional tea, coffee and mini pastries in the Museum’s Library-Dining Room – the perfect start to a busy day exploring London’s most exclusive attractions. Both tours can also include the Private Apartments; Soane’s personal living space, painstakingly restored in 2015, which is usually only opened once a day for small number of Museum visitors.
Adding the Private Apartments to your Museum tour route gives visitors an exclusive look behind the scenes at one of the Museum’s most fascinating spaces.
For further information please contact: events@soane.org.uk
Image credit: Eileen Perrier 1 Afro Hair and Beauty 1998
Somerset House’s cultural programme is ever changing, offering client’s an opportunity to enhance their event and provide guests with an unforgettable experience.
This summer/autumn Somerset House is opening two major exhibitions. This includes BLACK VENUS, which celebrates and explores the many faces of Black femininity, with over 40 contemporary and primarily photographic artworks in the Terrace Rooms.
The Missing Thread will then open in September, examining how the cultural, counter-cultural, political and socio-economic backdrop of the 20th and 21st centuries have shaped the identity of Black style and in turn mainstream fashion culture.
Speak to the Somerset House team and discover how you can make the most of their unique offering by incorporating the programme into your event: events@somersethouse.org.uk
Image credit: Phil Rowley 2019
As one of the world’s greatest conservatoires, training gifted musicians from all over the world for international careers as performers, conductors and composers, there are numerous opportunities to enhance events at RCM with music at the heart.
The Royal College of Music offers the opportunity to hire RCM musicians for performances and atmospheric music at corporate and private events. A wide range of soloists and ensembles are available, and bookings are tailored to suit individual requirements. A high emphasis is placed on the musicians’ presentation, professionalism, and appropriate programming.
To further enhance events, the RCM Museum can be hired for intimate dinners and drinks receptions, with tours led by the expert team also available to add to any event for an exceptional and unique experience. With more than 14,000 items, the collection represents music-making over a period of more than five centuries!
To enquire about hosting a standout event at the Royal College of Music, contact the team here: venuehire@rcm.ac.uk / 020 7591 4320
Image credits: @hrp_event
Kensington Palace Dine surrounded by the Fashion exhibition of century at Kensington Palace: limited time left.
Crown to Couture | Kensington Palace | Historic Royal Palaces (hrp.org.uk)
Throughout the centuries, Kensington Palace has been the home of many stylish royals and talented artists, including Queen Victoria and Princess Diana. The palace has been greatly influenced by their presence.
Experience the most prominent fashion exhibit, Crown to Couture, which showcases iconic dresses worn at events such as the Met Gala and Grammy Awards. You can also take a trip into the past with the widest surviving court gown.
Looking for an exclusive dinner venue? Kensington Palace's State Apartments provide the perfect setting for a truly unique event surrounded by the fashion show of the century. Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience as Crown to Couture ends this November!
For further details please contact: kensingtonpalaceevents@hrp.org.uk
Royal Museums Greenwich is a unique collection of five historic venues: the National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House, Royal Observatory, Peter Harrison Planetarium and Cutty Sark. United by the theme of innovation, our venues are home to pioneering architecture and astrology, British art, and a rich maritime history.
Special experiences are available to event guests across all our sites, including an exciting ‘Climb the Rigging’ experience at Cutty Sark; private Planetarium shows with an Astronomer at the Peter Harrison Planetarium; Telescope viewings at the Royal Observatory; and the chance to explore the priceless Van de Veldes exhibition at the Queen’s House.
At the National Maritime Museum, event guests can explore the Astrophotography Gallery, which is the perfect networking space for corporate events. Our knowledgeable Blue-Badge Guides and character actors are bookable for events; while Corporate Partners have exclusive access to our world-renowned collections and expert curators, as well as many other benefits.
For further details please contact: events@rmg.co.uk
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Be a touch away from history at Hampton Court Palace
Experience Object handling with our conservation team.
Today's fantastic collection of artefacts throughout our palaces includes various things, from furniture to furnishings, books, manuscripts, and more. Covering many periods of history relating to the lives of those who lived within the palaces tells such amazing stories.
With a conservation team caring for over 60,000 objects, we can specially arrange for a selection of objects from our collections to be presented to guests, with a conservator on hand to talk about their history.
Or why not have one of our expert curators come and speak to your guests about the palace itself? And learn more about architectural decoration, features and royal portraits.
This is an unforgettable experience for guests when they get intimate with the many things the palaces have to offer and feel like they are also becoming part of the history and stories told.
For further details please contact: hamptoncourtpalaceevents@hrp.org.uk
Image credits: @hrp_events
Private viewing of the Crown Jewels
Private tours | Tower of London | Historic Royal Palaces (hrp.org.uk)
The Crown Jewels is a world-famous collection of treasures, including over 100 sacred objects and over 23,000 gemstones. English Coronation Regalia is at the heart of the Crown Jewels collection – the sacred objects many of us witnessed being used in the coronation ceremony.
The Tower of London is a popular tourist destination due to the significance these jewels have in British history and public life. Our private tours, which our expert warders host, allow you to beat the crowd and hear about many unknown stories, legends and traditions surrounding these magnificent regalia.
This special opportunity of viewing the crown jewels at your own pace will give your guests something to remember and is available both morning and evening. It can be offered as a unique standalone experience or in conjunction with one of our event spaces.
As the ‘home of architecture’ RIBA at 66 Portland Place has much to offer event organisers beyond architecturally stunning event spaces, and spacious outdoor terraces.
If you really want to make the most of hosting an event in RIBA’s headquarters, the venue features a regular roster of temporary exhibitions with the option to add a private viewing onto an event. RIBA’s exhibitions programme looks closely into architectural movements, styles, and ideas throughout history. Its current summer exhibition - ‘The Architect has Left the Building’ - presents a dual-screen film installation, weaving together moments of architectural joy and intimacy drawn from professional archives of renowned photographer and filmmaker Jim Stephenson. A display celebrating this year’s RIBA Royal Gold Medallist Yasmeen Lari is also currently running.
Guests attending events at 66 Portland Place are also welcome to explore the RIBA Library, home to collections ranging from 15th century illustrated texts to the latest architectural journals and photographs from around the world. Additionally, RIBA’s Café, designed as a nod to the architectural style of the Bauhaus movement, offers a dedicated space to meet and socialise pre or post event.
To enquire about hosting an event at RIBA at 66 Portland Place, contact the team by emailing venues@riba.org or calling 020 7307 3888
Image credit: Matt Chung Photography
As the home of human ingenuity with award-winning exhibitions, iconic objects and stories of incredible scientific achievement, there are plenty of opportunities to ensure guests enjoy a unique and memorable event experience at the Science Museum.
Let your guests dine within one of the galleries such as Flight where they can get up close to full sized planes and model aircrafts, enjoy a private tour of the museum’s collections with one of the museum’s talented explainers, or give them the opportunity to explore the galleries after-hours at their leisure.
The events team have also recently announced the option to hire the entire museum exclusively on limited dates throughout the year – a museum takeover, which includes the gallery spaces, is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on guests and create an experience that will live long in the memory!
To enquire about hosting an unforgettable event at the Science Museum, call 020 7942 4350 or email venuehire@sciencemusuem.ac.uk
Image credit: Matt Chung Photography
The British Library is a truly unique space for your event – home to a vast collection of the nature’s treasures and situated within London’s Knowledge Quarter, this Grade I listed venue is a space like no other.
Animals amaze, fascinate and delight us. Now, in a major new exhibition, you can see how documenting the animal world has resulted in some of humankind’s most fascinating art, science and sound recordings. Animals: Art, Science and Sound is now open at the British Library, so why not treat your guests to a special private view of the critically acclaimed exhibition? For an extra charge and by request only, the team can tailor private views and talks to the theme of your event – perfect for a memorable evening!
To learn more about our selection of awe-inspiring spaces, get in touch with the Central Events Team: centraleventsteam@bl.uk
RCP London Events is so much more than just a space for events.
We offer unique experiences that can add value to any gathering and boost the wellbeing of delegates and visitors. For those looking to destress and connect with nature, our garden tours are a must. Led by senior physicians from the Royal College of Physicians, these tours take visitors through our beautiful Medicinal Garden which has a unique collection of over 1,000 plants that offer living examples of the history of medicine from the era of the pyramids of Egypt to today’s life-saving prescription drugs.
Our rich heritage and architecture are also highlighted in our museum talks. From medical artefacts to paintings and silverware, our collections reflect the changing nature of medicine and the RCP's role throughout the centuries.
Our knowledgeable museum team offers an array of tours and talks, introducing delegates to the RCP's library of John Dee, anatomical art, and so much more.
These experiences are the perfect complement to any event, either in person or online.
For further details contact: events@rcp.ac.uk
The 200-year-old Museum of London Docklands is the perfect setting to create a unique event experience by virtue of its incredible collections which showcase the long history of the capital as a port.
Tours of the galleries as an add on for events are available form £250+VAT per guide per tour (subject to availability) and are an ideal way to bring the museum’s collections and stories to life. For events taking place in the galleries themselves, actors can also be hired to mingle with guests and really set the scene of a time gone by!
The museum also regularly hosts temporary exhibitions which can be incorporated into events, whether for a drinks reception or private viewing. Opening in October, Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners Shaped Global Style celebrates the Jewish designers who dressed everyone from Bowie to Bond. The museum is re-creating a swinging Sixties Carnaby street boutique, alongside a more humble workshop from the height of the rag trade in east London, with the exhibition available for private event viewings until April 2024.
Contact the events team for more information or to enquire about hosting an event at the museum: venuehire@museumoflondon.org.uk / 020 7814 5789
Image credit: Trustees of NHM
At the Natural History Museum, we love it when our clients want to incorporate the Museum into their event, and with a collection of over 80 million specimens, over one million books and half a million artworks exploring the history of the natural world, not to mention the building itself, there’s a lot of inspiration.
Our clients have the opportunity to enhance their event with a number of tours, talks and behind-the-scenes sneak peaks, delivered by our world-class scientists and science educators. They can explore everything from the Museum’s pioneering scientific work and conservation to human evolution, the deep blue sea, architecture, and of course dinosaurs.
Our Sprit Collection tour is particularly popular, as clients are able to get up close to our fascinating zoology collection preserved in spirit, including specimens collected by Charles Darwin and Archie, our 8.62-metre-long giant squid.
So for your next event, why not meet the people and specimens behind our brilliant Museum.
For further information please contact: venues@nhm.ac.uk
Frameless is London’s first permanent digital immersive art experience and the UK’s largest. Its four galleries showcase some of the world’s greatest works of art presented on a scale and in ways you’ve never seen before. It is also London’s most sought-after event space having hosted events for New Balance, Hublot, ITV and Estee Lauder since it opened in October last year.
Frameless can transport you and your guests to anywhere your imagination wishes to take you, from having dinner in the vineyard that produced the wine your guests are drinking, to an intimate gathering on the shores of Lake Vancouver. With its state-of-the-art technology coupled with an on-site team to help you through the process of creating content, Frameless is a truly unique space to host your next event.
For further information please contact: events@frameless.com
Image credit: Storyett Photography
Two Temple Place is a hidden gem in the heart of London boasting a rich history to go along with its impressive décor.
Two Temple Place was completed in 1895 and is a stunning example of neo-Gothic architecture. Built for American businessman William Waldorf Astor, then the richest man in the world, it was primarily used as his estate office after he moved to London.
No expense was spared and no two details are the same, from the incredible carvings up the staircase to the secret panels hidden in the library there are so many secrets to discover at Two Temple Place.
A unique aspect of our venue hire is we can provide house historians to mingle with the guests or provide bespoke private tours of the house.
We find this is such a wonderful way of telling the story of this fascinating house and allowing guests to discover the secrets of Two Temple Place.
For further details please contact: Events@twotempleplace.org
Private Tours Of Harrow School
Harrow School sits in a beautiful 300 acre leafy estate in north west London and is steeped in history.
Private guided group tours lasting 90 minutes can be arranged on almost any weekday in term time or in the summer holidays.
Visitors will get to see some of the most spectacular and historic rooms and buildings at the School including the Fourth Form Room, Speech Room, Chapel and War Memorial Building, amongst others, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide.
This fascinating tour offers the chance to get a real behind-the-scenes look and learn more about world-famous Harrow School and its history, including its use as a film location for some very well-known films and TV series, and to hear stories about some interesting Old Harrovians, including Winston Churchill and others, and what their time at Harrow was like.
https://www.harrowschoolenterprises.com/tours/private-tours/