London is home to some of the best galleries and cultural institutions in the world. Art centers don’t just cater for the history experts and connoisseurs. Large brands and multinational companies are regularly on the search for unique venue spaces to host their product launch parties and press conferences. Hosting a charity function or a creative gathering in a gallery is actually budget-friendly. Some of the very best galleries in the city are often available at surprisingly cost-effective budgets, especially if you’re smart with dates.
Galleries and their spacious and sophisticated décor, are suitable a range of events. Corporate conferences, product launches, exhibitions, parties, social gatherings and elite private events can all take the spotlight. The endless aisles peppered with antiques and priceless artworks by world-renowned artists along with state-of-the-art furnishings all create an inspiring backdrop. Excellent technical support is available the success of your event is assured.
We have compiled a list of some of the best gallery spaces for hire in London. These cater for both private and public events.
The Royal Society
The Royal Society boasts some of the best and most elite art gallery spaces in London. You can host professional meetings and glamorous events here. Set within the stately expanse of Carlton House Terrace, the site has a set of venues suitable for private and public functions. The building is known to have hosted some of the most important seminars of the scientific world.
The Wolfson Suite, situated near the historic library, is both antique and elegant. The conference rooms provide a panoramic view of Waterloo Gardens and are ideal for small meetings and workshops. The Welcome Trust Lecture Hall and the City of London rooms are popular sections of the building. The air-conditioned space has huge floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s perfect for exhibitions, award functions and elite dinners.
The advanced audio-visual equipment coupled with projectors, screen and webcasting facilities are well-suited for conferences accommodating up to 300 delegates . The Kohn Centre and Marble Hall are chic, stylish spaces decorated with rich paneled marquetry and portraits of former presidents of the Royal Society. The Venetian décor sets a spectacular backdrop for dinner parties and receptions with 100 guests. The Council Room is the smallest and ideal for private conferences for 27 guests.
Affordable catering and a team of event planners make sure your event is an affair to be remembered.
Congress Centre
The Congress Centre is an architectural delight located in central London. It’s just short walk from Oxford Street, Covent Garden and Soho. There are 16 high tech state-of-the-art spaces, each with a different décor, for different events; conferences, seminars, parties, award dinners, fashion shows, fine dining and exhibitions. The versatile venue can accommodate up to 850 people.
Understandably, it is a popular choice for both personal and professional functions. There are four meeting rooms complete with AV equipment, projectors, screens and internet connectivity. The Council Chamber is the largest and is ideal for hosting conferences and workshops. The room features a large cherry-red wooden table surrounded by plush chairs that can accommodate 63 people.
The Congress Suite is a new addition to the building; the dining space can house 200 people at a time and is suitable for hosting banquets and corporate dinners. The spacious, airy room is sparsely furnished with 1950s parquet flooring, a huge blank canvas wall on the side and cylindrical columns. The suite is often booked with the Congress Hall and can be used as a breakout area or catering space. The Invasion suites are self-contained spaces, complete with a toilet and reception area and are ideal for training programs and seminars. The Marble Hall, on the other hand, is total sophistication and is therefore suitable for launch parties, award functions and cocktail receptions.
Emmanuel Centre
Among the most popular gallery venues for hire in London is the Emmanuel Center. It’s located directly in the middle of the city, beside Westminster Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Renowned architect Sir Herbert Baker built the historic red brick building sometime in 1928. Back then the Emmanuel Centre was part of an evangelical church.
Today, the site is Grade II listed. It has incorporated several modern amenities and all the latest technologies. There are three function rooms, the largest of which can hold a maximum of 1,000 guests. The smallest rooms are suitable for more private gatherings for up to 250 people.
Emmanuel Centre caters for many kinds of events. These can include corporate meetings, social events and exhibitions. The centre strikes the perfect balance between old-school décor and modern-day amenities. This makes it a popular choice for both personal and professional functions.
The Main Auditorium (huge enough to accommodate 1,000 people), is spacious and sophisticated. It combines the best of traditional and contemporary décor, with its extensive glass dome, arched windows and English Oak panel windows.
The adjacent halls, though more compact, are no less elegant in their furnishings and they feature large archways and Tuscan ceilings. The Lower Halls are suitable for holding workshops and other smaller meetings. The rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art furnishings, projectors, screens, computers and in-house HD AV equipment. This wide range of event spaces make Emmanuel Centre one of the best gallery spaces for hire in London.
11 Cavendish Square
11 Cavendish Square is located in the middle of London’s West End, close to Oxford Circus. The Georgian town house has retained much of its original design. There are 20 unique event spaces spread across four floors. These include conference halls, auditoriums, lecture theatres, boardrooms and a spacious courtyard garden for outdoor gatherings.
The Maynard Theatre can accommodate 165 delegates while the smallest of all, the Marlborough Theatre, caters for intimate gatherings of around 80 people. Organisers can pick from four adjacent rooms too. These are equipped with projectors and screens. The Burdett Suite located near the Orangery is suitable for elite parties and large-scale public conferences. The Orangery is a spacious open space, surrounded by orange trees and citrus smells. The open spaces and gardens are more suited for relaxed, intimate gatherings while the interiors cater for professional meetings.
The lush and enchanting courtyard is well-designed for hosting reception parties, relaxed private meetings and elite events. Cavendish Square combines the best of the historical and the contemporary. The meeting halls are equipped with the latest technical features and retain much of their old-school charm. You can even hire the venue for personal celebrations like high-end dinner parties, wedding receptions and family functions. It is one of London’s most sought-after gallery spaces to hire, for both sophisticated commercial events and intimate ceremonies. And with a team of event planners at your disposal, everything from the decorations to the food served is perfection.
Welcome Collection Conference Centre
Welcome Collection Conference Centre is a short walk from Euston Road, Kings Cross and St. Pancras International Stations. It is a famous charitable institution known for its cutting-edge artwork displays and stunning venue spaces.
This public venue features a conference hall, three exhibition galleries a library, café and a bookshop. The centerpiece of the conference facilities, the Henry Welcome Auditorium and the Williams Lounge can accommodate 154 guests. PA systems, microphones, projectors, cinematic screens and lecterns are available. There’s a team of technicians on-site for any last-minute glitches too.
The four meeting rooms, namely Franks, Steel, Dale, and Burroughs, are suitable for small meetings. These rooms can seat up to 70 people and are flexible in their décor with ceiling-mounted projectors, screens and a variety of room layouts. These rooms are suitable for private screenings and receptions.
There are two permanent galleries – Medicine Man and Medicine Now. Both these galleries aim to integrate and explain the past and the present in terms of the health and medicine. The halls exhibit a series of temporary but fascinating exhibitions every year, attracting people from across the world. Hire these galleries for a drinks reception or casual gatherings, giving your attendees a truly unforgettable experience. The venue even offers clients a team of professional designers, engineers and architects who will take care of everything from table top decorations to the catering.
The Bottom Line
Small gallery spaces add to the aesthetics of an event. Use a modern art piece as an ice-breaker to strike up conversations at a drinks reception. These venues doesn’t just add to the quality of an event; they enhance your company’s overall reputation too. Stylish, chic and contemporary, these venues offer both the evergreen charm of antiques, the excitement of modern installments and the advanced technical support available for events. These London galleries provide a striking backdrop for events.