Exhibition venues

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.

In a Grade II*-listed former town hall, Battersea Arts Centre stands tall as a south London cultural hub. Currently undergoing a refurb, its Grand Hall – originally a Victorian ballroom – is accepting hires from February 2019. In the meantime, there are 12 more rooms on site for meetings and networking. For social events, there’s the living room-style Waiting Room, or the light, airy Members’ Library, which has its own anteroom.

The former residence of prime minister William Gladstone is now home to the British Academy, which under its venue moniker, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, offers 11 rather grand event spaces for hire. Period features contrast with abstract art and up-to-date tech, providing rooms ready for modern business needs. In 2016, the venue added the book-lined Lee Library to its lineup of spaces, which lends its regency character to evening dinners.

Renowned for its social work, music and architecture, this iconic church can also be hired for events. Its seven spaces range from meeting rooms to an underground crypt whose vaulted ceiling creates a special atmosphere for receptions, dinners and launches. St Martin’s Hall, with its double-height ceiling and oak-panelled walls, is a standout space for formal functions and conferences. The venue also has an in-house catering team and a 2am licence.

Europe’s largest arts and conference venue boasts world-class facilities. The tiered Barbican Hall and Barbican Theatre have good sight lines, fine acoustics and adjoining foyers. Three auditoria are also on offer, with adjacent conference suites. Elsewhere, a trio of banqueting rooms can be used together – a popular combination being the Conservatory and Garden Room (a plant-filled oasis). The Exhibition Hall has a versatile 1,800sq m of space.

Home to the National Education Union, Hamilton House is a light and spacious venue with a dozen rooms purpose-built for seminars, meetings and breakout sessions. The largest space, Mander Hall, is notable for its double-height ceilings and a colourful mural running the length of the room. All spaces are fitted with LCD projectors and hi-spec conferencing equipment. Catering covers breakfast, lunch and afternoon breaks.

This popular central London venue occupies a distinctive mid-century modernist building, with event spaces that range from small, hi-tech meeting rooms to the striking 1950s Congress Hall. The latter offers a sprung-wood floor and glass ceiling, which fills the room with natural light. Besides conferences and exhibitions, it’s a good fit for product launches, awards dinners and fashion shows. Excellent AV facilities include HD 3D projection.

This King’s Road venue’s illustrious past is apparent the moment you walk through its marbled foyer. The Main Hall is a classic late-Victorian design: its ornate arched ceiling and marble columns form a dramatic backdrop for drinks receptions and dinner dances. The same space affords sizeable conferences and lectures added gravitas, while the Small Hall’s minstrels’ gallery and collection of oil paintings make it a characterful spot for a gala dinner.

The Roehampton portfolio now includes Elm Grove, a new-build conference centre a short train ride from Waterloo. It joins 18th-century Grove House and Parkstead House, adding contemporary spaces and state-of-the-art facilities to the group offer. Its main Oak Suite can be divided into three and features keypad-controlled AV. A pair of smart boardrooms work well as breakout spaces, while the top-floor Lime Tree Suite has scenic city views and its own terrace.

Home to the British Academy, this charming St James’s property offers a range of rather grand event spaces. Period features contrast with abstract art and up-to-date tech, providing rooms ready for modern business needs. The venue has just completed the refurbishment of its Lecture Room and Wolfson Room. Both have benefitted from an updated colour scheme, while the former has a new stage, making it the best spot for important presentations.