The Greater London region spans an area which incorporates the City of London and her 32 surrounding boroughs, all of which provide an inexhaustible variety of first class conference, meeting and event venues for meeting planners to choose from. The UK’s undoubted conference hub not only boasts a superior range of event venues including contemporary conference and exhibition centres, sporting venues, stately homes, historic buildings, academic venues, luxury hotels and more, but also offers delegates the buzz and vitality of a cosmopolitan, world class capital city infused with heritage, culture and tradition as well as diversity, modernity and fun!
Here, meeting planners will always find the perfect venue to suit even the most demanding requirements whether catering for vast conferences, hospitality events and banquets, teambuilding and corporate activities on land or water, intimate meetings, corporate retreats, or romantic weddings. There are traditional, historic, modern, sumptuous and unusual venues to choose from allowing for even the most unique needs to be met with flair and ease.
Of course, an additional benefit to hosting events in our exceptional capital city is the ease with which both national and international delegates can reach their meeting destination given the excellent transport links available to and around the city and surrounding area. The motorway network, rail links and world’s largest underground subway system combined with 5 major airports, Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City, provide easy and convenient access by all modes of transport.
There is no denying that London offers meeting planners and delegates alike everything they could possibly want! Venues here are second to none, facilities and service are of the highest standard, and the city itself provides a magical backdrop to any event held here. The only difficulty comes in choosing one single venue given the overwhelming choice available.
It may be easier to reach a decision by looking at categories of venue and seeing how they meet the needs of the particular event. For instance, there are several dedicated conference, exhibition and training centres across Greater London and so those seeking a versatile venue with experience in hosting large conferences and events would do well to consider Earls Court Conference Centre, ExCel London, the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Olympia, Business Design Centre, Kensington Conference & Events Centre, the ILEC Conference Centre and the multi-purpose O2 Arena to name but a few outstanding examples.
Illustrious sporting venues across the region also provide exemplary conference and banqueting facilities alongside capacity for large delegate groups such as the famous Wembley Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Lords Cricket Ground, the KIA Oval, Charlton Athletic, Chelsea FC and Emirates Stadium whilst academic venues such as the Institute of Education, Westminster University Regent Street Campus, Imperial College London Conference & Events and the University of Greenwich are also well equipped to provide meeting and training rooms of various sizes alongside lecture theatres, conference halls, exhibition spaces and banqueting suites.
London is of course popular for its heritage and royal connections, therefore those seeking an exceptional venue to provide a majestic backdrop for their corporate event should consider historic venues such as The Grand Connaught Rooms, Chelsea Old Town Hall, The Royal Horseguards and One Whitehall Place, the Tower of London, Kensington Palace and Alexandra Palace. Such exquisite venues are sure to leave delegates speechless.
Alternative cultural venues come in the form of museums, galleries and arts centres such as the modern Kings Place, Sadler’s Wells, The Barbican, the Science Museum, Merchant Taylors Hall and British Library.
For a more unusual venue with unconventional ‘wow’ factor event organisers should consider London Zoo, the London Wetland Centre, East Wintergarden, a striking glass covered atrium, or Altitude London where the breathtaking panoramic views create a most memorable setting.
Greater London of course comes complete with an abundance of high quality hotels catering for both tourists and business travellers alike including iconic landmarks such as The Ritz and The Dorchester as well as extraordinary alternatives such as The Tower, The Charing Cross, Thistle Marble Arch, the Hotel Russell, The Landmark and Park Plaza Riverbank. Major hotel groups represented in Greater London include All Seasons, Apex Hotels, Argyll, Baglioni Hotels, Chester Boyd, Corinthia Hotels, Four Seasons, Hilton, Grosvenor, Guoman Hotels, Mercure, Novotel, Red Carnation Hotels, Starwood Hotels and Wyndham Hotel Group.