The Science Museum

The primary event space is called Illuminate, spanning levels 4 and 5 of the museum. It functions as a blank canvas space that can be transformed for various events, offering both abundant natural light with stunning City views and a cutting-edge LED-focused environment within one versatile space.

Illuminate costs £20,250 + VAT for full day hire from 07:00-23:30. The Science Museum operates as dry venue hire only, meaning all catering, furniture, and AV equipment are additional costs that must be provided by their accredited suppliers.

The museum works with specific accredited suppliers: White Light for AV and lighting (bespoke lighting designs and state-of-the-art sound), Moving Venue for catering (festive dishes and drinks), and Twilight Trees for decorative elements. All suppliers must be selected from their approved list.

Access for setup begins at 07:00, guest arrival typically from 09:00, with all guests required to be offsite by 23:30. The venue can accommodate events until midnight for special occasions, but standard hire concludes by 23:30.

The Smith Centre is another event space available for £4,500 + VAT for daytime hire (07:00-17:00). It includes The Salon, Large meeting room, The Boardroom, outdoor courtyard, and banqueting chairs & cluster furniture, with Benugo recommended for catering.

For a 300-guest daytime conference, clients need around £30,000 total budget. Venue hire rates start at £9,000, with the Flight gallery costing £8,750 + VAT, indicating substantial additional costs for catering and AV beyond base venue hire.

Events require signed contracts before venue hire invoices can be raised. For events only two weeks away, site visits must occur on Wednesday with contracts signed by end of Thursday. The museum accepts Mastercard with no fees but does not accept AMEX.

The Flight gallery can accommodate up to 400 for seated dinner or 350 for dinner with a stage. Illuminate's capacity varies by setup, and the Smith Centre works well for smaller groups of 30-60 people depending on the specific requirements and layout.

Agency commission is offered at 10% on venue hire only (AV is non-commissionable). Commission must be claimed within two months of the event date and will only be paid once all invoices relating to the event have been settled.

Every corporate event hosted at the Science Museum contributes to breaking down STEM barriers and making science accessible to all. The venue combines world-famous exhibitions with unique gallery spaces in South Kensington, London's cultural heart, offering an educational legacy alongside the event experience.