Business

Events

What is the pricing structure for the Science Museum's business spaces?

Venue hire rates start at £3,000 + VAT for the Smith Centre (daytime hire 07:00-17:00), with the Flight gallery at £8,750 + VAT and Illuminate at £20,250 + VAT for full day hire (07:00-23:30). The Science Museum operates as dry venue hire only, meaning all catering, furniture, and AV are additional costs provided by accredited suppliers.

What is included in the venue hire and what are the mandatory additional costs?

Venue hire includes the space and basic furniture (banqueting chairs and cluster furniture where specified). All catering, AV equipment, and additional furniture must be provided by the museum's accredited suppliers at extra cost. There are no packages - all services are bespoke and quoted separately by suppliers.

Who are the required suppliers and can I use my own vendors?

The Science Museum works exclusively with accredited suppliers including Benugo/Moving Venue for catering, White Light for AV, and Twilight Trees for decorations. External suppliers are not permitted - all services must go through their approved supplier list. AV has minimum spends that vary by space and requirements.

What are the capacity limits for different business event setups?

The Smith Centre accommodates up to 40 people for meetings with multiple rooms (Salon, Large meeting room, Boardroom, outdoor courtyard). Flight gallery holds up to 400 for seated dinner or 350 with a stage. Illuminate spans levels 4 and 5, providing flexible capacity for conferences and events with both natural light and LED-focused environments.

What are the standard operating hours and access times?

Standard daytime hire runs 07:00-17:00, with evening hire extending to 23:30. Setup access begins at 07:00, guest arrival typically from 09:00, and all guests must be offsite by the specified end time. Early access fees may apply for supplier setup before standard times.

What is the booking process and payment timeline?

Events require site visits and contracts to be signed before confirmation. For events within two weeks, site visits must occur by Wednesday with contracts signed by end of Thursday. Agency commission is 10% on venue hire only (not AV), must be claimed within two months of the event, and is only paid once all invoices are settled.

What payment methods are accepted and are there any fees?

The Science Museum accepts Mastercard with no fees but does not accept American Express. All pricing is quoted excluding VAT at 20%. Payment terms and invoice raising occur after contract signing for venue hire.

Are there restrictions on event types or specific requirements?

Events must be invitation-only with registered guests on arrival. The museum requires details about how events will be advertised and whether they are seated or standing. Some spaces can be closed to the public on limited dates throughout the year, and full museum hire options are available.

What budget should I expect for a typical business event?

For a 300-person daytime conference, expect around £30,000 total budget including venue, catering, and AV. Smaller events like 40-person meetings in Smith Centre start around £4,500 + VAT for venue hire, with catering and AV as additional costs through required suppliers.

What AV and technical capabilities are available?

White Light provides all AV services with minimum spends varying by event size and requirements. Standard setups include projectors, screens, microphones, lecterns, and sound systems. More complex productions for awards ceremonies or conferences require site visits to determine exact costs and technical specifications.