You can't hire that. Or can you? London's most recognisable buildings aren't just for tourists and history books. Many are available for corporate events, and they come with the kind of wow factor your guests will talk about for months.
From a World War II battleship to a baroque masterpiece with Rubens on the ceiling, these aren't your standard conference venues. Here are nine London spaces you probably didn't realise you could book for your next event.
1. HMS Belfast
Yes, you can hire a warship. HMS Belfast sits permanently moored at London Bridge, offering everything from the Admiral's Quarters for intimate boardroom meetings to the open-air Jubilee Deck for summer receptions with 360-degree views of the Thames. The Morgan Giles Room handles sit-down dinners for 60 or standing receptions for 90, while full ship hire works for groups up to 250. The historic setting delivers instant impact without sacrificing practicality: you get AV, in-house catering and an events team who know the space inside out.
Location: London Bridge
Capacity: 250 Reception
2. Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge gives you two completely different spaces depending on your needs. The Walkways sit 42 metres above the Thames with panoramic views stretching from Canary Wharf to St Paul's, perfect for standing receptions up to 250 or seated dinners for 120. The Engine Rooms below offer something more intimate and atmospheric: Victorian coal-powered engines as a backdrop for private dinners up to 60. Both spaces come with proper AV kit and in-house catering, so you get the landmark setting without logistical headaches.
Location: London
Capacity: 250 Standing
3. University of London Venues
Senate House delivers art deco drama in the heart of Bloomsbury, with spaces that work hard across different event types. The 375-seat Beveridge Hall handles everything from conferences to gala dinners, while Chancellor's Hall offers a more intimate alternative for up to 150. You get upgraded AV, award-winning catering from Gather & Gather and transport links that make sense: Russell Square is five minutes away, Tottenham Court Road 10. The building's been in Bond films and inspired Orwell's Ministry of Truth, so your guests get architecture with serious presence.
Location: Bloomsbury
Capacity: 1250 Standing
4. London Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum sits in Covent Garden's former flower market, offering two distinct spaces that work across multiple event types. The 110-seat Cubic Theatre delivers professional presentations and screenings with 4K DCP playback, Dolby surround sound and an integrated lectern, while the Museum Galleries handle everything from 150-guest seated dinners to 600-person standing receptions among iconic red buses and vintage tube carriages. You get complimentary museum access for guests during breaks, in-house catering from Benugo and a technical team who know the kit inside out. Covent Garden tube is on your doorstep.
Location: Covent Garden
Capacity: 600 Standing
5. The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple brings serious history to your event without compromising on practicality. The Elizabethan Hall seats 260 for dinner or handles standing receptions for 400, complete with in-house catering and built-in PA. You get stained glass, centuries-old architecture and a memorable setting just steps from Temple tube. The venue comes with accredited suppliers for everything from florals to AV, plus an events team who'll ensure you work within heritage guidelines while delivering your occasion.
Location: Temple
Capacity: 750 Reception
6. The Postal Museum
The Postal Museum in Farringdon gives you something most venues can't: a built-in activity. Your guests can ride the historic underground Mail Rail tunnels, turning an ordinary away day into something they'll remember. The space itself works hard across formats: The Courtyard handles standing receptions for 120 with its living wall and outdoor area, while the Mail Rail tunnels accommodate up to 275 for atmospheric evening events with controllable lighting and exposed brick. You get in-house AV, flexible layouts and evening availability from 5pm to midnight (1am on weekends). It's central, it's distinctive and it solves the 'what will make this event different' question before you've even started planning.
Location: Farringdon
Capacity: 275 Standing
7. Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground delivers 21 flexible spaces across a sporting icon in St John's Wood, making it memorable before your guests even walk in. The President's Box handles intimate gatherings for 60 with natural light and pitch views, while the J.P. Morgan Media Centre's panoramic setting works well for receptions up to 100. You get award-winning in-house catering, strong AV support and team-building options on-site, plus the practical advantage of St John's Wood tube nearby. It's the kind of venue that makes people pay attention to the invite.
Location: Regent's Park
Capacity: 300 Theatre
8. Old Royal Naval College
The Old Royal Naval College brings baroque grandeur to Greenwich, with the show-stopping Painted Hall handling dinners for up to 398 or standing receptions for the same number. Those painted ceilings create an instant sense of occasion for galas, awards ceremonies or summer parties. You get landscaped riverside grounds for arrival drinks, elegant indoor backup spaces if the weather turns and architectural drama that photographs well. Cutty Sark DLR is a five-minute walk, making it more accessible than many central London options.
Location: Greenwich
Capacity: 398 Reception
9. Banqueting House
Banqueting House on Whitehall delivers instant impact with Inigo Jones architecture and that Rubens ceiling, the kind of setting that makes guests stop talking and look up. The Main Hall seats 350 for dinner with flexible layouts that work across awards ceremonies, gala dinners and black-tie celebrations, while the Undercroft below handles pre-dinner drinks or late-night dancing. You get approved caterers who know the space, production-friendly infrastructure and a central location that needs no explanation. Just remember no naked flames or candles, and ask the team about accessibility routes to the Main Hall.
Location: Whitehall
Capacity: 500 Reception
These aren't venues you stumble across in a standard search. They're spaces with real presence, the kind that make your event memorable before the programme even starts. get in touch with the Hire Space team to find out which one works best for your next occasion.
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Candy Willans
Candy is a Venue Account Manager at Hire Space with a strong background in venue partnerships, commercial strategy and festival F&B, bringing frontline industry insight to the venue-led content and guidance she shares with event planners.
