IMAX Theatre

The Science Museum

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IMAX Theatre at The Science Museum with tiered seating for corporate events and seminars.
  • From £9500
  • 400 Theatre
  • South Kensington tube station
  • From £9500
  • 400 Theatre
  • South Kensington tube station
World-famous Science Museum setting combines inspiring exhibitions with versatile event spaces in the heart of South Kensington.
Joana Seguí Rubio
Joana Seguí Rubio

Venue Expert @ Hire Space

  • State-of-the-art AV systems
  • In-house technical support
  • Preferred supplier partnerships
  • Central London location
  • Museum gallery access
  • Smith Centre with multiple rooms
  • Outdoor courtyard space
  • Illuminate blank canvas venue
  • IMAX Theatre with 414-seat capacity
  • 11.5m-wide stage

With a screen the size of four double-decker buses, an 11.5m-wide stage and an auditorium that seats up to 414 people, our IMAX Theatre is the perfect venue for a large-scale conferences, meetings, AGM'S and TED-talks.

The IMAX Theatre uses image maximum technology, a state-of-the-art surround system and one of the world's most sophisticated projectors, making it ideal for presentations and product launches.

The IMAX can be hired alongside The Flight gallery to allow for break out space for exhibitions and refreshments.




Frequently asked questions

The Smith Centre costs £4,500 + VAT for daytime hire (07:00-17:00) and includes The Salon, Large meeting room, The Boardroom, outdoor courtyard, and banqueting chairs & cluster furniture. Illuminate (levels 4 & 5) costs £20,250 + VAT for full day hire (07:00-23:30). Flight gallery costs £8,750 + VAT, though capacity may be reduced to 350 for dinner with stage setup versus 400 for seated dinner only.

The Science Museum operates as dry venue hire only, meaning all catering, AV equipment, and additional furniture must be provided by their accredited suppliers at extra cost. Basic banqueting chairs and cluster furniture are included with Smith Centre hire, but all other services including food, drinks, technical equipment, and staging are additional charges on top of the venue hire fee.

The venue works with specific accredited suppliers only: Benugo Events for catering, White Light for AV services, Moving Venue for catering (Christmas events), and Twilight Trees for decorations. AV minimum spend starts around £6,000, and catering minimum spends vary by event size and requirements. All suppliers must be booked through the museum's approved list.

Smith Centre accommodates up to 40 people for meetings in various configurations. Illuminate can handle larger events with flexible capacity depending on setup. Flight gallery seats up to 400 for dinner or 350 for dinner with stage, while the IMAX Theatre seats up to 414 people for presentations and conferences.

Standard daytime hire runs 07:00-17:00, while evening events typically run 07:00-23:30 with all guests required to be offsite by 23:30. Setup access begins at 07:00, with guest arrival usually from 09:00. Events requiring earlier setup may incur additional early access fees of £500 + VAT.

Events require a site visit and signed contract before confirmation. For events within two weeks, site visits must occur by Wednesday with contracts signed by end of Thursday. Venue hire invoices are raised only after contract signing. Agency commission of 10% is available on venue hire only (not AV) and must be claimed within two months of the event date.

The IMAX Theatre features an 11.5m-wide stage, state-of-the-art surround system, and sophisticated projection technology ideal for large presentations. White Light provides all AV services including screens, microphones, lighting, and sound systems. In-house technical teams provide support, with minimum AV spends typically starting around £6,000 depending on requirements.

The venue focuses on corporate events, conferences, product launches, and educational seminars that align with their science and innovation mission. All events must be invitation-only with registered guests on arrival. The museum's educational mission means events should generally support STEM accessibility and scientific advancement.

Catering is provided exclusively by approved suppliers like Benugo Events, with options ranging from simple refreshment packages at £75 per person for full-day meetings to more elaborate dinner packages. Christmas events work with Moving Venue for specialized festive catering. All catering costs are additional to venue hire.

Venue hire rates start at £4,500 + VAT for basic spaces, with larger events requiring budgets of £30,000+ when including catering and AV. For a 300-person daytime conference, expect approximately £30,000 total budget. If your budget is below minimum venue hire rates, the events team will indicate the space may be out of budget range.




More about The Science Museum

Choose the home of science, technology and innovation for an unforgettable corporate or private event.

The Science Museum's world-famous exhibitions and astounding gallery spaces combine to make it one of London's most unique venues for events.

Conveniently located in South Kensington, the cultural heart of London, the museum can cater for all kinds of events: dinners, drinks receptions, award ceremonies, conferences and film screenings, with the diversity of spaces available for hire.