Event Planner Guide 2019 Contents Welcome to London 4 How we can help 5 London at a glance 6 London’s highlights 8 New London Value London Cultural London Leafy Greater London Royal London Luxury London Sector insights 14 Tech London Medical London Creative London Financial London Urban London Partner index 20 The Tower Room 38 London Map 40 Elizabeth Line 42 Tube map 44 2 3 Welcome How we can help to London As London’s official Convention Bureau, we help event professionals, meeting organisers and incentive planners achieve the most out of London’s iconic venues, hotels and support services. Our impartial team provides free advice to help you unlock city gems, plan site inspections and connect you with the right venues and solutions to meet your needs. Firstly, thank you for considering London for your next event. Our MICE Visit conventionbureau.london to discover what’s new in London, to find scene is constantly evolving and the capital will always inspire your useful resources and contact information, and to submit an RFP. delegates, whether you are looking for a new and high tech venue, or an event immersing them in over 2,000 years of history. We are delighted to London | +44 (0)20 7234 5833 introduce you to the best hotel, the perfect venue or the ideal DMC and [email protected] work with you to produce a real wow-factor event. New York | +1 212 850 0366 The city is home to more than 1,000 diverse venues, from blank canvas [email protected] warehouse spaces to purpose built conference centres, grand palaces and state-of-the-art-auditoriums. There are more than* 146,000 hotel rooms from The London Convention Bureau is part of London & Partners, the Mayor budget to boutique and group activities that will have your social media of London’s official promotional agency. We promote London followers green with envy! Whether it is for 10 or 35,000 attendees, an internationally as a leading city in which to invest, work, study and visit. exclusive incentive programme or a city-wide tech event – London has it all. We help international companies set up, grow and invest in the city. Through our Business Growth Programme and the Mayor’s International So why not bring your delegates to London, and let them enjoy all that we Business Programme, we enable London-based businesses to grow have to offer. Please use this Event Planner Guide 2019 as a practical index across the capital and to expand internationally. and event inspiration and don’t hesitate to ask the London Convention Bureau team for assistance with your next London event. @London_CVB Tracy Halliwell MBE Director Tourism, Conventions & Events London & Partners 4 5 The Design Museum London at 1600 FREE attractions Number of 24 70 hotels Michelin stars a glance 19,000 places to eat more than 455,209 1700 Average number of Future hotels to be 396 passengers per day built by 2020 Direct flights to international destinations 4 UNESCO 1.37bn World heritage sites Five lines run a 24-hour service People use the on Fridays & Saturdays: Victoria, Central, underground every year 173 Museums Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines. 140,000 No. of rooms 857 ART GALLERIES 1000+ 12 main stations 12 lines covering 586 km Diverse venues and serving 422 stations Three of the top ten museums and galleries in the world are in London with 857 art galleries in total London facts No of people employed in London’s creative economy: 816,000 people work in more than London’s creative economy which contributes to 15 per 17,000 music No of Tech companies: No of HQ’s in cent of the city’s jobs. performances a year London Fashion Week 1,364 233 London’s tech sector London: 93 Fortune across London's 300+ generates over £100m of orders medical clinics, manufac- foreign languages in is currently home to 500 companies have venues including the O2 and over 32,000 hours of digital turers, pharmaceutical London Language 46,000 enterprises, an HQ in London and 143,000 arena - the world's most content watched in the UK from and biotechnology Capital CILT report contributing 240,000 a total of 184 have a people employed in popular music venue. more than 100 countries. companies (2010) jobs across the city. presence here the banking sector 6 7 London’s Highlights Luxury London New London Discover London’s luxurious offerings Experience a different side of London from Michelin-starred restaurants to during each visit, as exciting new distinguished shopping districts. spaces open every year. King's Cross Railway Station Find a base in one of London’s or enjoy floods of natural light from served in the guise of famous From acclaimed restaurants to stunning hotels, London If you need a venue in the City of London, look no exclusive neighbourhoods, famed the distinctive glazed ceiling in the artworks. continues to innovate with new venues and transformed further than Grace Hall. Combining the best of old and for their mixture of designer shops, Palm Court of The Waldorf Hilton, establishments. new, this stunning hall boasts period features with cultural attractions and world-class London. Shopping and eating is tiring work, modern styling and offers a range of flexible event dining. The prestigious area so relax in an opulent spa. Unwind Delight in London’s evolving restaurant scene, including spaces. For accommodation in the area, Dorsett surrounding the Conrad London St. Ensure delegates are well catered with a detox wrap at The May Fair Quaglino’s. Sample fine European food and enjoy London City has stylish rooms and a roof terrace with James boasts independent shops for at a top restaurant – try seasonal Spa in The May Fair Hotel and feel entertainment at this legendary restaurant, which incredible views, while Qbic London City offers quirky and historic members clubs, while Irish fare with Corrigan’s Mayfair at rejuvenated after a dip in the remains at the top of its game after an extensive design at excellent rates. The Park Tower Knightsbridge has Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott relaxation pool at St Pancras refurbishment. Continue to create memorable experi- fantastic restaurants and Harrods on Hotel, or experience culinary Renaissance Hotel London. ences at Hollywood Bowl at The O2, the latest addition Head further east into London’s tech hub to find a its doorstep. Continue the high-end excellence at two Michelin-starred to the world-famous entertainment space. The 12 blend of modern functionality and Asian-inspired shopping experience at The Village Hélène Darroze at The Connaught. Round off a busy day with a tipple at bowling lanes are available for private hire, with design at Nobu Hotel Shoreditch. Or, if the literary in Westfield London. Here, you’ll an exclusive watering hole. Look to tempting food and drinks packages to ensure the good legacy of Bloomsbury appeals, there’s The Principal discover more than 35 designer Other sumptuous offerings include The Perception at W London – times keep rolling in. London – a new hotel that embraces the building’s rich boutiques, and have the chance to traditional afternoon tea at Leicester Square for a bar with red history. For easy access to Heathrow airport, you can shop with a personal stylist. Claridge’s and a contemporary take carpet glamour, while the Green Bar Alternatively, sports fans can soak up the atmosphere at stay at the recently refurbished Royal Lancaster on the British ritual at Rosewood at Hotel Café Royal offers botanical Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium, featuring events London, which has great transport links from nearby Add a wow factor by choosing an London, where patisseries are cocktails to savour. spaces that can accommodate up to 1,500 guests, while Paddington station. iconic room for your venue. Admire smaller events are well catered for at CCT Venues’ the stunning wood panelling of The latest offering in the Docklands. Minutes from Canary Oak Room at Le Meridien Wharf, this recently refurbished venue offers a private Piccadilly, experience 1920s Hidden gems: waterfront terrace. Hidden gems: glamour in the art deco ballroom at The Goring | The Hari | The Stafford The Arch London | The LaLiT London Sheraton Grand London Park Lane 11 Cadogan Gardens Prince Philip House 8 9 Cultural London Soak up some culture in London by Rub shoulders with wax figure versions of your favourite movie stars at Merlin Entertainments’ Madame holding your event in one of the city’s Tussauds or take a trip to Hogwarts with the Warner museums, galleries or attractions – the Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry perfect backdrop for a grand event. Potter. Both provide plenty of photo opportunities for film buffs and delegates alike. Arrange your event near famous works by Van Gogh and Rembrandt at the National Gallery; discover paintings from 1500 to the modern day during a meeting at Tate Britain; or catch the latest exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, which has opened a new extension as part of its 250th anniversary celebrations. Alternative- ly, seek out a spot alongside contemporary and modern Royal London works at the Saatchi Gallery and Tate Modern. Put a historical spin on your event at one of London’s many museums. Find mummies and the Rosetta Stone Uncover London’s rich history with in the vast halls of the British Museum. Learn about the truly regal events in royal palaces Natural History Museum city’s history at the Museum of London and Museum of and stunning halls. London Docklands. Or, for something more immersive, try out hands-on exhibits at the Science Museum in Kensington.