Discover the best riverside venues

Give your guests the perfect view at these riverside venues to create a memorable experience.

London’s river is famous for its landmarks such as Tower Bridge, the London Eye and Shakespeare’s Globe along with hidden delights and glimpses of the countryside. Stunning river views are a unique talking point and ideal for summer drinks or networking events. We’ve put together some of our favourite venues that are set on the banks of the river, in idyllic settings, giving the perfect backdrop to your event so all you need to do is sit back, relax and soak up the views.

Here’s our round up of the best riverside venues in London.

Secret River Garden

Sssshhh … don’t tell anyone but where the river runs wild you’ll discover The Secret River Garden, a hidden gem of a venue settled alongside the Thames in Twickenham. This is a very special place where you feel in the depths of the country whilst being only 20 minutes from the centre of London. Situated in beautiful gardens and secluded woodland with river views, two marquees will be erected over select summer dates, creating a magical event space. 

It’s perfect for summer parties, away days and AGMs with a difference and holds 150 for seated lunches and 200+ for standing.

Sea Containers

With its striking, illuminated signage on the top of the property, the Sea Containers building on the South Bank has fabulous views over the River Thames and takes in some of the river’s most famous landmarks. The building itself was originally designed to be a luxury hotel but instead was occupied as an office by a shipping company ‘Sea Container’ from which the building takes its name. Offering nine spaces for hire there are plenty of unique and interested rooms to choose from and as they are all connected, the venue is perfect for one large event with lots of break out areas to explore.

The roof terrace has to be their crowning glory with unbeatable views across London which are pretty breath taking and it will be gorgeous this summer for watching the sunset. Sitting behind the Sea Containers sign, the rooftop is suitable for up to 150 people and is perfect for drinks receptions, celebrations and launches. Inside the venue you can still experience amazing views with floor to ceiling windows that overlook the Thames and take in St Paul’s Cathedral, The Oxo Tower, London Eye and the Shard.

Hampton Court Palace

Set within 65 acres of beautiful gardens, Hampton Court Palace has echoed with the sounds of celebration and feasting for over 500 years. Known as Henry VIII’s ‘pleasure palace’, follow in the tradition of lavish celebrations by hosting your own event here and experience the grand state rooms, sweeping staircases, cobbled courtyards, gorgeous gardens and some hidden spaces too, in one of the grandest palaces ever built. Every room is dripping in history and this is your chance to create some fabulous memories of your own.

Hampton Court venue hire is incredibly flexible so it’s perfect for impressive banquets, weddings, award dinners and receptions with the Great Hall and the Garden Room being the main spaces for these large events.  However, we were surprised and delighted to discover that intimate dinners are also possible; particularly suited for this is William II’s King’s Eating Room, a gorgeous space overlooking the Privy Garden – but it’s the small & perfectly formed Little Banqueting House that stole our heart with its views of the gardens and river.

Kew Palace

Glaziers Hall River Room

One of the most flexible London party venues, Glaziers Hall is a grand 19^th-century former warehouse just moments from London Bridge. The hall has five spaces: the luxurious Banqueting Hall, the River Room with views of the Thames, the London Bridge room with views of the City, the traditional-themed Court Room, and the refined Library Room, a unique conference and filming space. Glaziers Hall can accommodate up to 450 guests for receptions/buffets and up to 240 for seated lunches and dinners.

Old Billingsgate

Perfect for large conferences, awards dinners and summer parties, Old Billingsgate in the City of London is just minutes from Monument Underground Station and has superb views of the river and the Shard. It can accommodate up to 2,400 guests for summer parties (standing), so it’s well suited to high-impact events and shared parties. The biggest events space in Old Billingsgate is The Grand Hall, an immaculate 40,000-square-feet venue with a beautiful ornate ceiling.

Tower Bridge

Dine on the most famous Bridge in the world and choose from three magnificent award-winning spaces, each one a unique and memorable setting for celebrations of every kind. The panoramic high-level Walkways and the majestic Victorian Engine Rooms are available for private evening hire, while the North Tower Lounge is available for smaller daytime functions. The two walkways offer breathtaking panoramic views out across iconic landmarks of London. With the Docklands, Canary Wharf and Greenwich to the East, and the Shard, Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and the City to the West. The walkway is a truly British and magical setting.

Amber Lakes

Set within a private nature reserve Amber Lakes is surrounded by Lakes and though not technically a riverside venue, with views like these we don’t think you’re going to be picky! Located between two picturesque lakes, the Lodge offers a gorgeous unique venue where the event possibilities are endless. When you arrive, the lakes are hidden from view but as the drive sweeps around, the venue and site reveals itself as a hidden oasis of calm. This is a venue where you will leave your worries behind and probably never want to leave. Certainly London seems miles away, (though it only takes 40 minutes from Waterloo).

Extensive lakes and lawns offer further possibilities for tipis or team building activities such as dragon boat racing. Amber Lakes is a stunning backdrop for product launches, away days, dinners and senior management conferences plus of course summer events.

The Bingham

Escape the city to the riverside setting of The Bingham for a tranquil event setting with outstanding outdoor space and views of Petersham meadows, complete with grazing cows and boats gliding by. 

The Bingham isn’t really in the countryside, it just feels like it. Just 10 miles from Central London and Heathrow Airport, The Bingham hotel is an elegant hotel available for event hire and perfect for meetings, events and weddings. Three main rooms, with natural daylight, give you access onto the terrace and gardens or you may prefer to make the venue your own home with exclusive hire, including 15 onsite bedrooms, restaurant and lounge bar. The views from the venue are sublime, featuring the curve in the River Thames made famous by Turner’s painting and with cows grazing nearby on Petersham meadows you’ll feel a million miles away from London.

Create the perfect setting for your event with your own picturesque private walled garden and terrace that roll down to the Thames’s towpath and peaceful river beyond. This is a great venue for a corporate away day; arrange for guests to arrive by boat to start the day with some drama or organise some team building activities on the water. Meetings can be held in privacy and without distractions before ending the day by soaking up the sun with a refreshing cocktail or have a BBQ and bar set up in the garden for you and your guests to enjoy. Capacities vary depending on how much of the venue you want to hire, but you can hire individual rooms for smaller events such as meetings for 50 people or the terrace space is great for up to 150. The inside space come with wi-fi, high tech equipment along with a private bar and DJ booth. A heated terrace is covered with a beautiful canopy & fairy lights meaning you can enjoy the outside space come rain or shine.

Swan, Shakespeare’s Globe

Nestled on the banks of the Thames with stunning views of the river and across to the City, Shakespeare’s Globe is one of London’s most iconic venues. Looking out onto St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Thames and, of course, the Globe Theatre, the top floor Balcony room has a private balcony allowing your guests an exclusive space from which to take in London. If it’s a sit down affair, whether for a meeting or dinner, then 70 guests can be accommodated comfortably. If you are hosting a standing reception then 120 guests can enjoy the space. 

Cutty Sark

Winchester House

Winchester House is a spacious private members club with charm and character in abundance.  This intimate venue will be perfect for events of approximately 150 guests and can be used all year round, though we can really see it coming into its own at summer time with its stunning private lawns that drift down to the Thames, enclosed in a half-acre wall garden, that would be perfect for receptions or team building events.

The venue is a Grade II listed building, dating back to the 17^th Century and was used by Oliver Cromwell who billeted his offices there and used the house during the Putney Debates. Rumour has it that a mulberry tree planted in the garden by Cromwell still bears fruit! It has all the beautiful period styling you would expect from an historic venue but it has also been beautifully renovated so it’s filled with light with large windows that look out onto the river.

The Lighterman

The Lighterman dining room and bar, is a great addition to the restaurant scene at King’s Cross. This perfectly-located pub and restaurant spans the entire edge of Granary Square on one side and Regent’s Canal on the other. With floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor seating on three levels, the views are hard to beat.

For the summer season the lower level has an alfresco terrace right on the canal tow path. This is the perfect spot for a drink in the sunshine or casual eating. The ground floor offers outdoor seating on Granary Square and serves breakfast through to dinner from the open kitchen. While the top floor with its wraparound terrace has panoramic views over the square and canal. Private hire available.

 

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Venue Finding

Here at Evolve Events we work with some of the most prestigious, unusual and new venues available and offer a venue finding service. If you’d like to know more about venue hire options and arrange a viewing for any of the riverside venues featured or would like our help finding another perfect venue for your event just get in touch with the team.

TEL : 020 7610 2808 – EMAIL : info@evolve-events.com