London Guide for Associations

Beyond London Britain is a diverse and rich destination that welcomes millions of tourists every year. Whichever direction your delegates travel in, they will find a variety of beautiful landscapes and diverse cultures to explore.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all unique nations with their own inspiring customs, cultures and traditions.

You can capture the Olympic atmosphere for your event at one of these unique venues: Aquatics Centre: This striking venue hosted swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events. With moveable floors, the venue can be transformed for events, offering poolside gala dining for up to 500 people. Available from April 2014.

Historic Windsor can be reached in just 45 minutes – an ideal opportunity to see Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world which dates back almost 1,000 years to the time of William the Conqueror.

Slightly further away, just under two hours by train, delegates can discover the delightful city of Bath which justly deserves its status as a World Heritage site with its elegant terraces, crescents and the famous Roman Baths built 2,000 years ago and still in perfect working order.

unique venues

oneworld events.

Since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games drew to a close, a transformation has been taking place to deliver a new community and events destination for east London.

From spring 2014, the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will be fully open, with the iconic Olympic Stadium available for major events and hospitality from 2016.

Whether delegates are seeking exhilarating adventure, peaceful countryside locations, art, music, heritage or sport, Britain has the perfect destination to maximise delegates’ time before or after the congress.

The famous and beautiful university cities of Oxford and Cambridge are also within easy reach of the capital. They both offer inspirational architecture, world-class museums and art galleries as well as a wealth of history and outstanding record for scientific research excellence.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

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Copper Box: With a capacity of up to 7,500 for sports and culture events, concerts, conferences and trade shows, this was the first of the permanent Games venues to open on the Park, and is the third largest arena in London.

South Park Hub: Providing a large outdoor events space, South Park Hub is perfect for concerts, outdoor shows and festivals.

The adjoining restaurant also boasts flexible event space for smaller events. Available from April 2014.

ArcelorMittal Orbit: The UK’s tallest sculpture became one of the Games’ most iconic sights. It’s also set to become a dazzling space for corporate events, offering impressive views over the Park and beyond for up to 300 people. Available from April 2014.

North Park Events Lawn: Covering 12,000m², the newly opened North Park Events Lawn is ideal for staging concerts, outdoor shows, small-scale festivals and cultural events. Nestled within the stunning landscape is the Timber Lodge, seating up to 120 delegates.

oneworld events is the 'one stop' travel solution for event and convention organisers.

Discounted travel, automated RFP process, efficient booking tool, online reports and travel credits are just some of the benefits on offer.

queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk

Learn more at oneworld.com

Cambridge

Travelling beyond England, there is much more to discover. Wales can be accessed easily from London, whether visitors opt for the vibrant capital city of Cardiff or head for the 750 miles of stunning coastline, relaxing countryside or a visit to one of its 600 beautiful castles. Scotland also merits consideration when travelling in Britain; it is everything you imagine and much more – the home of whisky, world-class golf, the romance of the clans and a wealth of castles and historic sites. Exploring the beautiful cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, with their own style and gripping history and traditions, can easily be combined with a trip to the Highlands region – one of the last wildernesses in Europe.

Isle of Skye

For further information on itineraries and suggestions, direct your delegates to visitbritain.com

an alliance of the world's leading airlines working as one. airberlin American Airlines British Airways Cathay Pacific Finnair Iberia Japan Airlines LAN Malaysia Airlines Qantas Royal Jordanian S7 Airlines

Castle Stalker, Highlands

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oneworld benefits are available only to passengers on scheduled flights that are both marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline (marketed means that there must be a oneworld member airline's flight number on your ticket). For information on oneworld, visit www.oneworld.com. Air Berlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, and oneworld are trademarks of their respective companies. ©2013 oneworld Alliance, Inc. All information correct at time of going to print, October 2013.

Future view of the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

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a destination guide for assoCiations

London maps AS GOOD AS OUR WORD

THE

DEVIL’S

IN THE ONE DETAIL YOU CAN’T CONTROL. No matter how meticulous you are, some things cannot be planned for. Should you be forced to cancel, curtail or abandon your event, Hiscox can help protect your investment and reputation.

Event Insurance +44 (0)1206 773 851 hiscox.co.uk/events Hiscox Underwriting Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 12130 08/13

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Contents

Mayor’s foreword

Why London?

Discover what makes London a perfect destination for association events

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London & Partners’ services Find out how London’s official convention bureau can help

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London success stories Two clients who found event success in London

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Travel to London Learn why London is Europe’s most accessible destination

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Travel in London Explore the many ways to get around the city

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Welcome to London – an extraordinary city that is open to the world.

Conference venues for over 1,000 people Find out about the varied selection of conference facilities for larger events

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Conference venues for over 500 people Discover the many options for smaller-scale events

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Academic venues Capitalise on London’s centres of academic excellence

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Social venues Explore venues for mixing business with pleasure

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Hotels Find out more about London’s wide selection of hotels

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Event services Read about the support available to help create a world-class event

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Travel & insurance A guide to our travel and insurance partners

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Value London Discover how to organise an event in London on a small budget

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Go green in London Reduce your event’s carbon footprint by holding it in London

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Future London Find out about exciting new developments in London’s evolving offer

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Index Find the perfect venue with our easy reference

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London maps

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T: +44 (0)20 7234 5833 E: associations@londonandpartners.com

Beyond London Ideas for delegates who want to extend their stay

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Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Discover what this new destination has to offer event organisers

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London & Partners is the official promotional organisation for London. Our company attracts and delivers value to overseas business, event organisers, students and visitors. London & Partners is a not-for-profit public private partnership funded by the Mayor of London and our network of commercial partners.

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London’s world-class venues, cultural diversity and sheer energy make it the globe’s best destination for large events. And with billions of pounds pouring into new venues, hotels, attractions, transport and business hubs, this thriving metropolis will continue to evolve and impress delegates for decades to come.

London has proved again and again that it’s got what it takes to host a major event, drawing visitors from around the world. Having hosted the most successful Olympic and Paralympic Games ever in 2012, we know our expertise and know-how can make your event a winner too.

London & Partners, my official promotional organisation and convention bureau for London, has created this Associations Directory to introduce you to the riches available here: a huge range of accommodation and venues for all types of events from traditional to contemporary; faster and greener transport links, and of course, a dazzling living history that stretches back over 2,000 years.

Then there are the amazing attractions: royal palaces and parks, top-notch theatre and cabaret, and world-class museums and galleries – many of which are free.

The buzz of the city is palpable. There are hubs of inspiration and innovation everywhere; every day is an exciting day to be in London, and I invite you to take the stage.

I am immensely proud of our city and I am more confident than ever that London has more to offer than any other city in the world. I truly believe that hosting your event here gives you the greatest chance of staging a successful, sold-out event, guaranteeing an experience that your delegates will never forget.

Boris Johnson Mayor of London

London & Partners 6th Floor, 2 More London Riverside London SE1 2RR

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Why London?

Welcome to an extraordinary world city.

Some 2,000 years of dazzling living history, royal palaces, parks and world-class galleries sit comfortably alongside cutting-edge industry clusters, sky-high hotels and gleaming new Michelin-starred restaurants.

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No city on the planet matches London for energy, diversity, creativity and constant reinvention.

The city that speaks 230 languages offers some 8,000 restaurants, more than 60 with Michelin stars; 117,000 hotel rooms ranging from budget to five-star; more than 1,000 remarkable venues including historic ships and futuristic towers; 173 museums and over 850 galleries.

The city is constantly evolving. Billions of pounds have poured into London, creating even faster and greener transport links, a greater range of accommodation, and regeneration hotspots with new attractions and venues.

1 View of Greenwich Park, the National Maritime Museum and Canary Wharf

Boasting such riches, it’s no surprise that this city consistently delivers global gatherings on a spectacular scale — the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games setting the bar for things to come.

It’s also no wonder London is rated the top destination for return on objective for event planners compared to similar events held elsewhere.

Here are some more reasons why major events succeed in London:

Accessible

London is the most accessible city in Europe.

Five international airports directly connect to more than 330 international destinations.

Travelling by rail is easy too thanks to fast and frequent Eurostar train links from Brussels, Paris and beyond.

Affordable

Thanks to a vast selection of low-cost accommodation and free world-class attractions, including all 11 national museums, you can create unforgettable programmes on a tight budget in London.

The city is at the heart of Europe’s low-cost airline network, offering budget fares to all.

A global business hub

London is home to booming industry clusters: centres of expertise that generate the speakers, delegates, exhibitors and media interest vital to a successful major event.

More than 70% of FTSE 500 companies have a presence in the city; by holding an event in London, you are immersing your delegates in a climate of expertise and innovation, and offering up thousands of connections to inspire and inform.

2 Piccadilly Circus circus performer on Regent Street 3 The 900 year-old Tower of London 4 The Shard, the tallest building in the European Union 5 The Houses of Parliament and EDF Energy London Eye

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117,000 bedrooms 2

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850 galleries These vibrant ecosystems span:

Life sciences London is home to more than 120 biopharma companies. The city’s 43 universities boast 1,300 biomedical researchers, while there are five world-class medical schools, 12 teaching hospitals and more than 50 clinical institutions with a huge patient population for clinical trials. Flagships include the Francis Crick Institute, opening in 2015, and the newly opened Cell Therapy Catapult centre.

Financial and professional services London is Europe’s largest investment banking centre and is ranked first in the 2012 Global Financial Centre Index, ahead of New York, Hong Kong and Singapore.

This sector employs more than 350,000 people in London while in 2012 the talent pool comprised more than 60,000 students and 25,000 graduates.

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Creative industries London is home to some of the world’s most gifted designers, advertisers, film production specialists, games programmers and animators, artists, musicians and writers.

The city’s creative sector employs more than 429,000 people and the city is second only to New York as a world-leading technology and media hub.

Technology London has the largest concentration of tech companies in Europe, with more than 23,000 ICT and software companies. Some 368,000 IT professionals are based in London. Tech City in east London is Europe’s fastestgrowing digital hub, with 3,200 digital economy firms employing 48,000 people.

London has transformed itself as a congress destination over the last four years both in terms of worldclass facilities and new infrastructure. For EASL*, London is also a major global centre for medical research and the life sciences industry as a whole. We are therefore delighted to be hosting our 2014 International Liver Congress™ in the city.”

Grégoire Pavillon, Executive Director of EASL

A top event city

London is a global leader for events, sitting in sixth place in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) 2012 rankings of top convention cities, having risen an impressive 13 places over the previous five years.

The capital has also been awarded a number of accolades including Best International MICE Destination in Today’s Traveller Awards 2013, and favourite UK City in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards 2013. It was also voted Europe’s Top City in the global Top Cities Study by Ipsos MORI in 2013.

Selecting London for your congress means choosing an award-winning world city with the best facilities, plus support from London’s official convention bureau.

*The European Association for the Study of the Liver

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London & Partners’ services Thinking of holding your conference in London? From bid to opening ceremony, London & Partners can help you with every step of the process, so that you can deliver an event that will inspire delegates and maximise returns.

London & Partners is the official convention bureau for London. As part of the Mayor of London’s promotional organisation, our team of association experts can help you access the widest range of venues, hotels and support services available in this vibrant world city.

Getting started From your earliest forays into London as a potential host city, we can help. We can assist with writing your bid, including obtaining written support from leading civil and corporate figures, researching and selecting the right hotel and venue partners from our extensive network, and providing all the practical guidance you need. And once you have committed to holding your event here, we help you with all aspects of planning.

Free and impartial There is no charge for London & Partners’ services. We are a not-for-profit public private partnership, funded by the Mayor of London and our network of commercial partners.

This means that our experts can share their entire wealth of knowledge and contacts with you, providing free and impartial advice and assistance.

Access to thousands of venues and hotels We are proud of our in-depth knowledge of every new, unique, quirky and historic venue in London, together with our unrivalled experience in every accommodation option, from five-star hotels to low-cost university rooms. We can also help with venue and accommodation searches, offer budgetary advice, secure quotes from suppliers and arrange site inspections.

Trusted suppliers London & Partners can introduce you to the best support services in the business, connecting you to professional conference organisers (PCOs), destination management companies (DMCs), entertainment providers and more. Every single supplier is a trusted partner of ours and offers the highest standards of service and care.

Travel solutions London & Partners can arrange discounts on travel to London through our airline and railway partnerships. We can also provide prepaid Oyster travelcards for groups, enabling your delegates to travel across the city quickly and cost-effectively throughout their stay.

Easy-to-use tools We have created a comprehensive and easy-to-use London Toolkit to help organise and promote your event, featuring videos, presentations, image library and tailored marketing materials.

London & Partners offers: ●●

free, impartial advice about venues, hotels, PCOs and DMCs

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site inspections for organisers

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accommodation housing service

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introductions to partner suppliers

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bid production

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promotional tools

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group discounts on travel to/in London

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delegate offers

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visitor information

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use of London & Partners’ boardroom

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dedicated convention bureau website and regular newsletter

Contact us now for assistance: Becky Graveney Head of Associations T: +44 (0)20 7234 5825 +44 (0)20 7234 5833 E: bgraveney@londonandpartners.com associations@londonandpartners.com londonandpartners.com/conventionbureau

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London success stories London & Partners’ Associations Team helps organisations from across the world host some of their most successful conferences and conventions in London. Here are two recent major events we helped make happen.

European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)

Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)

Event: ESHRE Annual Meeting 2013

Event: CTBUH 2013 International Conference

Delegate numbers: 10,007 attendees including 120 exhibiting companies and 50 members of the press.

Requirements: ESHRE, a global body fostering collaboration and research in reproductive biology and medicine, needed a large, flexible space for its 2013 annual meeting. It hoped to attract record numbers of delegates and exhibitors, and generate powerful media coverage.

Event solution: ExCeL London, a worldclass £500 million venue recommended

by London & Partners, met the society’s challenging brief, providing a main auditorium with 4,000 seats; five further halls accommodating 800-1,000 people each, and break-out spaces for 15 preconference courses. The team also advised on nearby hotel accommodation and connections via London City Airport, Docklands Light Railway and the Underground network.

Result: ESHRE’s London annual meeting was its most successful ever, breaking all records for delegate and exhibitor numbers, satisfaction ratings and international press coverage.

London is the ideal place to hold an event in this field and London & Partners had a major role to play. They were a single point where I could go and ask for advice and help.”

Bruno Van den Eede, ESHRE Managing Director and congress organiser

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Delegate numbers: 738 Requirements: CTBUH, the world’s leading authority on tall buildings representing 730,000 employees worldwide, wanted to hold a conference to explore a critical challenge facing European cities – how to grow while preserving historical architecture and urban fabric.

Event solution: London & Partners helped find the venue, the City of London’s The Brewery, which combines Grade II-listed grandeur with cutting-edge technology.

Helping secure the event was London’s reputation as a ‘living classroom’ – it is constructing tall buildings while managing to keep historical landmarks intact – together with an enticing social programme featuring receptions at Renzo Piano’s Shard and tours of iconic skyscrapers.

CTBUH dinner at the Royal Courts of Justice

ESHRE Annual Meeting at ExCeL London

Result: The conference was a huge success, attracting a near-capacity audience of 738 people. The speaker programme included leading practitioners based in London.

My key piece of advice? Start with London & Partners. They were so good in welcoming me to the city, showing me all that it had to offer and making the connections for me.”

Patti Thurmond, CTBUH Operations Manager

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Travel to London With five international airports and a cross-continental high-speed rail network, London is Europe’s most accessible city.

London Heathrow Airport’s award-winning Terminal 5

Eurostar train at St Pancras International

Arriving by air

Airport express rail

Arriving by Eurostar

London boasts the best transport links in Europe. There are five international airports: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London City, London Stansted and London Luton.

London prides itself on speedy access to the city centre. Once beyond the luggage hall, your visitors can reach central London in just 15-40 minutes.

London Heathrow Airport is the largest of the five, seeing more international travellers than any other airport in the world.

Heathrow Airport There are four non-stop Heathrow Express trains running every hour, arriving at London Paddington in about 20 minutes.

European delegates can reduce their carbon footprint by arriving by train. Eurostar operates 22 trains a day from Paris, bringing visitors into central London and St Pancras International in just over two hours, while 11 trains a day make the journey from Brussels to the UK capital in less than two hours.

London City Airport puts delegates in the heart of the action and on the doorstep of the new developments and conference venues in east London.

Combined, London’s airports operate more than 330 direct flights, handling some 134 million passengers in 2012, meaning that your event will have huge global reach.

All of Europe’s principal cities are within a two-hour flight. And if cost as well as time is a consideration, you’ll appreciate that most airports also feature low-cost airlines. heathrowairport.com gatwickairport.com londoncityairport.com stanstedairport.com london-luton.com 8

Gatwick Airport The Gatwick Express runs four trains an hour arriving at London Victoria in around 30 minutes.

2 hours from Paris

For further travel information see visitlondon.com/travel.

Visas

330 direct flights

Before planning an event in London, you will need to find out whether your international delegates require a visa to enter the UK. Consult your local British Consulate or visit ukba.homeoffice. gov.uk to find out more about eligibility requirements and how to make an application.

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Travel in London London’s transport network handles around 24 million journeys a day; the options of travelling point to point include the famous London Underground network, iconic red buses and black taxis.

A £6.5 billion transport infrastructure upgrade means that travel across London is now even more efficient. The Overground network has been extended north, south, east and west, so that delegates visiting east London’s Stratford – where an event and community quarter is springing up on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – could be relaxing in the Royal Botanic Gardens in west London’s Kew in under an hour.

Ticket to ride

Legible London wayfinder near the Houses of Parliament

The Emirates Air Line

For easy, budget-friendly travel, provide your delegates with the Oyster smartcard. The contactless travelcard can be used across London’s Tube, DLR, train and bus network, with discounts on the Emirates Air Line and Thames Clipper riverboats. London & Partners can help with bulk purchasing of Oyster cards.

Hop-on, hop-off

Leave terra firma behind and… …zip along the river

Easy access underground

Taxi!

The quickest way to get around London is on the Underground system known as the Tube, which celebrated its 150th birthday in 2013.

With 11 colour-coded lines and 270 stations, it reaches every corner of the city. For more details, see the Tube map at the back of this Directory.

Heading east The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) connects the City of London and the Tube network with the Docklands area and is the quickest way to reach a multitude of venues and accommodation in east London.

Wandering overground London’s Overground rail service interconnects with the Tube and stretches beyond central London. As its name suggests, most of the rail track is above ground, giving visitors an opportunity to see London from another perspective as trains dart past private gardens and tranquil corners.

The iconic Routemaster red bus is a design classic. With a 21st-century makeover courtesy of designer Thomas Heatherwick, you can hop on a symbol of London Transport history around the clock.

More than 20,000 licensed black cabs can take you anywhere in London. Pre-book them or hail them on the street.

On your bike Cycling is a green and healthy way to explore the city. Delegates can take a breather by jumping on one of the 8,000 Barclays Cycle Hire bikes, known as Boris bikes. London boasts 15,000 docking points and by 2015 will have 12 cycle superhighways, making cycling in the capital faster and easier.

Accessible London

With recent upgrades to the transport system, London is now more accessible than ever. New lifts and step-free access at stations as well as wheelchair accessibility in the more than 20,000 black cabs all make it easier to get around the city. London & Partners has partnered with DisabledGo to provide accessible tourism information. visitlondon.com

Whether heading for a riverside conference venue or enjoying some sightseeing, your delegates will love travelling along the Thames on the Thames Clipper catamarans that leave every 20 minutes from piers on the doorstep of the EDF London Eye, Tower Bridge, Greenwich and The O2 entertainment complex. thamesclippers.com

…high-wire across the Thames Delegates at ExCeL London will be thrilled by this new transport option, London’s first cable car. The Emirates Air Line offers a five-minute ‘flight’ to one of the world’s most popular entertainment venues, the O2, situated in Greenwich on the south side of the river. Rising to a height of 90m, the cable car affords spectacular views of London and provides an alternative travel option to reach the Jubilee line.

…or take it slow London is a wonderful city to explore on foot, so delegates taking time out from the main event can enjoy one of hundreds of specialist walking tours, or keep an eye out for the Legible London wayfinding posts designed to help visitors find their way around.

A guide to step-free buses and the Tube is also available at tfl.gov.uk

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Venues for over 1,000 people

Conference venues ExCeL London

Capacities Theatre: 30,000 Reception: 30,000 Banquet: 30,000 Breakout rooms: 50 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 20-2,000 Total exhibition space (m2): 100,000

Nearest DLR stations: Custom House for ExCeL, Prince Regent and Royal Victoria

Map reference: H21

Tota exhibit l io space: n

100,00 0

m2

ExCeL London is an award-winning international venue offering an incredible 100,000m2 of flexible event space, including London’s only International Convention Centre (ICC London).

The venue has a dedicated Associations Team with vast experience of organising national and international congresses.

Recent clients include European League Against Rheumatism (16,000 delegates), European Congress on Epileptology (4,000 delegates) and ESHRE (9,000 delegates).

ICC London is seamlessly integrated with ExCeL’s existing meeting and exhibition space, including fully appointed meeting rooms; the Gallery Rooms, a self-contained conference facility; the Platinum Suite and expansive Event Halls (incorporating auditoria space).

ExCeL London is committed to working in partnership to help clients deliver their most successful event to date. Experienced staff are on hand to guide you through the entire planning process and will work with you every step of the way to ensure you create a fantastic event experience for your delegates, exhibitors and sponsors.

ExCeL London has six on-site hotels, ranging from luxury to budget, all within just a few minutes’ walk of the main entrance, providing 1,400 rooms between them. In addition, there are over 10,000 hotel rooms within 20 minutes of ExCeL London.

ICC London offers a variety of flexible event space, catering for all types of congresses, from large to small. It includes a fully flexible Auditorium, which gives limitless scope to presentational and creative ideas – its 15m high ceilings offer dramatic use of space, whilst its wood-panelled walls enable the ultimate in acoustic performance.

Adjacent to the Auditorium, the ICC Capital Hall offers the ultimate in adaptable space with scope for dinners, awards ceremonies, exhibitions, poster sessions and breakout rooms, running in conjunction with the main convention space.

There’s also a conference suite, the ICC Capital Suite, which comprises 17 individual meeting rooms: a truly multifunctional space that can be utilised for small exhibitions, meetings or conferences.

There are large lobby areas, ample natural daylight and a private terrace with views towards the Dock.

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The venue boasts excellent transport links for both national and international visitors with three on-site DLR stations, easy access to London Underground, on-site parking for 3,700 cars and London City Airport just five minutes away.

ExCeL London is committed to developing and implementing policies that deliver economic, social and environmental benefits.

The venue will work in partnership with your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives and can provide specific support to help you deliver a more sustainable event.

Address One Western Gateway Royal Victoria Dock London E16 1XL T: +44 (0)20 7069 4602 E: sales.enquiries@excel-london.co.uk excel-london.co.uk

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Conference venues for over 1,000 people

The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

Capacities Theatre: 1,300 Reception: 1,200 Banquet: 900 Breakout rooms: 18 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 10-180 Total exhibition space (m2): 2,067

Nearest Tube stations: Westminster and St James’s Park

Since being opened by Her Majesty The Queen in 1986, The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre has been the venue for thousands of successful events, many of them high profile. It has gained a reputation as a premier event venue in central London, and currently hosts around 400 events each year.

Central Hall Westminster

Capacities Theatre: 2,200

The team aims to provide services and facilities that continually exceed the expectations of clients and visitors. They do this by investing in their people, infrastructure and environment.

Reception: 1,100

The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre offers experienced event organisers and 29 versatile conference and event spaces, across seven floors, for up to 2,500 people. The team continually reinvest in the centre, refreshing and refurbishing the spaces to maintain the high standards that local and international event organisers expect. They also continue to invest in quality IT and AV infrastructure, and are known for their creative and intelligent use of technology.

Breakout rooms: 20

The QEIICC is a people business. No matter how good the rooms, food or technology, it is the staff who enable it to host successful and memorable events. The venue is an accredited Investor in People, and ensures its staff receive the training they need to perform their job to the highest of standards.

Banquet: 400

Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 6-450 Total exhibition space (m2): 2,350

Nearest Tube stations: Westminster and St James’s Park

Broad Sanctuary Westminster London SW1P 3EE

The impressive exterior is reflected in the interior design – high ceilings, large windows and marble flooring make it a bright and welcoming event space.

The team of dedicated events managers, creative AV and award-winning catering chefs offer service excellence to all of their clients, including the World Nuclear Association, Association of British Neurologists, British Association of Oral Surgeons and the Soil Association.

Central Hall Westminster hosts a range of events from large conferences and exhibitions to global televised award ceremonies, fashion shows and product launches. Clients include global brands such as Google, KPMG and Red Bull.

Address Storey’s Gate London SW1H 9NH

Address Map reference: J11

Central Hall Westminster, located opposite Westminster Abbey, is one of London’s largest conference and events facilities. The venue has a large auditorium with a maximum capacity of 2,200 and over 20 other meeting rooms of varying sizes. Built in 1912 and last renovated in 2012, all event spaces feature the latest conference technology, including free Wi-Fi access.

Map reference: J11

T: +44 (0)20 7222 8010 E: enquiries@c-h-w.com c-h-w.com

T: +44 (0)20 7798 4426 E: info@qeiicc.co.uk qeiicc.co.uk CLICC is the largest conference and events facility in central London. It connects QEII and CHW, both located opposite Westminster Abbey. International delegates will be inspired by meeting at this iconic location with easy access, accommodation and entertainment options within walking distance. londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

Theatre: 2,200 (in one room), Reception: 1,200 (one area), Banquet: 900 (in one room), Total exhibition space: 2,067m2 (one floor). Breakout rooms: 38 across both venues.

T: +44 (0)20 7798 4426

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1,000+

Hilton London Metropole

Capacities Theatre: 1,600 Reception: 1,500 Banquet: 1,000 Breakout rooms: 42 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 1-3,000 Total exhibition space (m2): 4,100 Bedrooms: 1,054

Enjoy the results of the Hilton London Metropole metamorphosis. The recent upgrade has added two new glass entrances, increased the lobby and reception floor space by 60%, added three brand-new food and beverage outlets and updated 28 meeting rooms.

With a total of 4,100m² (44,000 sq ft) of flexible, pillar-free space and state-of-the-art facilities, Hilton London Metropole is a leading venue in Europe for conferences and meetings.

Whether it’s an intimate business dinner or an impressive large-scale banquet, the Hilton London Metropole is where 3 to 3,000 can meet, 2 to 2,000 can eat and 1 to 1,000 can sleep right in the heart of London.

Hilton London Metropole offers you more: ●●

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Nearest Tube stations: Edgware Road and Paddington ●●

Map reference: H8

20 minutes from Heathrow Airport via the Heathrow Express and ten minutes from the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras International Just a ten-minute walk to London’s Oxford Street and Marble Arch Located outside the congestion charge zone 1,054 air-conditioned bedrooms including Executive Rooms and Suites with exclusive access to the Executive Lounge and Superior Rooms, the largest DoubleDouble rooms in London

London Hilton on Park Lane

Capacities Theatre: 1,100 Reception: 1,350 Banquet: 1,100 Breakout rooms: 11 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): up to 300 Total exhibition space (m2): 1,640 Bedrooms: 453

Nearest Tube stations: Green Park and Hyde Park Corner

Six restaurants and bars, including the brand-new EDG Bar & Lounge, Whisky Lounge and Chocolate Corner.

Address 225 Edgware Road London W2 1JU

Located in the heart of Mayfair, the London Hilton on Park Lane is a superb place to experience everything that London has to offer. Soaring high above the city streets, the hotel is famed for its 5-star luxury. With a total of 453 luxury guest rooms including Executive and Suite accommodation, there is a style to suit everyone.

The Grand Ballroom is an ideal venue for prestigious awards ceremonies catering for up to 1,100 guests. Hilton Meetings offers ten modern meeting rooms with natural daylight and delegate stationery.

The five bars and restaurants on-site remain destinations in themselves. Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows serves French haute cuisine with spectacular views over London, while Podium Restaurant and Bar serves decadent afternoon tea, Trader Vic’s Restaurant and Bar offers exotic cocktails, POP Bar serves a full range of Pommery champagne, and Whisky Mist at Zeta is one of London’s trendiest hotspots, popular with A-list celebrities.

With Hyde Park on the doorstep, the hotel is conveniently located close to London’s popular attractions, places of interest, shopping districts, exhibition centres, museums and galleries.

Address 22 Park Lane London W1K 1BE

Map reference: I9

T: +44 (0)20 7208 4045 E: events.parklane@hilton.com hilton.co.uk/londonparklane

T: +44 (0)20 7402 2400 E: cbs.londonmet@hilton.com hiltonlondonmet.com

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Conference venues for over 1,000 people

Barbican

Novotel London West

Capacities

The Barbican is Europe’s largest combined conference and arts venue, with a variety of spaces that allows the venue to meet the requirements of almost all types of events.

Capacities

Theatre: 1,943

A Gold AIM accredited venue, the Barbican offers:

Theatre: 1,700

Reception: 2,000 Banquet: 528 Breakout rooms: 6 auditoriums (153-1,943); 7 flat-floored conference suites (20-170) Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 10-2,000 Total exhibition space (m2): 1,821

Nearest Tube stations: Barbican, St Paul’s and Moorgate

Map reference: G13

●●

●●

●●

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Flexibility and diversity: the spaces and services are all adaptable to the needs of the client

Reception: 3,000

Event solutions: an integrated commercial and arts offering means that events can be shaped in innovative ways. End-to-end solutions include consultation on everything from theming to content

Breakout rooms: 23

Cost and quality: The Barbican offers exceptional service at competitive rates Sustainability: The Barbican continually undertakes work to improve sustainability and carbon footprint

Barbican Hall is the largest space available for events, seating 500-1,943.

The venue has invested significantly in infrastructure to make the spaces more appealing to association event organisers. This includes the redevelopment of the conference floor, and the creation of a new 600-person venue with the Guildhall School – a £90 million development and an exciting addition to the Barbican’s venue hire opportunities.

Along with state-of-the-art technology, increased capacity and unique and flexible spaces, the Barbican also offers a wealth of entertainment opportunities.

Address Silk Street London EC2Y 8DS T: +44 (0)20 7382 7043 E: businessevents@barbican.org.uk barbican.org.uk/venue-hire

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Banquet: 1,300

Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 10-200 theatre style or 10-70 cabaret style or 10-46 u-shape Total exhibition space (m2): 1,360 Bedrooms: 630

Nearest Tube station: Hammersmith

Map reference: K5

Novotel London West, the flagship hotel of the Accor Group, provides the international business community with the ultimate in conference, exhibition, banqueting and hospitality facilities.

Offering space for up to 3,000 delegates across 38 meeting rooms and 630 bedrooms, this London venue is well equipped and versatile. The Champagne Suite offers space for up to 1,700 delegates (theatre style) and has been home to some of the most prestigious corporate and hospitality industry events to have taken place in London over the last few years.

Novotel London West also offers its residents and delegates a wide selection of dining options including the Aroma Restaurant, the award-winning Artisan Grill and a stylish al fresco Lounge Bar. The hotel also features a business centre, banks of complimentary iMac stations, guest relations services, gift shop and extensive fitness facilities.

Ideally located for easy access to all of London’s key business districts, as well as historical, cultural and social attractions, Novotel London West is also conveniently close to Heathrow Airport, has excellent road and rail links to the rest of the UK and offers 250 secure, on-site parking spaces.

That, coupled with 26 awards for excellence won in the past seven years, means that Novotel London West represents one of London’s most formidable venues.

Address 1 Shortlands London W6 8DR T: +44 (0)20 8741 1555 E: H0737@accor.com novotellondonwest.co.uk 13

1,000+

Lancaster London

Capacities Theatre: 1,000 Reception: 1,680 Banquet: 750 Breakout rooms: 13 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 2-200 Total exhibition space (m2): 2,271 Bedrooms: 416

Nearest Tube station: Lancaster Gate

Map reference: H8

Situated directly opposite Hyde Park, Lancaster London is adjacent to Lancaster Gate Tube station and minutes from the Heathrow Express; making access easy for all guests.

The hotel boasts 416 bedrooms including 22 suites, all with a/c, flat-screen satellite TV and high speed internet, as well as spacious, elegant lounges, and two restaurants – the contemporary Island Grill and the renowned Nipa Thai restaurant. The brandnew and complimentary gym is exclusively available for guests.

Lancaster London is also one of Europe’s leading and flexible meeting and banqueting venues – ideal for small meetings to large conferences and can accommodate up to 3,000 guests. The conference rooms have benefited from a recent £11.5 million refurbishment.

There are several flexible options for those wishing to use the venue for events. The Nine Kings Suite can hold up to 1,200 guests for dinner, as well as 650 guests in the adjoining reception foyer. It is acknowledged as one of the finest venues in Europe for conventions, awards ceremonies, dinners and exhibitions.

The Westbourne Suite accommodates up to 1,200 people in spacious comfort and elegant style. It is particularly suited to events involving elaborate technical presentations and is supported by Lancaster London’s highly professional and experienced Meeting and Events team.

Wembley Stadium

Capacities Theatre: 1,800 Reception: 3,250 Banquet: 1,900 Breakout rooms: 166 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 8-300 Total exhibition space (m2): 9,500

Nearest Tube stations: Wembley Park and Wembley Central

The largest stadium in the UK with a capacity of 90,000, Wembley is the natural home for great events. With the Wembley arch forming one of London’s most iconic landmarks, the stadium is a global phenomenon. It is the beating heart of sport and music and firmly places London on the global stage.

As a venue, this is taken even further, demonstrating London’s ability to host not just world-class events but world-class conferences, exhibitions, award ceremonies, gala dinners and AGMs. The new stadium opened in 2007 and has rapidly become one of London’s most diverse spaces, which is matched by the diversity of its clients and the types of events held there. As well as the home of English football it also stages some of the biggest finals in the world of sport along with an excellent concert programme. Wembley also hosted men’s and women’s football for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

From Wembley Stadium’s commitment to accessibility and sustainability to the continual ongoing improvements the venue continues to delight and inspire, providing a stunning, flexible and unique backdrop to a wide variety of interesting and unique events.

Address

Map reference: C1

Wembley London HA9 0WS T: +44 (0)20 8795 9660 E: specialevents@wembleystadium.com wembleystadium.com

Address Lancaster Terrace London W2 2TY T: +44 (0)20 7551 6000 E: info@lancasterlondon.com lancasterlondon.com

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Venues for over 500

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London

Capacities Theatre: 1,400 Reception: 1,500 Banquet: 1,200 Breakout rooms: 30 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 10-250 Total exhibition space (m2): 3,830 Bedrooms: 1,019

Nearest Tube stations: Westminster and Waterloo

Map reference: J12

Art meets design to make the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London an iconic all-in-one solution for meetings, conferences and private gatherings.

The hotel’s exceptional event space includes the signature 1,200m2 pillar-free Westminster Ballroom, which can host 1,200 diners or 1,400 delegates theatre style. This outstanding space includes removable walls, high-specification technology including integrated pin-spot lighting, a heavy goods lift, private bar and a dedicated meeting planner’s office. Convenient ‘layered’ capacity for smaller events or meetings includes the flexible Plaza and Park Suites, which can accommodate up to 250 guests with a dedicated foyer and Business Centre.

Intimate City Boardrooms are located on each floor and offer enhanced privacy, Wi-Fi and spectacular floor-to-ceiling windows for up to 26 attendees. For events or conferences, the hotel offers complimentary Wi-Fi, coach parking, dedicated group check-in desks and high-level security.

A choice of 1,019 tastefully conceived guest rooms and suites includes chic Superior Rooms, Suites and Penthouse Apartments which can be block-booked for conference delegates.

Dining options include Brasserie Joël, Ichi Sushi & Sashimi, 1WB Lounge & Patisserie, Primo Bar and Espressamente Illy. The hotel also boasts a fitness centre with 15m pool and Europe’s only Mandara Spa, bringing a touch of Balinese calm to London.

Address

Park Plaza Riverbank London From the south side of the River Thames, Park Plaza Riverbank London offers an outstanding meeting and event solution.

Capacities Theatre: 650 Reception: 660 Banquet: 540 Breakout rooms: 16 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 6-200 Total exhibition space (m2): 1,587 Bedrooms: 395

Nearest Tube stations: Vauxhall, Westminster and Waterloo

A selection of 21 meeting rooms is housed on multiple levels in a separate conference centre boasting an on-site AV team and experienced staff. Perfect for weddings and corporate entertaining, the impressive Thames Room affords gorgeous 180-degree River Thames views. The Ballroom, Plaza and Park Suites offer a choice of configurations for dinners and social gatherings for up to 650 theatre style, and spacious foyers with bars for pre-event entertainment. State-ofthe-art services include hi-tech AV equipment, rigging points, bespoke catering, car lift access and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Coach parking and a dedicated check-in area are available, and on-site parking is offered at an additional charge.

Accommodation comprises 395 guest rooms and suites, many with iconic riverside views.

Additional facilities include the awardwinning Chino Latino Pan-Asian Restaurant & Bar and a full-service Business Centre.

Address 18 Albert Embankment London SE1 7TJ T: +44 (0)844 854 5290 E: pprlconf@pphe.com parkplaza.com/riverbank

Map reference: K12

200 Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7UT T: +44 (0)844 415 6790 E: ppwlconf@pphe.com parkplaza.com/westminsterbridge londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

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500+

Park Plaza Victoria London

Capacities Theatre: 550 Reception: 600 Banquet: 400 Breakout rooms: 13 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 15-300 Total exhibition space (m2): 1,620 Bedrooms: 287

Nearest Tube station: Victoria

Map reference: J10

A short walk from Victoria Station and close to the city’s key transport hubs, Park Plaza Victoria London is a perfect meetings and conference venue.

A self-contained meetings facility houses 15 conference rooms and provides customisable spaces for up to 600 guests. The purposebuilt conference and exhibitions area can accommodate up to 30 stands and has car lift access, business centre, Wi-Fi and the latest AV equipment. Two ballrooms create a memorable setting for once-in-a-lifetime weddings and social gatherings.

The 287 chic guest rooms, including Executive Rooms, Studio Rooms and Apartments, offer air-conditioning, international electrical adaptors and comfortable beds for a restful night’s sleep.

TOZI Restaurant & Bar specialises in Venetian cicchetti and classic Italian cocktails, and the Lounge Bar serves speciality cocktails, bar snacks and coffee.

Free Wi-Fi is available through the hotel.

The state-of-the-art on-site fitness suite is perfect for a workout, and London’s many attractions are a stone’s throw away.

Address

Church House Conference Centre

Capacities Theatre: 664 Reception: 550 Banquet: 372 Breakout rooms: 18 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 6-270 Total exhibition space (m2): 988

Nearest Tube stations: St James’s Park and Westminster

239 Vauxhall Bridge Road London SW1V 1EQ T: +44 (0)844 415 6750 E: ppvlconf@pphe.com parkplaza.com/victorialondon

Map reference: J11

Situated in the heart of Westminster, close to Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Church House Conference Centre’s Grade II-listed building is a popular London venue.

With 19 diverse rooms offering both modern and historic interiors, Church House’s versatile venue provides a perfect setting for medium to large meetings and has numerous breakout rooms available. The venue also boasts a secluded balcony area with exquisite views of Westminster Abbey and Dean’s Yard.

With award-winning in-house events, AV and catering teams, Church House delivers an unbeatable service providing expertise and specialist advice from initial planning through to post-event evaluation.

Through continuous investment, Church House offers state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure. Its AV team has the expertise to provide an extensive range of services.

The in-house catering team offers a wide range of menus, from finger and fork buffets to working lunches and three and four course dinners. Alternatively the head chef will work with you and tailor a menu to meet your requirements.

Located off Parliament Square, Church House is within walking distance of Underground stations and Victoria train station.

Address Dean’s Yard Westminster London SW1P 3NZ T: +44 (0)20 7390 1590 E: sales@churchhouseconf.co.uk churchhouseconf.co.uk

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Conference venues for over 500 people

Millennium Gloucester Hotel & Conference Centre

Capacities Theatre: 500 Reception: 600 Banquet: 400 Breakout rooms: 25 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 10-200 Total exhibition space (m2): 1,600 Bedrooms: 610

Nearest Tube stations: Gloucester Road

The Millennium Conference Centre, housed within the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, is an ideal stage for international conventions, glamorous social events, and meetings large or small. With 1,600m2 of fully flexible column-free space, all rooms feature intelligent lighting, audio visual and advanced technology to bring presentations to life.

Conveniently situated next to Gloucester Road Underground station, the Millennium Gloucester Hotel offers 610 comfortable bedrooms and suites and provides an ideal location for guests wishing to visit London’s greatest attractions. Round-the-clock services and exceptional customer care complete the guest experience.

Earls Court and Olympia exhibition centres are a short distance away, while key shopping areas and Theatreland are within easy reach.

Address

The Mermaid

Capacities Theatre: 600 Reception: 600 Banquet: 400 Breakout rooms: 8 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 10-330 Total exhibition space (m2): 500

4-18 Harrington Gardens London SW7 4LH T: +44 (0)20 7331 6257 E: mcc.events@millenniumhotels.co.uk millenniumhotels.co.uk/ millenniumgloucester

Nearest Tube stations: Blackfriars and St Paul’s

Located on the north bank, overlooking the River Thames – proudly stands The Mermaid.

Dating back to 1959, formerly a theatre and originally the brain child of Lord Bernard Miles, the building is steeped in history.

As you enter The Mermaid, the impressive contemporary foyer, with a floor-to-ceiling glass front, is the perfect area for client registration, extensive branding and postconference drink receptions.

At the heart of the venue is the Auditorium, with tiered seating, excellent sightlines, comprehensive lighting and an impressive 350m2 stage. This striking space is ideal for events up to 600. Located on the first floor is the Newgate Suite, a light, bright and airy space. The new internal staircase allows the floor to work in conjunction with the Auditorium, or as a stand-alone conference, event or exhibition floor. With capacities up to 330 and moveable walls, the space is very desirable. The venue also comprises five smaller rooms with capacities from 10-150, perfect for smaller/medium size meetings or breakout spaces.

If you are looking for a conference, meeting or exhibition venue, then The Mermaid has all you need under one roof and is one of London’s best-kept secrets.

Address

Map reference: K8

Map reference: H13

Puddle Dock Blackfriars London EC4V 3DB T: +44 (0)20 7236 1919 E: info@the-mermaid.co.uk the-mermaid.co.uk

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Academic venues London is renowned for its centres of academic excellence, spanning expertise in medicine, science, economics, architecture and art. Many of these academic institutions offer low-cost accommodation and a range of first-class venues suitable for conferences and events.

With 45 universities and colleges in London, it’s easy to find an academic venue that perfectly matches your event’s theme.

Choose from renowned centres of scientific breakthrough, creativity, progressive political thinking, pioneering astrophysical study and more.

Science and medicine

As a hub of scientific research, London hosts some of the world’s leading science, health and medical institutions. Their spiritual home is BMA House, home to the British Medical Association – a stunning Grade II-listed building designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Imperial College is London’s largest academic venue with an outstanding choice of conference, training, banqueting, exhibition and accommodation facilities. Its South Kensington location means your delegates can enjoy the nearby museum quarter, with the Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum and Science Museum all just a stone’s throw away.

45 universities

The Council Chamber at the Royal College of Physicians

Art and architecture

The historic Royal Institute of British Architects is a versatile space complete with roof terrace, offering breathtaking London views and a combination of Art Deco rooms and modern suites. In east London, Queen Mary University has overseen the refurbishment of a fine 1930s Art Deco ‘People’s Palace’. The stage was once strutted upon by the Rolling Stones, and after a £6.3 million refit the facilities are second-to-none.

The Octagon at Queen Mary University of London

Economics and political science

London School of Economics and Political Science in central London is one of the world’s top universities and offers a wide range of conference venues, including the 1,000-capacity Peacock Theatre.

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Academic venues

Queen Mary University of London

Capacities Theatre: 770 Reception: 400 Banquet: 180 Breakout rooms: 100 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 10-300 Total exhibition space (m2): 450 Bedrooms: 1,200 (Available June-September)

Nearest Tube stations: Mile End and Stepney Green

Located in vibrant east London, in Mile End – two stops on the Central line from Liverpool Street and one from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford – Queen Mary University of London offers a unique combination of historic and contemporary venues, which allow associations the opportunity to stay, meet and eat in one campus environment, featuring buildings from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

Queen Mary offers over 100 meeting rooms, many available with built-in AV solutions from data projection and microphones to Wi-Fi and live relay. Boasting two Grade II venues, the recently refurbished Great Hall and stunning Victorian Octagon, the venue offers adaptable flat floor space for exhibitions or networking while the Great Hall is suitable for large plenary sessions. Combined with the contemporary buildings on campus, it provides a spectacular and unique backdrop for any event seeking to make a positive impression.

Imperial College London

Capacities Theatre: 740 Reception: 620 Banquet: 350 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 10-60 Total exhibition space (m2): 572 Bedrooms: 1,600 during summer months

Address 327 Mile End Road London E1 4NS T: +44 (0)20 7882 8174/5 E: enquiries@qmhospitality.co.uk qmhospitality.co.uk

Nearest Tube stations: South Kensington and Gloucester Road

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Imperial is also one of the UK’s largest academic venues with over 200 flexible event spaces in South Kensington, from meeting rooms, lecture theatres and classrooms to unique listed private houses complete with their own events teams.

Nestled between the Science, Natural History and V&A Museums and the Royal Albert Hall in London’s cultural heartland, Imperial provides a truly inspirational environment for events.

From small meetings for ten people to large conferences for over 700, the college offers a professional, discreet and slick event service with award-winning in-house catering, superb AV support and event staff who are with you from start to finish.

Ample and modern campus accommodation is available during the summer and discounted accommodation at local hotels can be provided throughout the year.

Imperial enjoys excellent transport links to the West End, Paddington, Victoria and Heathrow Airport and is a short walk from South Kensington Tube station.

Address

Map reference: J8 Map reference: G17

Consistently rated among the world’s best universities, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research.

South Kensington Campus London SW7 2AZ T: +44 (0)20 7594 9494 E: conferenceandevents@imperial.ac.uk imperial.ac.uk/conferenceandevents

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Academic venues

King’s College London

Capacities Theatre: 450 Reception: 200 Banquet: 150 Marquee: 500 Breakout rooms: Over 150 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 1-100 Bedrooms: 2,500 during summer months

King’s Venues is the conference and accommodation department for King’s College London. Located in the heart of London, with many buildings close to the River Thames, King’s Venues offers an exciting choice of over 200 unique spaces for every type of event in both modern and period settings. With five campus sites including the Strand, Waterloo and London Bridge, the college offers true flexibility for events with lecture theatres for up to 450, a variety of classrooms and breakout space, restaurants, cafés and terrace spaces.

During the summer months, late June to early September, the halls of residence are available for letting; with nearly 2,500 guest rooms and growing, they can provide a complete solution for your conference and event needs.

Steeped in a history that dates back 180 years, teamed with modern facilities and equipment, each of the King’s Venues is special and can be adapted, equipped and matched to purpose.

Address

Nearest Tube stations: Temple, Charing Cross and Embankment

Map reference: H12

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King’s Venues London Room K-2.86 King’s Building Strand Campus Strand London WC2R 2LS T: +44 (0)20 7848 1700 E: kingsvenues@kcl.ac.uk kingsvenues.com

Royal College of Physicians

Capacities Theatre: 304 Reception: 400 Banquet: 300 Breakout rooms: 10 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 10-150 Total exhibition space (m2): 568

Nearest Tube stations: Great Portland Street, Warren Street and Regent’s Park

Map reference: G10

Rich in history, yet designed for the needs of today, the Royal College of Physicians is housed in an elegant, award-winning, Grade I-listed, modern building, located in an attractive setting overlooking Regent’s Park in the heart of London.

The RCP is situated only minutes away from Great Portland Street, Warren Street and Regent’s Park Tube stations and is conveniently located for King’s Cross, Euston and Paddington stations, as well as the St Pancras International Eurostar terminal and all major London airports.

The impressive portfolio of purpose-designed facilities includes auditoriums, exhibition, meeting and dining spaces with a good mixture of old and new styles to suit all tastes. The building has an atmosphere of space and light with stylish, modern architecture.

On a summer’s evening, the Medicinal Garden is the perfect setting for a drinks reception, barbeque and al fresco dining.

The 1,000 different plants in this garden are like a library of ancient medicinal books – a timeline of two thousand years of medicines.

The facilities are further enhanced by numerous rare treasures, artefacts and antiquarian books, making every occasion truly memorable.

Address 11 St Andrews Place Regent’s Park London NW1 4LE T: +44 (0)20 7034 4900 E: events@rcplondon.ac.uk rcpevents.co.uk

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Hospitality and Special Events The EDF Energy London Eye is proud to offer both private capsule hospitality and luxury river-based events, providing stunning views of the capital from two different perspectives.

London Eye Barracuda This beautiful vintage river cruiser with Art Deco interior can accommodate 230 guests for a reception and 140 for seated dining. It has its very own upper deck bar and dance floor, and is available to host a variety of events, including cocktail parties, lunches, dinner and dinner dance.

Conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects

If you are looking for an inspirational and unique idea, our experienced team will be delighted to assist you in designing your perfect experience.

Contact the team: Please contact our dedicated corporate and special events team for assistance in designing your inspirational and unique event.

• Exclusive hire

For private capsules and corporate bookings call

• Team building

• Corporate hospitality

or email

• Private dining

• Tasting experiences

For London Eye Barracuda bookings call

• Drinks receptions

• River transfers

or email:

• Incentive programmes

+44 (0)871 222 4002*

corporate.events@londoneye.com +44 (0)871 222 4002*

barracuda@londoneye.com For more information please visit

www.londoneye.com

*Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras.

Operated by London Eye Management Services Limited, a Merlin Entertainments Group Company.

EDF Energy London Eye Riverside Building, County Hall Westminster Bridge Road London, SE1 7PB

Tower of London, UNESCO World Heritage Site

The terrace at the OXO Tower Brasserie

Social venues A strong social programme can elevate a good event to a great event. From nautical soirées at historical Greenwich to exclusive gatherings at royal palaces, sky-high eateries or glamorous ballrooms, London’s social offering can make your event a ‘must-attend’.

With more than 1,000 social venues ranging from historic to contemporary, you are bound to find the perfect option in London, whether it’s for a welcome reception, a gala evening or a president’s dinner.

Rooms with a view

As part of a successful conference, nothing clears the head better than a bird’s-eye view of the city – especially in London, where 21st-century towers gleam among historical spires.

Up to 800 guests can be accommodated on the EDF Energy London Eye, offering spectacular views across the capital, after which your delegates can attend a reception nearby in the city’s underwater venue: the SEA LIFE London Aquarium.

Your delegates can also marvel at London’s skyline from the Norman Foster-designed Gherkin, offering 360-degree views of the City. Other options with a view include the 22

OXO Tower, a landmark on the South Bank, and Altitude London in the heart of Westminster.

Fit for king and queen

London’s pageantry will add colour and kudos to your social programme. Awe your delegates with a private view of the glittering Crown Jewels before drinks in the White Tower at the Tower of London, or dine like royalty in the fabulous Banqueting House.

Museums and markets

London has long been a trading city. Tap into this history at Old Billingsgate, once the world’s biggest fish market, now offering receptions for up to 2,400. Or soak up the atmosphere at the bustling Leadenhall Market in the City, or the Tobacco Dock in east London.

London’s world-class museums also offer spectacular backdrops for social events: consider the British Museum, Victoria and

The Natural History Museum’s Central Hall, with its iconic Diplodocus skeleton

Albert Museum or Museum of London to name but a few.

Unique to London

London’s medieval guilds were established in the 12th century to protect the interests of the city’s traders and craftspeople. A social event in one of the guilds’ magnificent livery halls will impress all visitors today and can be selected to tie in with the theme of your conference. Choose from stunning Guildhall in the heart of the City of London, Merchant Taylors’ Hall and Glaziers’ Hall among others.

Having a ball

London hotels excel at hosting receptions and banquets in shimmering ballrooms and historical dining spaces. Grosvenor House’s Great Room can accommodate up to 2,000, or if it’s traditional glamour you are after, follow in the footsteps of Katharine Hepburn and Frank Sinatra at The Savoy, or return to the opulent 1930s at The Dorchester.

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Social venues Social venues

The Museum of London Cutty Sark, the last surviving tea clipper

1,000 social venues Land, sea and sky

To harness your event’s progressive spirit, consider some of these pioneering venues: ●●

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Sir Christopher Wren’s Old Royal Naval College is available for magnificent receptions, and the Painted Hall, Wren’s baroque masterpiece, described as the finest dining room in Europe, can accommodate up to 400 guests The Natural History Museum, famous for its cathedral-like Central Hall, can host huge receptions under the gaze of its enormous Diplodocus skeleton and 1,300-year-old giant sequoia. The dynamic Earth Hall, with state-of-theart lighting, hosts spectacular themed dinners and receptions The Cutty Sark, one of the world’s most famous tea clippers, was relaunched in 2012 and all three decks are available for hire. The dry berth, with the ship suspended above, is perfect for a wide variety of receptions

Capacities Theatre: 230 Reception: Up to 1,000 (whole museum) Banquet: Up to 350 Breakout rooms: 7 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): Theatre style 100 Cabaret style 74 Boardroom style 30

Nearest Tube stations: St Paul’s, Moorgate, Bank and Barbican

The Museum of London tells the incredible story of the world’s greatest city and its people. Through its immersive galleries, visitors are taken on a journey exploring London’s history from prehistoric times to the present day via the Roman, medieval, Tudor and Victorian eras.

The museum is a stunning venue for both daytime and evening events. Designed with events in mind, these unique spaces provide a perfect backdrop for drinks receptions, dinners and conferences. The museum’s flexible spaces can accommodate almost any event from product launches to boardroom meetings and big client dinners to receptions.

By staging an event in the expansive galleries you will have access to the collections and the expertise behind them.

The museum uses its incredible collection of objects and personal stories to inspire a passion for London. Located in the heart of the City, the Museum of London is a recognised industry leader in promoting sustainability, with its green roof, rainwater harvesting programme and bee-friendly wild meadow.

Address 150 London Wall London EC2Y 5HN

Map reference: H13

T: +44 (0)20 7814 5789 E: venuehire@museumoflondon.org.uk museumoflondon.org.uk/corporate/ venue-hire

Your delegates can enjoy cruises along the river on the London Eye Barracuda to experience the best views of London

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Social venues

One Great George Street

Capacities Theatre: 400 Reception: 400 Banquet: 260 Breakout rooms: 7 Range of capacities of breakout rooms (people): 6-26 Total exhibition space (m2): 394

Nearest Tube stations: Westminster, St James’s Park and Charing Cross

Map reference: J11

One Great George Street’s private dining and reception rooms offer subtle and sophisticated event experiences within the well-renowned elegant event venue. Located in the centre of Westminster, the Edwardian building lies next to the Houses of Parliament and near to Buckingham Palace. The rooms provide comfortable and stylish surroundings with dark oak wood panelling, crystal chandeliers and well-dressed soft furnishings.

The in-house executive chef and catering team are able to work with specific requirements to produce a bespoke menu and help create the perfect event, whilst expertly trained sommeliers can suggest suitable wines to complement each dish.

The flawless service and attention to the finest details that they deliver remain consistent whether the event is a gala award dinner for up to 260 people or a small intimate fine-dining event or reception for ten people. One Great George Street can also offer exclusive use throughout the building, which includes the reception foyer, rotunda area as well as 21 meeting and event spaces for larger events.

The creative and dedicated event coordinator will also be able to recommend accompanying special touches such as lighting, flowers and entertainment to enhance the event and ensure it is one of a kind.

river rooms

Capacities Reception: 600 Banquet: 300 Total exhibition space (m2): 465

Nearest Tube stations: Blackfriars and St Paul’s

Map reference: H13

The two newly refurbished river rooms sit on the River Thames with panoramic views of the Shard, Tate Modern, OXO Tower and EDF Energy London Eye, and benefit from a private entrance.

The river rooms are a breathtaking modern space that has been enlarged and can accommodate a capacity of up to 300 for a dinner and 600 for receptions. Split over two levels, these two rooms include their own bars and have a late night licence. They benefit from large windows that span the length of the room and have wooden floors, a perfect setting for guests to drink, dine and dance. The spectacular views are sure to impress you and your delegates.

This fantastic event space is suitable for all manner of events including corporate functions, Christmas parties, weddings, wedding receptions and exhibitions as well as private dining and intimate birthday parties.

Address Puddle Dock Blackfriars London EC4V 3DB T: +44 (0)20 7236 1919 E: info@riverrooms.co.uk riverrooms.co.uk

Address One Great George Street London SW1P 3AA T: +44 (0)20 7665 2323 E: info@onegreatgeorgestreet.com onegreatgeorgestreet.com

24

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

Hotels From convention hotels, global and budget chains to student halls and boutique properties, London has a huge range of hotels to suit your needs. With over 117,000 bedrooms, there is plenty to choose from; the hotels listed here are keen to help and understand the complexities of working with associations.

London Accommodation Charter London & Partners’ dedicated Associations Team has created the first-ever London Accommodation Charter for the association sector.

It is designed to simplify the process of sourcing London hotel rooms for congresses that have a city-wide requirement of 1,000 bedrooms or more on peak nights.

The team worked with ten major hotel groups, which represent 25% of the overall bedrooms available in London, to create the charter terms.

The team will block bedrooms and hold the space until the status of the bid is known. They will then communicate with the hotels and pass over the space for contracting to the relevant PCO/housing agency.

Charter terms include: – standard commissionable rates – three-month release allocation system – a central hotel account manager for ongoing communication The hotels on the following pages support the London Accommodation Charter and have a good understanding of the requirements of associations.

Rooms Total

% Total Rooms

Establishments Total

% Establishment s

Economy

26,282

22.5%

449

36.9%

Midscale

11,236

9.6%

117

9.6%

Upper midscale

13,321

11.4%

132

10.8%

Upscale

33,576

28.8%

289

23.7%

Upper upscale

20,488

17.5%

149

12.2%

Luxury class

11,869

10.2%

82

6.8%

116,772

100%

1,218

100%

Total

(includes hotels of ten rooms or more). NB. Hotels are graded on the basis of Average Daily Rates.

Source: STR Global Luxury class broadly compares to the 5-star grading, upscale properties are roughly comparable to 4-star/upper 3-star, and midscale hotels are comparable with a 3-star designation. The economy category comprises both guest house-style properties and budget chains.

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

25

Hotels

9,232

Accor Hotels operate over 40 hotels across London ranging from budget to luxury brands including Ibis hotels (featuring Ibis Budget, Ibis and Ibis Styles), mid-market Mercure and Novotel, the upscale Pullman Hotels featuring the newly renovated Pullman St Pancras, and the luxury Sofitel hotels including Sofitel St James in the West End.

9,526

Organising an event in London for up to 3,000 delegates? Hilton Worldwide gives you a choice of 30 outstanding hotels in and around the capital. All within easy access of each other for multiple hotel requirements and major transport links.

Accor Hotels are located across London from east to west and, with a wide range of properties, they can offer brands to suit all tastes and budgets. Key locations include ExCeL, featuring hotels within the Novotel and Ibis family, and west London, home to their largest meetings hotels Novotel London West, Ibis Earls Court and Sofitel London Heathrow, with capacities for over 1,000.

With over 50 years’ experience in London organising large events and specialist conventions whilst providing accommodation to suit all budgets, their dedicated teams will ensure every aspect of your event runs smoothly. All of the full service hotels offer a range of flexible spaces, state-of-the-art facilities, technology support and outstanding service, with passionate support teams to ensure your event goes perfectly to plan!

Address

Address

T: +44 (0)20 8237 7770 E: conferencedesk.uk@accor.com accorhotels.com/meetings

T: +44 (0)20 7616 6405 E: london.sales@hilton.com

2,688

hilton.com/london

2,295

Guoman has five hotels located in central London offering some of the most accessible destinations in the capital.

Individual design, central locations and excellent meeting facilities are key features of the upscale Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts brand.

The hotels offer a huge range of room sizes and layouts, which can be configured to your precise requirements.

Modern function space for up to 1,500 delegates is flexible for events use, with pillar-free ballrooms, free Wi-Fi integration, and natural daylight or high specification intelligent lighting. The event facilities are complemented by nearly 2,300 stylish guest rooms, award-winning restaurants and bars, and flawlessly delivered reliable service. With a range of outstanding facilities mostly located within self-contained conference floors and a dedicated team of professionals on hand, you’ll be pleased you chose Park Plaza hotels.

The Guoman collection is a variety of hotels each with a unique style.

The Cumberland offers a modern, contemporary and creative space whereas the original station hotels Charing Cross and The Grosvenor are abundant with history and heritage.

The largest meeting space can be found at The Tower, alongside stunning London views.

The flagship of the group, the Royal Horseguards Hotel with adjoining One Whitehall Place is elegant, luxurious and steeped in history.

The five London venues are all located within walking distance of some of the city’s major attractions and transport links.

Address

Address T: +44 (0)845 075 3775 26

guoman.com

T: +44 (0)20 7034 4800 E: uksales@pphe.com

parkplaza.com parkplaza.com/exhibitionsuk londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

Hotels

700

Marlin Apartments is London’s largest owner-operator of serviced apartments with more than 700 quality apartments across six central properties. With locations ranging from Empire Square (near London Bridge) and Queen Street (near St Paul’s) to Canary Wharf and Stratford (near ExCeL and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park), all are conveniently located for local transport connections.

Each apartment is above industry average in size and comes equipped with the most up-to-date technology including free Wi-Fi, multi-channel televisions, DVD players and high specification bathrooms and kitchens with full-size appliances.

Marlin Apartments offers great value and flexibility with a range of options from studios to three-bedroom apartments. The modern developments are designed with space, security and comfort in mind, along with 24-hour dedicated on-site concierge.

Address T: +44 (0)20 7378 4840 E: sales@marlinapartments.com

2,344

Thistle has 31 city-centre hotels across the UK, with ten hotels in central London in iconic locations such as Marble Arch, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly. Thistle Hotels are of a 3 and 4-star standard offering a fair price yet high standard service.

In addition to perfectly accessible locations, the hotels offer a range of spaces to accommodate any event from a board meeting to gala dinner, with ample bedrooms for delegates requiring on-site accommodation.

Equipped with modern facilities acquired following a group-wide refurbishment programme, each hotel also has an individual character and heritage offering delegates a versatile experience.

Address T: +44 (0)845 676 9009 E: mandelondon@thistle.co.uk

marlinapartments.com

331

Following an extensive £30 million refurbishment, this 4-star hotel in Westminster offers a unique blend of historically significant interiors and design that creates a sense of warmth and repose, and modern facilities.

The hotel’s central location makes it a great base for business or pleasure. With 331 guest rooms and 15 function spaces it can cater for events of up to 400 people. St. Ermin’s is also conveniently located for accessing London’s major conference centres such as the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Central Hall Westminster, Church House and One Great George Street. Underground and mainline stations and popular London leisure and tourist attractions are just a short walk away.

Address 2 Caxton Street Westminster London SW1H 0QW

thistle.com

2,493

Millennium & Copthorne has six hotels in London, all located in the fashionable districts of Kensington, Knightsbridge, Mayfair and Chelsea, and within easy reach of some of the capital’s top sights and attractions. Their meetings and events facilities include one of London’s most high-tech purpose-built conference venues, the Millennium Conference Centre. The centre consists of 1,600m2 of meetings and events space and over 25 versatile function rooms and boardrooms that can accommodate product launches, forums, training sessions and exhibitions.

Address T: +44 (0)845 302 0002 millenniumhotels.co.uk E: events@millenniumhotels.co.uk

T: +44 (0)20 7227 4816 E: twalsh@sterminshotel.co.uk sterminshotel.co.uk

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

27

Event services

Organising a conference is a fairly time-consuming and demanding process. Fortunately, help is at hand.

Some of the world’s most professional service providers are based in London, offering invaluable support for the success of your event.

Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs) are companies that specialise in conference organisation. They have vast experience and knowledge in planning meetings and are vital for the management of budgets and the securing of sponsorship opportunities.

Destination Management Companies (DMCs) specialise in the design and delivery of social events, activities, tours, staffing and transport, utilising extensive local knowledge, expertise and resources. They know London inside out and there’s rarely any request that can’t be met.

London & Partners will assist you with the process of deciding which of these is the best route to take. We will explore your requirements and organise appointments for you to meet these service providers.

Strong, stable, reliable and in business for over 30 years, TFI Meeting Point has a reputation for delivering highly successful conferences.

They work with you right from the start, helping you win your conference bid, and partner with you to help you maximise the value of your conference asset by helping you develop new revenue streams beyond the physical event. You benefit from their knowledge, experience and understanding to ensure you engage with and increase your audiences and your memberships. They are experts in developing powerful communications that stimulate interest, enhance education, build communities and develop global reach.

TFI Meeting Point knows how to broker effective relationships between professionals and commercial partners that generate revenue, support R&D and deliver ROI. Address tfigroup.com

T: +44 (0)20 7808 5600 E: barbara.blow@tfigroup.com

With more than 27 years of event management and associated service delivery MCI have an in-depth and specialised knowledge gained from hands-on experience in providing tailor-made solutions for high-quality conference and congress management. They offer a range of flexible solutions and services to meet all their client needs, from 10 to 10,000 attendees.

In-house experts provide services that can be contracted on a stand-alone basis, or full service management to fit your organisation’s needs and requirements. MCI specialises in: project management and delivery; speaker sourcing, delegate services; sponsor and exhibitor consultancy, sales and fulfilment; bid management and support.

Address T: +44 (0)1730 821 969 E: hello@mci-group.com

28

Congrex, one of the largest global PCOs, provides tailored services to meet clients’ needs in the organisation and delivery of national and international meetings, events, conferences, association management, travel and accommodation.

Operating 17 global offices and one in London, their experienced multilingual team offers exceptional personal service and execution.

Congrex also powers the ExCeL Hotel Booking Service (EHBS), which is in place to provide a professional accommodation management service for conferences and events taking place at ExCeL London. EHBS possesses a strong negotiating power with hotels, through which groups of conference participants benefit from excellent rates and conditions.

Address

mci-group.com/uk

T: +44 (0)20 8237 4090 E: congrextravel@congrex.com

congrex.com

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

Travel & insurance

Eurostar is the high-speed train that has revolutionised travel between London and Europe since 1994.

Operating at 300km/h, it’s just over two hours from the heart of Paris or from the centre of Brussels to St Pancras International in central London via Eurostar. With a choice of frequent departures, fast check in and city centre to city centre locations, Eurostar is the ultimate European travel experience.

Travellers can choose between flexibility in Business Premier, comfort in Standard Premier or seamlessness in Standard.

Eurostar provides seasonal services to Bourg St Maurice and Avignon and connects with rail services all across Europe.

Address T: +44 (0)8448 224 800 E: groups@eurostar.com

eurostar.com

oneworld is a quality airline alliance that aims to be the first choice airline alliance of frequent international travellers, offering a combined route network that delivers first-rate access to the world’s leading business cities, with frequent flyer benefits extended to all alliance flights. Current member airlines include airberlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines. oneworld events is a ‘one stop’ travel solution for large-scale events and conferences. Organisers can streamline their registration process with an automated RFP, access management reports online 24/7 and earn and redeem travel credits for travel on participating oneworld member airlines. Attractive flight discounts and a quick and an easy online booking tool are available for all attendees.

Address E: oneworldevents@oneworld.com

Heathrow Express is the smarter way to travel between central London and Heathrow. The non-stop express service departs Heathrow and Paddington every 15 minutes, taking just 15 minutes to Heathrow Terminal 1 and 3, with a short journey on to Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. ●●

●●

●●

Smart ticketing: Smart, paperless ticketing now makes it even easier and more convenient to book – tickets can be bought online, via mobile app or on the train Smart trains: A £16 million refurbishment has recently been rolled out across the entire fleet, and the electric trains emit 59% less carbon than the equivalent taxi journey (HEX 1.4kg, taxi 3.4kg) Smarter travel: Heathrow Express offers a seamless transition from plane to train to city centre. With speed, comfort and reliability, Heathrow Express is the smarter way to travel

Address

oneworld.com

With over 30 years’ experience insuring national, international and European conferences, exhibitions and congresses, Hiscox understand that your event is unique. With adaptable insurance cover to suit your needs, Hiscox can provide cover for the following: ●●

●●

●●

Cancellation and abandonment – protecting you and your client’s financial investment in the event Public liability and employers’ liability – protecting you against the legal risks you may face when running an event Property – for your property, venue fixtures and fittings, or hired property at the event.

Address T: +44 (0)1206 773 851 E: eventinsurance@hiscox.com hiscox.co.uk/events

T: +44 (0)20 8750 6674 E: sales@heathrowexpress.com heathrowexpress.com londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

29

Value London London & Partners’ cost-saving expertise – together with London’s wide range of reasonably priced hotels and venues, free galleries, museums and inspiring parks – means you can deliver a successful event even on a tight budget.

London’s location and diverse offer means there are plenty of options that appeal to cost-conscious event planners.

The city is at the heart of Europe’s low-cost airline network, offering pocket-friendly trips to all attendees. There are budget hotels, B&Bs, hostels, self-catering apartments and university accommodation (July and August) offering good value accommodation.

By holding your event off-season (January, July, August and Bank Holiday weeks), you can take full advantage of discounted venue and accommodation costs. London also has 8,000 restaurants, cafés and bars – many offering budget and pre-theatre menus – as well as free admission to hundreds of world-class cultural collections and attractions.

London & Partners’ services are always free of charge and impartial, and we can help you with ideas and itineraries, special offers and advice on all the promotional tools you need to deliver a successful and cost-effective event.

The world’s media have a major London presence, offering the opportunity for huge press exposure. And with one third of the world’s largest companies having their European HQ in the city, there is potential for corporate support, sponsorship and exhibitors. Our professional conference organiser partners (PCOs) can help you access these opportunities. Find out more on page 28 of this Directory.

Get your money back with VAT reclaim

Going Underground for less

Event organisers and business delegates travelling to the UK on business may be entitled to reclaim the Value Added Tax (VAT, 20% in 2013) on their travel and other business expenses, including hotels and restaurants. Organisers may be able to claim VAT back on venue hire and event costs. London & Partners has teamed up with financial advisers BRAL to help you with VAT refunds, see bral.com. Individual travellers from outside the European Union can also claim back VAT on certain purchases. For further information on tax-free shopping visit globalblue.com.

Explore London’s free attractions

FRE E!

Entertainment beyond your main event needn’t cost a fortune. London boasts many free attractions that would enhance a pre-, during or post-event programme. Consider the cultural highlights at world-class museums and galleries such as the British Museum, National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum and Tate galleries. Or why not experience a historic ceremony such as Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace and Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London, or enjoy free comedy, music, performance or open-air theatre?

Providing your delegates with Oyster travelcards saves both time and money.

The electronic smartcard means they pay the cheapest fares on public transport.

Get out and about London is one of the world’s greenest cities, with more than a third of its urban space dedicated to Royal Parks, squares and gardens. Hyde Park, St James’s Park, Regent’s Park and Green Park are all centrally located, beautiful recreational spaces that offer great breakout spaces and opportunities for down-time.

Walking tours are a good way for your delegates to unwind and explore the city.

Book them for as little as £5 per person; see visitlondon.com. Alternatively, your visitors could go it alone by downloading an app, such as the Museum of London’s Great Fire of London walking tour.

Five of the best ways to cap costs 1 B ook low-cost accommodation and air travel 2 I ncorporate free attractions in your programme 3 H old your event off-season to take advantage of discounts 4 Reclaim your VAT

Entertainment For individual delegates, TKTS in Leicester Square offers daily discounts on top West End shows, and most theatres and attractions regularly offer big discounts on full-price tickets.

5 B ulk-buy Oyster cards through London & Partners Contact London & Partners for advice on how to make your budget go further.

See visitlondon.com for extensive information, ideas, offers and discounts.

Tate Modern

30

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

Go green in London Reduce your event’s carbon footprint with London’s pioneering green venues and suppliers, low-carbon public transport and city-wide commitment to sustainability.

London is striving to be one of the greenest big cities on earth. With its ambitious targets in energy reduction and recycling, a blooming ‘green enterprise’ district and congestion charge zones, the city is a living showcase of how large urban centres can adapt to tackle climate change. Where better to host an event where sustainability is key?

Make it a green venue London is at the forefront of ‘smart cities’ innovation, dedicated to exploring ways to reduce the environmental impact of our large urban centres. Innovative buildings include the £30 million Siemens Crystal, a beacon in east London’s Green Enterprise district, dedicated to nurturing low-carbon skills and eco-friendly businesses.

Such developments are indicative of London’s growing eco-consciousness and sustainable venue offering. Across London, major venues are leading the charge by providing event planners with green options for their events. From wormeries to recycling and carbon offsetting, there are a number of innovative ways to ensure that your event is the greenest yet.

The Green Tourism scheme is the largest and most established sustainable grading programme in the world. There are 121 hotels, conference and events venues across London that are accredited to the scheme, meeting targets in energy efficiency, water conservation, use of environmentally friendly products and recycling. For more information see green-tourism.com.

View of central London from Primrose Hill

Cut the air miles London’s transport system offers myriad opportunities to reduce your event’s carbon emissions. Instead of flying, encourage your delegates to arrive by train; there are frequent Eurostar connections from Paris and Brussels.

Once here, delegates can cycle or take trains, boats and buses. London’s comprehensive battery-charging network means electric cars are another option, with the added bonus of being exempt from London’s congestion fee. Even some of London’s legendary black cabs have been given a green makeover: you can now book carbon-neutral hybrid taxis 24 hours a day.

40%

of London is green space The greenest ambitions

The London Green Fund is investing up to £185 million in energy efficiency, waste and decentralised energy projects by 2015. Plans are also afoot to introduce the world’s first ultra-low emission zone to improve air quality and encourage the mass take-up of zero and low-emission vehicles.

I want London to lead the world in new green technology – from electric vehicles to a new low-carbon bus and bike hire scheme.”

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

31

Future London London is constantly evolving its offer. With billions of pounds being invested in commercial development, transport, regeneration and sustainability, the UK capital is cementing its highly acclaimed reputation as one of the most progressive cities on earth.

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were a catalyst for massive investment in and around London. As well as a transformed 560-acre Games site at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park featuring new venues, lush green spaces and waterways there are improved transport links and thousands of smart hotel rooms across London. In addition to this extraordinary legacy, congress organisers and delegates can look forward to:

Hub: a new wave of hi-tech, low-cost hotels from Premier Inn. Starboard Atlantic: a 500-room, 18-storey hotel overlooking the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and next to Stratford International station.

InterContinental at The O2: a 19-storey, 452-bedroom, 5-star hotel with banqueting space for 2,000, being developed as part of a major regeneration programme on Greenwich Peninsula.

Faster connections to London New iconic spaces and across the city Deutsche Bahn has been given the for social events go-ahead to run high-speed direct services from Frankfurt, Cologne, Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London.

Crossrail is London’s biggest rail network expansion in half a century. From 2018, delegates will be able to move across London in record time, with journeys between Heathrow Airport and east London reducing to just 45 minutes.

Thousands more hotel rooms London’s incredible choice of hotel rooms, reaching 117,000 in 2013, is set to grow, giving organisers an even greater selection of quality accommodation. Some 37 more hotels are due to open by 2017, most of them in east London – an area seeing huge regeneration, with rooms ranging from affordable to five-star. Across the city, look out for the eagerly awaited: Shangri La: a 202-room 5-star hotel in London’s iconic Shard, the tallest building in western Europe, opening in 2014.

New developments in the City of London 2013

32

An influx of unique venues will give organisers the opportunity to create engaging social programmes catering for thousands.

Battersea Power Station, famous for starring on Pink Floyd’s ‘flying pig’ Animals album cover, is being redeveloped to feature a riverside park and performance venue, accessible by river bus and new Tube station.

Your programme could also take in: ●●

●●

●●

●●

A reception at the soaring new extension at London’s leading art gallery, Tate Modern The Design Museum in its new 2014 home; an iconic architectural landmark in South Kensington The 225m ‘Cheesegrater’ Leadenhall Building, opening in 2014 with a vast atrium featuring lawns, trees and cafés A three-level ‘skygarden’ at Rafael Viñoly’s 165m skyscraper, dubbed the ‘WalkieTalkie’ and due to complete in 2014

Pulsing science hub The new Francis Crick Institute, opening in 2015, will be Europe’s biggest centre for biomedical research and innovation. Also in 2015, Imperial West’s new £1 billion campus will offer 79,000m2 of cutting-edge space and a thriving ecosystem of interdisciplinary research.

An even brighter digital future London’s Tech City, already the fastest growing digital cluster in Europe, offers the perfect environment for any technologyorientated event. A new centre of innovation, education and enterprise, dubbed iCity, is also opening on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and will feature conferencing facilities.

Brand-new business districts A swathe of emerging quarters will offer brand-new venues, hotels and specialist business clusters. London’s historic Docklands, situated next to London City Airport and ExCeL London, will be a flagship business district featuring waterside pavilions designed to showcase new products. You could also be the first to host your event at the heart of an unfolding urban regeneration project: billions of pounds are being pumped into east London, including Greenwich and the areas around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Index Venue

Page

Map

Theatre capacity

Reception capacity

Banquet capacity

Website

1

ExCeL London

10

H21

30,000

30,000

30,000

2

The O2

–

I20

20,000

12,000

–

Alexandra Palace

–

–

10,400

7,500

5,000

3

Royal Albert Hall

–

J8

5,200

–

–

4

Battersea Evolution

–

L9

4,000

4,000

2,000

5

Central Hall Westminster

11

J11

2,200

1,100

400

6

Business Design Centre

–

F13

2,000

2,000

1,200

businessdesigncentre.co.uk

7

Barbican

13

G13

1,943

2,000

528

barbican.org.uk/venue-hire

8

Wembley Stadium

14

C1

1,800

3,250

1,900

wembleystadium.com

9

Novotel London West

13

K5

1,700

3,000

1,300

novotellondonwest.co.uk

10

Hilton London Metropole

12

H8

1,600

1,500

1,000

hiltonlondonmet.com

11

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London

15

J12

1,400

1,500

1,200

parkplaza.com/westminsterbridge

12

Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel

–

I10

1,300

2,000

2,000

londongrosvenorhouse.co.uk

13

The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

11

J11

1,300

1,200

900

qeiicc.co.uk

14

The Brewery

–

G13

1,200

1,000

700

thebrewery.co.uk

15

London Hilton on Park Lane

12

I9

1,100

1,350

1,100

16

Lancaster London

14

H8

1,000

1,680

750

lancasterlondon.com

17

Old Billingsgate

–

I14

1,000

2,000

1,200

oldbillingsgate.co.uk

18

Troxy

–

H17

900

2,000

1,000

troxy.co.uk

19

Grand Connaught Rooms

–

H12

800

1,000

550

grandconnaughtrooms.com

20

Queen Mary University of London

19

G17

770

400

180

qmhospitality.co.uk

21

Imperial College London

19

J8

740

620

350

imperial.ac.uk/conferenceandevents

22

Church House Conference Centre

16

J11

664

550

372

churchhouseconf.co.uk

23

Park Plaza Riverbank London

15

K12

650

660

540

parkplaza.com/riverbank

24

The Mermaid

17

H13

600

600

400

the-mermaid.co.uk

25

river rooms

24

H13

600

300

465

riverrooms.co.uk

26

Tower Hotel

–

I15

600

550

400

guoman.com/tower

27

8 Northumberland Avenue

–

I11

600

700

528

8northumberland.co.uk

28

East Wintergarden at Canary Wharf

–

I18

600

1,000

600

eastwintergarden.com

29

The Landmark London

–

G9

568

750

504

landmarklondon.co.uk

30

Park Plaza Victoria London

16

J10

550

600

400

parkplaza.com/victorialondon

31

illennium Gloucester Hotel M & Conference Centre

17

K8

500

600

400

millenniumhotels.co.uk/ millenniumgloucester

32

King’s College London

20

H12

450

200

150

kingsvenues.com

33

Olympia Conference Centre

–

J6

449

700

400

olympia.co.uk

34

The Guildhall

–

H14

410

550

350

guildhall.cityoflondon.gov.uk

35

Science Museum

–

J8

400

2,000

400

sciencemuseum.org.uk

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

excel-london.co.uk theo2.co.uk alexandrapalace.com royalalberthall.com batterseaevolution.co.uk c-h-w.com

hilton.co.uk/londonparklane

33

Index Venue

Page

Map

Theatre capacity

Reception capacity

Banquet capacity

Website

36

Plaisterers’ Hall

–

H13

400

600

380

plaisterershall.com

37

One Great George Street

24

J11

400

400

260

onegreatgeorgestreet.com

38

Banqueting House

–

I11

350

450

380

hrp.org.uk/banquetinghouse

39

Middle Temple

–

H12

350

500

300

middletemple.org.uk

40

Royal College of Physicians

20

G10

304

400

300

rcpevents.co.uk

41

BMA House

–

G11

300

320

200

bmahouse.org.uk

42

he Royal Horseguards – T One Whitehall Place

–

I11

300

350

228

guoman.com/royalhorseguards

43

Victoria and Albert Museum

–

J8

300

700

400

vam.ac.uk

44

Altitude London

–

J11

300

600

200

altitudelondon.com

45

Vinopolis

–

I14

280

750

510

vinopolis.co.uk

46

The Museum of London

23

H13

230

1,000

350

museumoflondon.org.uk

47

Natural History Museum

–

J8

210

1,200

700

nhm.ac.uk

48

Wellcome Collection Conference Centre

–

G11

154

200

60

49

St. Ermin’s Hotel

27

J11

150

200

130

sterminshotel.co.uk

50

Museum of London Docklands

–

H18

146

800

110

museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands

51

London Transport Museum

–

H12

121

500

180

ltmuseum.co.uk

52

The National Maritime Museum

–

L19

120

1,000

500

rmg.co.uk

53

Tower of London

–

I15

100

300

240

hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon

54

Somerset House

–

H12

100

500

200

somersethouse.org.uk

55

40/30 ‘The Gherkin’

–

H14

100

260

144

4030.co.uk

56

Imperial War Museum

–

J13

80

120

60

iwm.org.uk

57

St Paul’s Cathedral

–

H13

70

350

250

58

Tobacco Dock

–

I16

–

3,000

1,200

59

Tate Modern

–

I13

–

1,500

800

tate.org.uk/modern

60

The Royal Courts of Justice

–

H12

–

1,000

600

royalcourtsofjustice-events.co.uk

61

Madame Tussauds

–

G9

–

1,000

380

madametussauds.com

62

SEA LIFE London Aquarium

–

J12

–

1,000

200

visitsealife.com/london

63

Leadenhall Market

–

H14

–

800

300

cityoflondon.gov.uk/leadenhall

64

EDF Energy London Eye

–

I12

–

800

–

65

Shakespeare’s Globe

–

I13

–

450

300

shakespearesglobe.com

66

Cutty Sark

–

L19

–

450

270

rmg.co.uk/cuttysark

67

London Eye Barracuda

–

I12

–

230

–

68

Old Royal Naval College

–

L19

–

–

400

69

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

39

D19

–

–

–

wellcomecollection.org

stpauls.co.uk tobaccodocklondon.com

londoneye.com

londoneye.com/barracuda ornc.org queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk

Image credits: Cover: iStock, p4: © LOCOG, p5: (l-r) © GLA/LMC 2012, © Pawel Libera, p7: (t-b) © tobyphillipsphotography, ©davidanthonyfearn.com, p8: (l-r) iStock, © Pawel Libera, p9: © Pawel Libera, p10: © Ian Bartlett 2012, p11: (l-r) © Tim Hodges Photography, © Richard Townshend Photography, p14: (l-r) Stephen Hyde, Nigel Young, © 2011 Matthew D Shaw, © Contact photographer Kurtay, p16: (r) © 2011 Matthew D Shaw, p20: (l-r) © 2011 Ingrid Rasmussen, © 2007 Niall Clutton, p21: (r) © Pawel Libera, p22: (i-r) © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, p25: iStock, p26(bl): © 2009 Matthew D Shaw, p30: © Godrick, p31: © 2010 Pawel Libera, p32: © melis, p38: © (t-b) VisitBritain/Britain on View, ©VisitBritain/Adam Burton, p39: © LLDC.

34

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London maps � AS GOOD AS OUR WORD AS GOOD AS OUR WORD

THE

DEVIL’S

IN THE ONE DETAIL YOU CAN’T CONTROL. No matter how meticulous you are, some things cannot be planned for. Should you be forced to cancel, curtail or abandon your event, Hiscox can help protect your investment and reputation.

Event Insurance +44 (0)1206 773 851 hiscox.co.uk/events Hiscox Underwriting Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 12130 08/13

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35

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

36

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

37

London maps AS GOOD AS OUR WORD AS GOOD AS OUR WORD

THE

DEVIL’S

IN THE ONE DETAIL YOU CAN’T CONTROL. No matter how meticulous you are, some things cannot be planned for. Should you be forced to cancel, curtail or abandon your event, Hiscox can help protect your investment and reputation.

Event Insurance +44 (0)1206 773 851 hiscox.co.uk/events Hiscox Underwriting Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 12130 08/13

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

35

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

36

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

37

London maps AS GOOD AS OUR WORD AS GOOD AS OUR WORD

THE

DEVIL’S

IN THE ONE DETAIL YOU CAN’T CONTROL. No matter how meticulous you are, some things cannot be planned for. Should you be forced to cancel, curtail or abandon your event, Hiscox can help protect your investment and reputation.

Event Insurance +44 (0)1206 773 851 hiscox.co.uk/events Hiscox Underwriting Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 12130 08/13

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

35

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

36

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

37

Beyond London � Britain is a diverse and rich destination that welcomes millions of tourists every year. Whichever direction your delegates travel in, they will find a variety of beautiful landscapes and diverse cultures to explore.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all unique nations with their own inspiring customs, cultures and traditions.

You can capture the Olympic atmosphere for your event at one of these unique venues: aquatics Centre: This striking venue hosted swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events. With moveable floors, the venue can be transformed for events, offering poolside gala dining for up to 500 people. Available from April 2014.

Historic Windsor can be reached in just 45 minutes – an ideal opportunity to see Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world which dates back almost 1,000 years to the time of William the Conqueror.

Slightly further away, just under two hours by train, delegates can discover the delightful city of Bath which justly deserves its status as a World Heritage site with its elegant terraces, crescents and the famous Roman Baths built 2,000 years ago and still in perfect working order.

unique venues

oneworld events.

Since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games drew to a close, a transformation has been taking place to deliver a new community and events destination for east London.

From spring 2014, the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will be fully open, with the iconic Olympic Stadium available for major events and hospitality from 2016.

Whether delegates are seeking exhilarating adventure, peaceful countryside locations, art, music, heritage or sport, Britain has the perfect destination to maximise delegates’ time before or after the congress.

The famous and beautiful university cities of Oxford and Cambridge are also within easy reach of the capital. They both offer inspirational architecture, world-class museums and art galleries as well as a wealth of history and outstanding record for scientific research excellence.

Queen elizabeth olympic Park

6

Copper Box: With a capacity of up to 7,500 for sports and culture events, concerts, conferences and trade shows, this was the first of the permanent Games venues to open on the Park, and is the third largest arena in London.

south Park Hub: Providing a large outdoor events space, South Park Hub is perfect for concerts, outdoor shows and festivals.

The adjoining restaurant also boasts flexible event space for smaller events. Available from April 2014.

arcelorMittal orbit: The UK’s tallest sculpture became one of the Games’ most iconic sights. It’s also set to become a dazzling space for corporate events, offering impressive views over the Park and beyond for up to 300 people. Available from April 2014.

north Park events Lawn: Covering 12,000m², the newly opened North Park Events Lawn is ideal for staging concerts, outdoor shows, small-scale festivals and cultural events. Nestled within the stunning landscape is the Timber Lodge, seating up to 120 delegates.

oneworld events is the 'one stop' travel solution for event and convention organisers.

Discounted travel, automated RFP process, efficient booking tool, online reports and travel credits are just some of the benefits on offer.

queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk

Learn more at oneworld.com

Cambridge

Travelling beyond England, there is much more to discover. Wales can be accessed easily from London, whether visitors opt for the vibrant capital city of Cardiff or head for the 750 miles of stunning coastline, relaxing countryside or a visit to one of its 600 beautiful castles. Scotland also merits consideration when travelling in Britain; it is everything you imagine and much more – the home of whisky, world-class golf, the romance of the clans and a wealth of castles and historic sites. Exploring the beautiful cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, with their own style and gripping history and traditions, can easily be combined with a trip to the Highlands region – one of the last wildernesses in Europe.

Isle of Skye

For further information on itineraries and suggestions, direct your delegates to visitbritain.com

an alliance of the world's leading airlines working as one. airberlin American Airlines British Airways Cathay Pacific Finnair Iberia Japan Airlines LAN Malaysia Airlines Qantas Royal Jordanian S7 Airlines

Castle Stalker, Highlands

38

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

oneworld benefits are available only to passengers on scheduled flights that are both marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline (marketed means that there must be a oneworld member airline's flight number on your ticket). For information on oneworld, visit www.oneworld.com. Air Berlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, and oneworld are trademarks of their respective companies. ©2013 oneworld Alliance, Inc. All information correct at time of going to print, October 2013.

Future view of the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

39

a destination guide for assoCiations

Beyond London Britain is a diverse and rich destination that welcomes millions of tourists every year. Whichever direction your delegates travel in, they will find a variety of beautiful landscapes and diverse cultures to explore.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all unique nations with their own inspiring customs, cultures and traditions.

You can capture the Olympic atmosphere for your event at one of these unique venues: aquatics Centre: This striking venue hosted swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events. With moveable floors, the venue can be transformed for events, offering poolside gala dining for up to 500 people. Available from April 2014.

Historic Windsor can be reached in just 45 minutes – an ideal opportunity to see Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world which dates back almost 1,000 years to the time of William the Conqueror.

Slightly further away, just under two hours by train, delegates can discover the delightful city of Bath which justly deserves its status as a World Heritage site with its elegant terraces, crescents and the famous Roman Baths built 2,000 years ago and still in perfect working order.

unique venues

oneworld events.

Since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games drew to a close, a transformation has been taking place to deliver a new community and events destination for east London.

From spring 2014, the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will be fully open, with the iconic Olympic Stadium available for major events and hospitality from 2016.

Whether delegates are seeking exhilarating adventure, peaceful countryside locations, art, music, heritage or sport, Britain has the perfect destination to maximise delegates’ time before or after the congress.

The famous and beautiful university cities of Oxford and Cambridge are also within easy reach of the capital. They both offer inspirational architecture, world-class museums and art galleries as well as a wealth of history and outstanding record for scientific research excellence.

Queen elizabeth olympic Park

6

Copper Box: With a capacity of up to 7,500 for sports and culture events, concerts, conferences and trade shows, this was the first of the permanent Games venues to open on the Park, and is the third largest arena in London. arcelorMittal orbit: The UK’s tallest sculpture became one of the Games’ most iconic sights. It’s also set to become a dazzling space for corporate events, offering impressive views over the Park and beyond for up to 300 people. Available from April 2014.

oneworld events is the 'one

S

stop' travel solution for event and convention organisers.

Discounted travel, automated RFP process, efficient booking 1

tool, online reports and travel credits are just some of the benefits on offer.

Learn more at oneworld.com

Cambridge

Travelling beyond England, there is much more to discover. Wales can be accessed easily from London, whether visitors opt for the vibrant capital city of Cardiff or head for the 750 miles of stunning coastline, relaxing countryside or a visit to one of its 600 beautiful castles. Scotland also merits consideration when travelling in Britain; it is everything you imagine and much more – the home of whisky, world-class golf, the romance of the clans and a wealth of castles and historic sites. Exploring the beautiful cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, with their own style and gripping history and traditions, can easily be combined with a trip to the Highlands region – one of the last wildernesses in Europe.

Isle of Skye

For further information on itineraries and suggestions, direct your delegates to visitbritain.com

an alliance of the world's leading airlines working as one. airberlin American Airlines British Airways Cathay Pacific Finnair Iberia Japan Airlines LAN Malaysia Airlines Qantas Royal Jordanian S7 Airlines

Castle Stalker, Highlands

38

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

oneworld benefits are available only to passengers on scheduled flights that are both marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline (marketed means that there must be a oneworld member airline's flight number on your ticket). For information on oneworld, visit www.oneworld.com. Air Berlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, and oneworld are trademarks of their respective companies. ©2013 oneworld Alliance, Inc. All information correct at time of going to print, October 2013.

Future view of the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

39

a destination guide for ASSOCIATIONS

Beyond London Britain is a diverse and rich destination that welcomes millions of tourists every year. Whichever direction your delegates travel in, they will find a variety of beautiful landscapes and diverse cultures to explore.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all unique nations with their own inspiring customs, cultures and traditions.

You can capture the Olympic atmosphere for your event at one of these unique venues: Aquatics Centre: This striking venue hosted swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events. With moveable floors, the venue can be transformed for events, offering poolside gala dining for up to 500 people. Available from April 2014.

Historic Windsor can be reached in just 45 minutes – an ideal opportunity to see Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world which dates back almost 1,000 years to the time of William the Conqueror.

Slightly further away, just under two hours by train, delegates can discover the delightful city of Bath which justly deserves its status as a World Heritage site with its elegant terraces, crescents and the famous Roman Baths built 2,000 years ago and still in perfect working order.

unique venues

oneworld events.

Since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games drew to a close, a transformation has been taking place to deliver a new community and events destination for east London.

From spring 2014, the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will be fully open, with the iconic Olympic Stadium available for major events and hospitality from 2016.

Whether delegates are seeking exhilarating adventure, peaceful countryside locations, art, music, heritage or sport, Britain has the perfect destination to maximise delegates’ time before or after the congress.

The famous and beautiful university cities of Oxford and Cambridge are also within easy reach of the capital. They both offer inspirational architecture, world-class museums and art galleries as well as a wealth of history and outstanding record for scientific research excellence.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

6

Copper Box: With a capacity of up to 7,500 for sports and culture events, concerts, conferences and trade shows, this was the first of the permanent Games venues to open on the Park, and is the third largest arena in London.

South Park Hub: Providing a large outdoor events space, South Park Hub is perfect for concerts, outdoor shows and festivals.

The adjoining restaurant also boasts flexible event space for smaller events. Available from April 2014.

ArcelorMittal Orbit: The UK’s tallest sculpture became one of the Games’ most iconic sights. It’s also set to become a dazzling space for corporate events, offering impressive views over the Park and beyond for up to 300 people. Available from April 2014.

North Park Events Lawn: Covering 12,000m², the newly opened North Park Events Lawn is ideal for staging concerts, outdoor shows, small-scale festivals and cultural events. Nestled within the stunning landscape is the Timber Lodge, seating up to 120 delegates.

oneworld events is the 'one stop' travel solution for event and convention organisers.

Discounted travel, automated RFP process, efficient booking tool, online reports and travel credits are just some of the benefits on offer.

queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk

Learn more at oneworld.com

Cambridge

Travelling beyond England, there is much more to discover. Wales can be accessed easily from London, whether visitors opt for the vibrant capital city of Cardiff or head for the 750 miles of stunning coastline, relaxing countryside or a visit to one of its 600 beautiful castles. Scotland also merits consideration when travelling in Britain; it is everything you imagine and much more – the home of whisky, world-class golf, the romance of the clans and a wealth of castles and historic sites. Exploring the beautiful cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, with their own style and gripping history and traditions, can easily be combined with a trip to the Highlands region – one of the last wildernesses in Europe.

Isle of Skye

For further information on itineraries and suggestions, direct your delegates to visitbritain.com

an alliance of the world's leading airlines working as one. airberlin American Airlines British Airways Cathay Pacific Finnair Iberia Japan Airlines LAN Malaysia Airlines Qantas Royal Jordanian S7 Airlines

Castle Stalker, Highlands

38

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

oneworld benefits are available only to passengers on scheduled flights that are both marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline (marketed means that there must be a oneworld member airline's flight number on your ticket). For information on oneworld, visit www.oneworld.com. Air Berlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, and oneworld are trademarks of their respective companies. ©2013 oneworld Alliance, Inc. All information correct at time of going to print, October 2013.

Future view of the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

londonandpartners.com/convention-bureau

39

a destination guide for ASSOCIATIONS