Finding Christmas Party Venues in London
Compare our range of top christmas party venues in London, all available to enquire and book online.
There's nothing like the office Christmas party. Sure, the summer bash was pretty fun and that team away day in October was a good way to celebrate a strong third quarter. But the Christmas party is always on a different level, isn't it?
A wonderful social occasion for you to get all dressed up, to celebrate your team's achievements and to do shots of tequila with that director you've never spoken to before, it's the highlight of any corporate calendar. If you're heading to the capital for this year's event, we've curated a selection of the best Christmas party venues London has to offer. Read on for more tips and hot picks to make booking your Christmas party a walk in the park.
What are the best Christmas party venues in London
As with any corporate party, it's helpful for your staff, clients, stakeholders and plus ones if your event is well-served by public transport. As a general rule, Christmas party venues in London are typically in demand if they're close to an underground station or a big terminal like King's Cross, Liverpool Street, Victoria or London Bridge.
It's hard to pin down a particular area with a high concentration of the top Christmas party venues London has to offer. However, Soho is a strong choice thanks to its many bars and restaurants, Islington's Upper Street is home to thriving pubs and late-night dancing spots, while Shoreditch is popular with young start-ups and companies based close by in the City of London.
With so many amazing Christmas party venues in London, it's important to do your research and set up a site visit. Don't book a place without seeing it. It's tempting to save time by booking a venue just judging it by the strength of its pictures and reviews online, but pencilling in a site visit will give you the chance to sample the menu (a huge bonus), meet the staff and get a feel for the venue itself.
Remember that you don't need to book the first place you see. VenueScanner was built for you to discover and compare the finest Christmas party venues in London. We've got stacks of information and an experienced concierge team to plan your office Christmas party should you need them. They are super friendly and will stop at nothing to get the best deal for you and your party.
Corporate Christmas party planning tips
As the event experts, we'd like to start out with some tips and tricks that can help when planning a Christmas party in the capital. Here's the full list:
When to plan
Book early. Honestly, it's never too early to start looking. The speed at which venues get booked up in December is accelerating and companies are more than ready to let their hair down for a proper Christmas bash, come December. The best venues book out fast and each year there are a number of key dates when it seems like everyone wants to host their xmas party. You'll definitely want to find something by August or September as this is the most popular time of year to book one.
The staff Christmas party isn't really something that you can wing. It's often the big date in the diary that your colleagues look forward to, so enquiring with your first-choice venue and confirming a date early can often pay off big time.
Budget
Budget properly. It's difficult to confirm numbers for events that are happening next week, let alone in December. But having an educated guess at how many people might come, and the precise budget per head you've got for your party will make things far simpler when it comes to planning. If you know you have a big team, you'll need to look for venues that can accommodate huge numbers. On the other hand, if you're part of a small start up, you don't want to feel like the venue is too big.
It's also important to check if the price that a venue is offering is a dry hire or minimum spend. Dry hire means you're only hiring the venue, whereas you can apply a minimum spend towards food and drink.
Finding the perfect date
Figure out when everyone is free. There's no point booking a venue for one of the most competitive dates of the year to host a Christmas party if it turns out that nobody is actually free that evening. Send out a survey early on or look at the diary and see when most people are in the office and not on holiday. Put a placeholder so people know not to book the day off. Remember to keep people informed as you're planning. Once you've booked the venue, send out a save the date. As the date gets closer, send out an itinerary for the evening so people know what to expect.
Unique Christmas party venues In London
So what are the most unique Christmas party venues in London for 2023? There are quite a few. If you'd prefer to skip the pub lunch or are looking for something more out of the box than drinks at a bar, there are quite a few alternatives. The best corporate Christmas party venues bring your team together. Opt for an immersive experience like Alcotraz or an activity bar like Clays, where you can participate in virtual clay shooting.
Cheap Christmas venues In London
If you're looking for cheap Xmas party venues in London, you're in luck! Instead of looking for dry hire, look for a venue with a minimum spend. That way you're essentially getting the venue hire for free and just paying for food and drinks. Some of our favourite venues are The Little Yellow Door, The Rosarium, and Asia House.
Types of Christmas venues London
It doesn't matter what type of venue you're looking for for your corporate Christmas party. There are so many different kinds of Christmas venues in London ranging from activity bars where you can challenge your team to some friendly games like shuffleboard, darts, or crazy golf to classy ballrooms for big bashes. There are pubs that serve up delicious Christmas lunches and cocktail bars that mix up fun cocktails. Whatever you're looking for, we can help you find it.
How much does it cost to plan a Christmas party
We've seen every budget you can imagine for a Christmas party. And while you can certainly get more with a larger budget, having a smaller budget doesn't mean you have to miss out on amazing London Christmas party venues. There is truly something for everyone. On average you can find Christmas party packages that start from around £15 per person. The price can increase all the way up to £120 per person (sometimes more!). You can also opt for a minimum spend option which often starts around £500 in London.
High budget
If you have a high budget you'll definitely get more bang for your buck. You'll probably be able to book a sit down meal and a drink package. You can go for dry hire and bring in a caterer, your own entertainment, and more. When you have a higher budget, you'll have more options when looking at London Christmas venues.
Mid budget
For a mid budget, you can always opt for a shared Christmas party, where you pay per person for a sit down meal, drinks package, and entertainment. Your company will usually be at one or two tables and then other groups will also be at the party. If you don't like the idea of a shared Christmas party. You can also look at hiring out a private room at a pub or restaurant and enjoying your own Christmas lunch or dinner. There are plenty of options for Christmas party venues In London that offer both.
Low budget
Low budget means that you'll just have less choice for Xmas party venues in London. Instead of a dry hire option, you'll want to look for minimum spends. This can range from £500 to upwards of £6000 so make sure you're doing your research to find a corporate Christmas party venue that works for you.
Another great option for people with lower budgets is to order some pizzas to the office before you head out for drinks so you can save some money on food and put it towards your minimum spend.
London Christmas Venue FAQ
How much does it cost to hire a Christmas party venue in London?
Prices vary depending on location and type of venue. Generally Christmas packages will range from anywhere between £15 per person to £150 per person. You can also opt for minimum spend venues which often start at £500.
How far ahead before the Christmas party should I book the venue?
Don't wait to book your Christmas party! Each year there are a few key dates that get booked up really quickly. Some people start booking their corporate Christmas parties as early as January for the following December. Usually if you start looking around six months before you should be fine.
Where in London can I find the best Christmas party venues?
There are incredible Christmas party venues all around London. Ensure you're close to a tube or train station to make it easy for people to get there. Popular areas are Soho, Kings Cross, The City, and London Bridge.
Is it possible to cancel the booking?
Make sure you ask the venue during your booking process what their cancellation policy is. It varies from venue to venue.
What are some ideas for Christmas parties in London?
Enjoy a Christmas roast with all the fixings at your favourite pub or restaurant. Dance the night away at a nightclub or sip on cocktails at a cocktail bar. If your team enjoys a little competition, book an activity bar where you can participate in crazy golf, darts, shuffleboard, and more.
How do you host a cheap Christmas party in London?
If you're on a budget, look for a bar with a minimum spend. This can seriously save you money as you're not paying per person and instead applying your minimum spend to food and drinks.
Why should I use VenueScanner
Great question. When our founder, Rebecca Kelly, first thought up the concept of VenueScanner, she wanted to create a genuinely useful resource that matched PAs with amazing venues all over the country.
It's resulted in us helping people find venues for smaller events - we're talking exercise classes, birthday parties and meetings - to large-scale functions like business conferences and team away day experiences. Christmas parties, though? That is what we do best.
Each year, we help PAs discover and book venues that perfectly match their office's budget, style and personality. There's plenty to arrange with the Christmas party, but finding a suitable venue isn't anything to fret about when you're using our platform. So whether you're wanting to book somewhere for dinner and drinks, considering a boat party experience or want a venue with activities, you'll find your perfect fit amongst our selection of the best Christmas party venues London can offer.
With close to 3,000 of the leading Christmas party venues London has to offer in our catalogue, VenueScanner is the ideal place to discover, compare and then book venues for your festive do. Our service is free, we've got a generous rewards scheme for our customers and we put you in direct contact with venue hosts to help make your plans a reality. We've even got a dedicated concierge team to take all of the stress away from you.
Whether you only need a small space, are searching for something a bit different or would like a private dining area or you're only here for the drinks and dancing, you'll find your ideal London Christmas party venue here on our platform. Send us a message at hello@venuescanner.com if you need help any step of the way.
