About London
Not only is London the largest city in the United Kingdom and Europe, but it is also the capital city as well. In addition, the city is a major hub of transportation, culture, and entertainment as well as business and tourism. Besides all of that, London is the home of the very first zoological park in the world.
London has been one of the leading financial centres in the world since 1795, which makes choosing a corporate event space in London an excellent idea. Another benefit of choosing this huge city is the number of great venues from small meeting rooms for 100 to huge luxurious mansions for thousands.
Interesting Fact: The two homes at 23 and 24 Leinster Gardens are fake houses built to hide the Underground Railway (the Tube). The windows are painted on and there is a set of tracks behind them.
Corporate Event Options in London
Once you choose your corporate event venue in London, you still have some work to do for everything to be perfect. For example, you will likely want to provide food and drinks as well as somewhere to sit down. And it is also good to have transportation service to make sure your guests get from point A to point B.
- Catering
Nobody wants to be stuck in a corporate affair with dozens (or hundreds) of hungry people, so you better make sure you provide something to eat and drink. But don’t do it yourself. Let a catering company take care of all that.
- Equipment and Furniture Rental
You cannot have a corporate event without a place for everyone to sit. And you will probably need some technological items like tablets or laptops, sound and lighting equipment, charging stations, and a projector for presentations.
- Transportation
Whether you are inviting a small group or a whole crowd, it is a good idea to offer some kind of transportation. You want to make sure everyone gets to where they need to be safely and on time. Whether you are offering vouchers for taxis, tokens for the Tube, or a private car service, at least you know your attendees will be there.
- Photographer and Videographer
You may also be interested in getting a professional photographer and videographer to capture all the important happenings. Even though this is a corporate event, there is more than likely going to be something you want to share with others.
Corporate Event Companies in London
Being such an important hub for business means London has all sorts of companies for you to rely on when it comes to your corporate event needs. From caterers to limousines, you can find a plethora of choices in London.
- Yahire
Yahire is an award-winning rental company that specialises in providing tables, chairs, linens, gazebos, and other accessories. Whatever you need for your event, you can get it from Yahire. Some of their furniture is handmade by in-house craftsmen too. They deliver, set up, and pick up afterward as well.
- Caiger & Company Catering
From petit fours to three-course meals, Caiger & Company Catering can take care of your needs. Started in 2012, the team at Caiger has the experience as well as the passion to provide stellar food such as roast guinea fowl with toasted pine nuts and soy glazed Dorset lamb rump.
- ING Chauffeured Transportation
For excellent car service in London, choose ING Chauffeured Transportation. This company has locations in major cities all over the world and boasts luxury sedans, town cars, SUVs, limousines, minibuses, and coaches. Whether you are picking up a few or a few dozen, they have the ride for you.
Pros and Cons of Corporate Events in London
Don’t sign any contracts without finding out all the advantages and disadvantages in London. Every city has its pros and cons. Here are a few that you should know.
Advantages
- Fantastic food
There are over 60 Michelin-starred restaurants in London so you know you can get some of the finest food in the world there. But it is not just the fancy establishments that have great food, even the small diners have some excellent eats.
- Up and coming city
The average age of residents in London is 25 to 34, which is partly because the city is vibrant and exciting 24/7.
- Excellent transportation
Whether you want to ride on the underground, overground, the bus, or a taxi, the public transportation service in London is stellar.
- Art and culture
The city is full of great museums and art galleries for those who want to indulge.
Disadvantages
- It is crowded
With all the tourists as well as the 9 million residents, you better get used to standing in line because you will be doing a lot of that no matter where you go.
- The weather isn’t fantastic
Those of you who do not like hot and sunny summers will be pleased to know that it rarely gets over 75 degrees in London. But if you are looking to build a snowman, you won’t be doing that because they do not get any snow.
- Everything costs more
Don’t be shocked when you get the bill for your afternoon tea. Everything costs a lot more in London than in most major cities. Work with a budget for your corporate event to keep bills in check.
- The traffic is horrible
Even with the fantastic public transportation system, the streets are still packed with cars at rush hour, which makes sense with about 9 million residents.
Famous Locations in London
- London Zoo
You are never too old for the zoo! And the London Zoo is historic because it was the first zoo in the world, opened in 1828. And with close to 20,000 animals, it is also one of the largest collections of wildlife in the UK. From the aardvarks to the zebras and everything in between, you can see it all at the London Zoo. Book an upscale Edwardian Hotel near the London Zoo to relax before and after the event.
- Piccadilly Circus
You might say that Piccadilly Circus is London’s “Times Square.” It is not really a circus, of course. Circus is derived from the Latin word meaning circle. It is actually an intersection built in 1819 to connect Piccadilly Street with Regent Street. You will find everything you can think of from art galleries to shops like Fortnum & Mason.
- Museum of London
Find out the history of London from prehistoric to modern times. It has the largest urban history collection in the world with over six million artefacts. You can see everything from a palaeolithic bear skull to art from the 3rd century Roman days.
