About London
Situated in South East England, London is the country’s bustling capital. London is the economic powerhouse of the United Kingdom. In fact, over 1 million different businesses are operating in the city today!
London is the perfect place to host an interview. The brilliant transport networks allow interview candidates to reach your chosen interview venue relatively easily, as long as it is within walking distance from a bus stop or a tube station. Plus, there are dozens of suitable interview venues for you to decide between. In this guide, we will help you choose an ideal interview venue in lively London.
Interview Venue Options in London
The type of interview you’re holding will depend on the nature of your business and your hiring practices. For example, you may be hosting a group interview, where a dozen people sit and discuss ideas for a couple of hours. Alternatively, you may prefer one-to-one interview sessions, where an interviewer sits with a candidate and asks them questions to determine their suitability for the role. On the other hand, you may need a space that provides enough room for an interview panel.
Once you’ve determined the type of venue you require, you also need to consider other aspects, such as proximity to public transport, equipment, accessibility, reviews, pricing and facilities.
- Proximity to Public Transport
It is likely that most interview candidates will travel to the venue using public transport. As a result, you should find a venue within easy reach of a tube station and a bus stop. The last thing an interview candidate wants is to arrive at an interview flustered and tired because they had to walk 30 minutes from the nearest tube station to reach your interview venue!
- Equipment
You must ensure that your chosen interview venue has the right equipment. For example, if you’re hosting a group interview, you probably need access to a computer and a projector to show presentations or play videos to the group of candidates.
- Accessibility
It is vital that your venue is accessible to all. Failure to hire an accessible venue will reflect badly on your company and may give interview candidates the impression that your organisation is not inclusive. The interview venue should be accessible to those with disabilities. Ideally, you need to find an interview venue with ramp access if there are external stairs, lifts, wheelchair ramps, elevators and disabled parking spaces. Finding a location with these amenities will mean all candidates can access the venue.
- Reviews
Before you choose an interview venue, make sure to read the venue reviews. If a venue has mostly positive reviews, you should have a pleasant experience. However, if you find that a venue has a sea of bad reviews, it’s best to find somewhere else to host the interviews. You don’t want to give candidates a negative impression by hiring a bad interview venue.
- Pricing
In London, interview venues are not cheap. This is certainly the case in Central London, where the cost of hiring an interview venue can be several hundred pounds per hour! But don’t worry, there are ways to reduce the cost of venue hire. The best way to keep hiring costs down is to find a smaller venue or find a venue further from Central London. Thankfully, there are plenty of excellent venues to choose from outside of the city centre.
- Facilities
Finally, you need to offer attendees a range of facilities. Most importantly, the interview venue you choose must have accessible toilets. If you’re hosting a group interview that is likely to last several hours, you should consider hiring a venue with a kitchen where attendees can make a hot drink, microwave their food and sit and eat their lunch.
Pros and Cons of Interview Venues in London
Advantages
- Variety
One of the key advantages of hiring an interview venue in London is the variety of venues available. So whether you need a small room with a table and a couple of chairs, or a large space with tables, chairs, sofas, computers and other equipment, you’ll find a suitable place in London.
- Transport
London has a world-class transport network. As a result, interview candidates should be able to reach your chosen venue relatively easily.
Disadvantages
- Expensive venues
Unfortunately, London interview venues are expensive to hire. However, to keep costs down, you have the option to hire a venue slightly further away from Central London where you can still get a decent space at a lower price. The city’s transport network means candidates will still be able to reach your venue.
- Transport costs
One big drawback of hosting interviews in London is the cost of travel for candidates. If they are not located in London, the cost of travelling to your venue will be steep. However, to attract qualified candidates from further afield, you could offer to pay their transport expenses, as the cost of travel may put some suitable candidates off.
Famous Locations in London
- The Monument to the Great Fire of London
Located at the junction of Monument Street and Fish Street Hill in the City of London is the Monument to the Great Fire of London. The disaster, which occurred in 1666, started on Sunday, 2nd September, and raged until Wednesday, 5th September, when it was finally extinguished. The fire destroyed a huge area of the city, and although there were not many people who lost their lives, the fire brought the city to a standstill. The only buildings that survived were the ones made of stone, such as St Paul’s Cathedral and the Guildhall. So next time you’re travelling through this area of the city, why not stop for a few minutes to admire the landmark?
- St Dunstan in the East
The City of London can feel like a concrete jungle but hidden next to the River Thames in Central London, you’ll find a haven of tranquillity. St Dunstan in the East is a partially destroyed church which has been standing for almost 1,000 years in some form. Today, the ruins of the church are covered in beautiful greenery, making it an attractive spot for those who want some respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.
