Top Christmas party venues and themes for a memorable celebration in Westminster

The office Christmas party is a time to wrap up the year and say thank you to your staff and colleagues for all their hard work. It’s a time for your team to celebrate the festive season without the stress and hassle of hosting or family politics, so it’s important an organiser gets it right – and this starts with finding the perfect Christmas party venues.

Here at Westminster Venue Collection (WVC) we look after a group of exclusive spaces which comprise some of the finest the capital has to offer. Museums, galleries, historic buildings, luxury hotels, townhouses… our portfolio of Christmas event venues in London is varied and extensive. We’re confident that however you choose to celebrate this year, you’ll find the ideal space by searching our selective database.

During this feature, we’re going to take you through some of the different types of venues we have on our books, plus we’ll be offering you some advice on hosting the perfect festive gathering and sharing with you a handful of ideas on theming and décor.

 

Why choose Westminster for your Christmas party?

Christmas party planning always begins with the question of, where? We believe Westminster is the best place in the capital to hold events. The borough is a city within a city and draws in millions of visitors every year who come in their droves for the history, the sightseeing and the attractions. There’s a surprising amount of parks and outdoor spaces within the area (116 to be precise) – St James’ Park and Regents’ Park for example – which are stunning all year round, but when covered in snow are transformed into some of the most beautiful and atmospheric places in London.

Westminster is also brilliantly connected for local, national and international travel. All WVC venues are a short walk from at least one tube station and have quick and easy links to National Rail lines and London City Airport. The borough is also home to a huge array of hotel options with something for every budget from genuinely affordable choices through to world-class, luxury accommodation.

 

Top Christmas party venues in Westminster

Historic Christmas party venues

London is one of the most historically rich cities in the world and its buildings hold the stories of its past. These spaces provide a poignant, beautiful backdrop for traditional Christmas parties, they each have their own, distinct charm and elegance that they bring to the events they hold. Many of our buildings aren’t open to the general public, so inviting your valued members of staff into one of our exclusive traditional Christmas venues is the beginning of a truly memorable classic Christmas party.

Modern Christmas party venues

If you think your colleagues would prefer a more contemporary event space, our collection also contains some stunning, modern venues. Our modern venues in Westminster include spaces with floor-to-ceiling windows and unrivalled views over the River Thames. Clever lighting and contemporary cuisine with a Christmas twist makes sure none of the magic is lost and that your party is as festive as can be.

Unconventional and unique venues in Westminster

If you’ve been organising the Christmas party for your team for a while now, you might have decided that this year you want to opt for something a little bit different. Choosing an unconventional Christmas venue, like an art gallery or a rooftop bar, is a foolproof way to make an immediate impression on your guests. It’s also guaranteed to give your guests an interesting talking point and a reason to tell their friends about their special night.

Fun and different Christmas party themes

You might be under the impression that Christmas is premiss enough for a party, but a separate theme can elevate your event to the next level. Many of our venues’ Christmas packages include full theming which includes decorations, music and entertainment. In the past, we’ve seen some amazing event theming including Winter Wonderland, Narnia and Dickensian Christmas. By choosing a specific theme for your party you’ll be able to make sure you’re creating the perfect atmosphere, tailor-made for your guestlist.

 

Tips for planning the perfect Christmas party in Westminster

Christmas party planning can be stressful, but our tips are designed to help you enjoy a smooth run up to your event…

Our first, top tip, is to start planning as early as you can. There will only be a handful of dates that will suit you, so you’ll need to get your enquiries in at least six months in advance as the best venues will book up early. If you know where you want to book, don’t hesitate to get in touch to get yourself pencilled in. If you’re still undecided, WVC can help the process. By filling in an enquiry form on our website, we can help you narrow down your Westminster venue booking options. We’ll only put you in touch with venues that can meet your requirements which will save you a lot of time and effort for you to enjoy a stress-free event planning experience.

Secondly, we’d suggest running through your budget with your chosen venue. You can then decide where you want to spend and where you want to save. We’d also advise you to keep a little bit of money back for any last-minute extras or upgrades you might want to make further down the line.

Thirdly, a timeline of when decisions need to be made and suppliers need to be booked will give you a clear time frame of actionable tasks. This will ensure nothing slips through the net and there are no nasty surprises.

Use our venue-finding service to source the perfect Christmas party venues in London 

If you think Westminster is the right venue for this year’s Christmas party, then you can simply email your requirements to [email protected]. Or, if you’d like to browse our collection of exclusive venues, take a look on our website. You could also fill out our enquiry form and we’ll get back to you with all our members who can best fulfil your requirements.

Follow us on Instagram to see the latest Christmas Party Venues, Themes and Packages!

Creative Christmas returns to RIBA at 66 Portland Place with ‘Build Your Own’ celebrations

With the Christmas party season paused last year due to the pandemic, 2021 is set to see festive celebrations return bigger and better than ever before! Countless ideas and plans had to be put on hold, including ours, so this year we’re once again giving you the opportunity to build your perfect party package by selecting the individual elements that match your taste, budget and requirements.

In anticipation of the return of Christmas parties this year, we’ve re-launched our ‘Build Your Own’ experience – a subtle nod to our architectural roots – starting from £60 + VAT per person. This package is flexible with multiple F&B options at different price points, that can be selected as a standalone package or in conjunction with another to suit budget and preference. If we can ease the burden of organising Covid-secure F&B, it gives you more time to be creative with theming and entertainment.

We have three architecturally stunning spaces for Christmas parties at 66 Portland Place – the Florence HallRIBA Gallery or Aston Webb Room, or the option to combine rooms if you are going all out for a big celebration to make up for the lack of Christmas party last year! As the venue’s principal entertaining space, the Florence Hall features stunning floor to ceiling windows, which fills the room with an abundance of light, glass doors and carved pillars to provide a chic, mid-century backdrop. The expansive space can accommodate all manner of set-ups, from round tables, casual seating, or the inclusion of a dancefloor, and opens onto a leafy roof terrace.

Available to hire on its own or in conjunction with the Florence Hall, the RIBA Gallery features etched floor to ceiling windows and Art Deco detailing, as well as access to the adjacent landing, a triple height atrium space arranged around a grand sweeping staircase. For more intimate Christmas dinners or lunches, the Aston Webb room, which is located on the second floor, is steeped in history and features large windows which fill the room with light and allow for a grand view of the tree-lined Portland Place.

Our festive menus by CH&Co feature a range of flavoursome dishes, made using fresh, seasonal ingredients – from classic roast turkey to exciting alternatives like wild boar or artichoke velouté, followed by decadent chocolate ganache.

Whether you want a bespoke celebration planned down to the smallest detail, or a smooth solution for your office Christmas party, we work with you to come up with the perfect event package – and your event manager will be there on the day to ensure everything runs smoothly.

RIBA 3509 RIBA L 2722 Rosie Charlie 82