8 Unique London Venues

London, as England's capital city, has so much heritage and culture on offer it is not surprising that it is home to some of the best conference and dining venues in the country. From the huge and grand to the small and cosy, there will be something on offer that suits you. However, London is also home to a wide selection of venues that cannot be found anywhere else, to venues that have historical significance, a unique-selling point or are just something fresh and different. Here are a selection of 10 unique venues for those looking for a more unusual venue or for those who simply like to peruse and imagine what kind of event they would hold.

The Royal College of Physicians

The Royal College of Physicians is England's oldest medical foundation and is well known for its high standards of medical practice. However, a lesser known facet of the College is its conference and dining facilities. The building itself is in the modernist style but the rooms on offer vary in décor and style. The Censors' Room features a much more classic style with wood panelling while the Council Chamber is a modern circular hall with an impressive ceiling. The decoration is not the only draw, the College also has a collection of artefacts, portraits and manuscripts on display throughout the building making it a stand out venue. Events can also be held in the Medicinal Garden which is home to over 1,300 plants from the history of medicine.

30 St Mary Axe - 'The Gherkin'

30 St Mary Axe is a skyscraper in the financial district of London that has been nicknamed 'the Gherkin' by Londoners in a reference to the building's distinctive shape. The Gherkin is 180 metres tall, was opened in 2004 and has since won a number of awards for architecture. For those that want a spectacular view the Gherkin is the right choice. Searcys Restaurant and Bar covers the top floor of the building and offers fantastic 360 degree views of the London skyline. The venue is only available to members and tenants during the day but is available for hire in the evenings and at the weekends.

The Roof Gardens, Kensington

The name of this venue is not just a misleading misnomer, the venue is actually comprised of a roof garden that covers 6,000 square metres on top of the former Derry and Toms building in Kensington. The gardens are Grade II listed and are divided into three themed gardens; Spanish, Tudor and English Woodland. There are not just a vast variety of plants to see but the Gardens are home to fish and wildlife, including four resident flamingos. The Roof Gardens are open to the public but can be hired out for private events in the daytime or the evening all week excluding Saturdays which are only available during the day.

Ladurée

Ladurée are a French patisserie company that specialise in making luxury cakes and pastries and are famous for their macarons. The Ladurée premises in Covent Garden are designed to look like a vintage Parisian tea house and are available for private hire. This venue is the perfect choice for those with a sweet tooth and a love for pastels, but savoury items are also available.

IceBar

If you are looking for somewhere cool for your event, look no further than the ICEBAR. The very unique selling point of this venue is the fact that everything is made from Swedish Torne River ice. The bar is kept at -5 degrees Celsius and everything, from the glasses to the tables and the bar itself, are made from ice. Sessions in the ICEBAR last for forty minutes and each guest is given a designer cape and gloves. The venue is completely redesigned with a new theme every year. The venue also hires out heated, and less icy, dining rooms and lounges.

The Folly

The Folly is an aesthetically unique venue that brings a feeling of the outdoors to London. It describes itself as London's secret garden and has a six foot Norwegian tree trunk as a focal point. The Folly offers food and drinks but also has flower arranging classes in its flower shop and butchery classes in its deli. The Folly has a distinctive bar styled like a beehive and is decorated with a variety of plants and flowers.

Tower of London

For those looking for something different for their event or party the Tower of London may be the perfect choice. Although hundreds of years ago the Tower was a place that many people feared to go, now it is a historically fascinating and wholly unique venue. The Tower has six function rooms available for hire, these include the Martin Tower - home of the Crown Jewels - and the New Armouries. As well as having an exciting place setting for events, you can also choose to have a private viewing of the Crown Jewels or a Yeoman Warder tour as an extra.

The Cutty Sark

The Cutty Sark is probably one of the most famous, and sole surviving, clipper ships in Britain. It was built in 1869 and was used in the tea trade. The ship was badly damaged by fire in 2007 and has only recently reopened to the public after a huge restoration project. The ship has been suspended from the ground, allowing visitors and guests to walk around the ship and get the full effect of its brass hull. The huge space around the ship can be hired out for events, but spaces on board the ship, the Tween Deck and the Master's Saloon, are also available for smaller parties and events.

© Izzy Evans 2013

If you are interested in finding a venue in London for an event then you can visit RCP Events.

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Free Things to Do in London, UK

However the good part of London is that it has a number of activities and attractions to offer for free. From museums to street markets tourists can enjoy a variety of free options throughout the year.

Museums

If you are a history hound and love to visit museums, London is the place to be. The Museum of London is one of the most famous museums in London that brings you the history of the old English city from the prehistoric times until the 19th century. Some of the other free museums in London are Hunterian Museum, The Natural history Museum and the British Museum.

Art Galleries

Like Museums, art galleries bring the historic assets of the country to its visitors. London's most famous art gallery the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square houses the finest collections of European paintings in the world. It includes the work of Michelangelo, Botticelli, Titian and other famous artistes. The Tate Modern art gallery is a national gallery of modern and contemporary work from the 20th century. Some of the other famous art galleries in London are the Tate Britain, the Atlas Gallery and the Michael Hoppen Gallery.

Street Markets

Street markets are popular in the city of London. Tourists and Londoners flock to these markets especially during the weekends to buy antiques, funky fashion accessories and original gifts from independent designers. Some of these markets also sell fresh farm produce, flowers and food. Some of these markets are only open during the weekends and are organized in open spaces. All these markets are free of admissions and are the best place for tourists to pick up souvenirs. Some of the markets in London are The Camden Market, The Portobello Market, Borough Market, and The Greenwich Market.

Changing of the Guard

Your visit to London is complete only after you have witnessed the oldest military tradition "Changing of the Guard". The best part about watching this spectacle is that it is absolutely free of cost. This ceremony in London takes place every day of the year in the forecourt inside the gates of Buckingham Palace at 11.30am. Get there early and view the spectacle from outside the front gates.

Free historic icons of London

Apart from these leisure activities that you can enjoy for free, some other important tourist spots in London also come for free. For example Trafalgar Square, designed by John Nash in the 19th century is the main focus of political demonstrations. It includes free tourist attractions such as Nelson's Column and the National Gallery.

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A Visit to Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is a public place and is a major tourist attraction on central part of London. This place has a number of designer boutiques and other places of interest. It is also known as the borough of the city of Westminster.

The Trafalgar Square was built in 1806 to mark the victory of Lord Horatio against the forces of Napoleon in the battle of Trafalgar. There is a statue of Lord Horatio which is situated in the middle of the town and it is one of the most iconic images of London. More than just a tourist place, there are a number of popular buildings and government offices that are situated here.

There are a number of events and royal celebrations that took place here. This place was bustling with tourists from all over the world during the time of London Olympics that happened in 2012. Besides, this special events and days like St. Patrick's Day, Chinese New Year, Christmas and New Year Eve is celebrated with great pomp and show. The month of December makes the best time to visit this place.

Places of Interest

There are a number of places in this square which you can see and explore. Most of the places are situated to each in close proximity and can be reached on foot.

a. Nelson's Column: This is the prime attraction of Trafalgar Square. There is a tall statue of Lord Nelson who defeated the armies of Napoleon in 1806 and was then buried in the St. Paul's Cathedral. At the base of the statue stand four huge lions made of bronze which signify the strength, courage, motivation and ferocity. These lions where later added to the statue in 1818.

b. National Gallery: The National Gallery is known for the finest collection of artifacts across Europe. This place is known to house a number of paintings and sculptures that date back to the late 10th century. According to an official estimate, there are about 2600 paintings that have been kept here. Some of them have been made some of the best painters such as Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci and many more.

c. St. Martin's in the Field: This is another major attraction of Trafalgar Square. This church is situated in the north Eastern part of the city, on close proximity to National Gallery. The church was built during the first half of the 18th century. It is known for its architecture and served as the model for many churches that were made in United States later on.

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