The Best Networking Venues in Central London

The capital is a hub of business activity and this means that it’s a great choice of location for your next networking event. As well as providing easy access to the rest of the country, Central London is also home to some great networking venues. Whether you’re looking for a venue in Westminster or Covent Garden, there’s something to suit every taste and budget.

Forget about the countryside and the suburbs, central London is where to be if you're looking for a venue to host your next event. In a city that's home to thousands of events, conferences and exhibitions each year, it's no wonder that there are literally hundreds of venues on offer.

How to plan a successful networking event

Planning a successful networking event is easier than you think! While it can be daunting, a little planning will go a long way. Here are some tips for making your next event a success:

Pick your guests carefully. If you're hosting a small event, take the time to determine who should be invited and who should not. If you're hosting a large event, don't get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people, less is more and you'd rather have quality attendees than a lot of them.

Pick the right venue. The venue is critical to the success of your event. You need to make sure it's big enough so people have room to move around, but not so big that they get lost in the crowd. Also, make sure there's space for everyone to sit down and eat/drink if that's part of your event plan.

Plan activities or workshops that can be good icebreakers for people who don't know each other well. This may include games or questionnaires designed to spark conversations about topics that are relevant to your industry or that provide information about participants' interests and backgrounds

How to pick your venue

Moving on to the most important part: picking the venue. Consider the size, the location, and the general atmosphere of your event before you make your decision. You want your choice to be comfortable for all types of people, including those who are new to networking, as well as for those who are shy or introverted.

Size – Consider how many people you expect to show up at your event, and pick a space that will comfortably accommodate them. If it's too small, people might not have enough room to move around and talk to others. If it's too big — especially for an intimate networking event — attendees might feel awkward about being in a sea of empty seats and tables.

Location – You want your location to be convenient for attendees to get to by public transportation or by car. Ideally, it should be in an area where there are hotels nearby so out-of-towners can easily book accommodation without having to fight through traffic. And if you're planning an evening event, consider planning for staying late enough so your guests can go straight from your event to their hotel.

Atmosphere – The atmosphere is arguably one of the most important things to consider when picking a venue — you need it to reflect the vibe of your event and really bring everything together! Choose an environment that matches your event’s goals and the general vibe you’re looking to achieve. 

Our top 3 venues for networking in Central London

Our three favourite venues in Central London for hosting a networking event are The Italian Greyhound, Ibérica Marylebone, and SAMA Bankside.

The Italian Greyhound – This is one of our favourites, probably because it's close to perfect in every way! The venue has a private room that comfortably seats up to 50 people.  and the food here is Italian dishes cooked perfectly.

Ibérica – This is a stunning location with plenty of space for a large number of people to mingle, as well as break-out areas for smaller groups to chat. Unlike other venues in London, there is no hire fee, just a minimum spend, so it really does offer value for money!

SAMA Bankside – This venue combines everything you need for the perfect networking event; privacy, great food & drink and plenty of space! The venue can be hired exclusively at no cost and offers a range of food.

Booking and comparing venues

Searching for a venue can be hard and we’re here to help. If you want more venues you can book a networking space in Shoreditch today with our no-pressure service. At Venuescanner we want to make your life easy so don’t hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]  if you have any questions or need any help finding a venue in London. So good luck and enjoy your search!

Save both time and money with VenueScanner – venue booking made simple. All you have to do is scroll through these options of networking venues and use the heart icon on each venue you like to shortlist it. When you have a good number of venues you like, send out all enquiries at the same time from your shortlisted venues.

We can also help corporate organisers book a networking venue. Our concierge service is always happy to give you a helping hand with your entire venue search. They can even help you book catering and entertainment – and the service is completely free to use!