LONDON

The capital is known for its standout museums and art galleries, many of which can be hired for events. Kourtney Webb reports

Many of the capital’s top museums and galleries can be rented out for exclusive parties and banquets among the exhibits

The centrepiece of the recently reopened Hintze Hall at the Natural History Museum is the skeleton of a blue whale named Hope. Suspended from the ceiling, she not only inspires visitors as they look up at her massive 25-metre-long frame during the day, but acts as the guest of honour at lavish parties thrown below her in the evening.

Many of London’s most famous museums and art galleries can be hired out for private events. The beautiful architecture of these institutions makes them spectacular locations for corporate dinners and drinks receptions, which can take place alongside some of the greatest collections of artwork and historical artefacts in the world.

From the construction of the new Blavatnik Building (formerly known as the Switch House) extension of Tate Modern, to the £83 million refurbishment of the Design Museum in South Kensington (both last year), the quality of the spaces on offer is cutting-edge. After a three-year

THE POSTAL MUSEUM

New to Farringdon is the Postal Museum and Mail Rail, which is lined with vaulted brick arches and fitted with original lamps and warning signs from the deserted workstations. The subterranean space behind the museum provides an opportunity to ride through the 100-year-old abandoned mail rail tunnels that once connected every major postal office, from Paddington to Whitechapel, in London. A voice coming through the speakers of the train cars, known only as Charlie, narrates the 15-minute ride. The mail rail engineer, Ray Middlesworth, who shut down the historic site in 2003, is heard as well, reminiscing about what it was like working here for 40 years. The venue can accommodate 275 delegates standing or 140 seated and can be used for dinners, networking parties, breakfasts, product launches and award ceremonies. renovation project, the National Army Museum also reopened this year, with five function spaces.

Another debut for London’s portfolio of 300-plus museums and galleries is the Postal Museum and Mail Rail. First opened in 1927, the Royal Mail’s driverless, electric underground trains ran a six-minute dispatch with workers sifting through 3,000 letters an hour. Now, its tiny tunnels have been repurposed to accommodate passenger trains. The museum was reopened in late July, while the section of the railway that runs underneath Mount Pleasant in Farringdon, was set to open in September.

Last year, London welcomed a record 19 million overseas visitors, while the British Museum was the most visited attraction for the tenth year running. London was ranked fifth worldwide for high-profile congresses by the International Congress and Convention Association in 2016, so if you are planning an event, why not choose a cultural landmark?

Beautiful architecture makes these institutions spectacular places for corporate dinners and drinks receptions alongside some of the greatest collections of artwork in the world