Summer party venues with a view

What a view adds

A view gives guests something to look at between conversations, and it makes an easy opening line with clients. It suits an evening booking, when people arrive in daylight and stay as the lights come on across the city.

On the river

London Bridge and Bankside has 14 of these venues and the South Bank 11. Sunset at Sea Containers Events (350) is set up for evening receptions with skyline views. Cucumber (200) suits a seated lunch or dinner. Terrace at Vicinity (200) is a riverfront bar with a heated terrace. The Skyline London (260) looks onto Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

High up

In The Shard, the Ren room at Shangri-La takes 140 and Aqua Shard 360 standing or 180 seated. Landing Forty Two (300) is on the 42nd floor of the Leadenhall Building. The Gherkin (260) uses the top three floors. Wagtail Roof Terrace (120) is a 10th-floor terrace with 360° views. For the whole company, Old Billingsgate takes 2,400.

Glass or open air

A room with floor-to-ceiling windows keeps the view whatever the weather. A terrace gives you fresh air but depends on the forecast. For a seated dinner, ask how many tables face the window. In office towers, check whether guests pass security at the door and whether names are needed in advance, as this slows arrivals.

Related pages

For open-air views, see rooftops. For a view that moves, see boat parties. The London Bridge & Bankside and South Bank & Waterloo pages cover both banks. Send us your brief and we will find a view that fits your numbers.