Outdoor Venues for Hire in London

London summer never seems long enough, so make the best out of it and enjoy the warm days by organising your event in an outdoor space. The city offers various types of venues to choose from, with each one fitting a different occasion. A casual pub to celebrate your best friend’s birthday or maybe an elegant garden for a corporate function? We’ve prepared for you a list of different types of outdoor venues you can find in London. Decide which will suit your event best and make your reservation with Tagvenue in no time!

Pubs with an outside area. You can never go wrong with a classic get-together in a pub. Look for venues that offer an outside area to add a summer feeling to your event. As you can never be sure with the English weather, in case of rain you can hide away in the pub and continue with your party. Pubs are a great choice for a casual birthday party or live music event.

Our venue recommendation:

The Minories - a traditional pub with an outside garden to enjoy the weather, located within walking distance from London’s famous spots. Guest rating: 5.0/5

Rooftop terrace. London has one of the most recognised skylines in the world. Wouldn’t it be lovely to sit back with a tasty Pimm’s cocktail and enjoy the view? Invite your guests to one of the many spots overlooking the rooftops of the city to add the wow factor to your event. A rooftop venue can be enjoyed during the day as you soak up the sun, or during the night to admire the city lights. Rooftop venues are a great option for a casual business meeting or a memorable celebration.

Our venue recommendation:

Roof Terrace at Uncommon Borough - a unique and flexible space overlooking the rooftops of London. Located minutes away from the London Bridge. Guest rating: 4.8/5

Gardens. Set your event in the charming surroundings of nature. Gardens make a great backdrop to photos and videos, so if you’re organising an event where you will hire a photo or videographer, or you know your guests will take a lot of photos on their own, look for space that will look good from any angle. The good news is, with the plethora of venues London has to offer, you are sure to find a great garden venue within the city, without the need to travel outside of it. In garden venues, you can organise professional photoshoots or personal celebrations like a baby shower or hen party.

Our recommendation:

The Hyde Garden at The Hyde Restaurant - an intimate space to unwind in a peaceful environment. The venue can be adjusted to fit private functions as well as corporate events. Guest rating: 4.8/5

Patios. A floor-level space can be a great option for an event where accessibility is the key requirement in your venue hunt. Usually paved, patios should be convenient to anyone attending. Patios are also a good choice for events like concerts or gigs, as there won’t be many obstacles for the performers to bring in their gear.

Our recommendation:

Private Outdoor Patio at Uncommon Fulham - a stylish coworking venue offering outdoor party packages, ideal for team outings. Guest rating: 5.0/5

Yachts or boats. Make your event more unique and memorable by organising it right on the River Thames. Usually providing an open-deck area as well as a sheltered one, yachts are great for organising events despite the weather. A boat party can be enjoyed during the day, where the panoramic views of the river add the extra to your event. On hot days, a gentle breeze will serve as a natural cooler. A night party will be lit up by the city lights. Yachts and boats are great if you’re organising a stag party or a product launch.

Our recommendations: 

West End On The Thames - offering multiple rooms and river cruises, it can be adjusted to fit any event. Guest rating: 4.9/5

Hotels. Hotels with private gardens or backyards are a good choice when you need an all-in-one package. With hotels usually having restaurants you won’t need to hire external catering for your event and if you’re planning to invite guests who will travel from outside of town, they will already have a place to stay. In case of bad weather, you can move your event inside the hotel. Hotels are great venues to host weddings or corporate events.

Our recommendations:

Wellington Hotel by Blue Orchid - located in the heart of Westminster this hotel has everything to please your guest, including a charming garden. Guest rating: 4.9/5 

Lawns. You can look for lawns adjacent to museums or galleries. Usually available in a dry hire, you can adjust them to fit your event. Lawns are great for large functions like a family picnic or networking event. Before you decide on hiring such a venue though, contact the venue manager to make sure the place can host the event you have in mind.

Our recommendations: 

The Lawns and Garden Atrium at Shoreditch Gardens - a green space close to the city, naturally shaded by trees, it makes a great spot for any large event. Guest rating: 4.8/5

Outdoor Venues in London FAQ

How much does it cost to hire an outdoor venue in London?

The prices of outdoor venue hire in London vary depending on the size of the venue and its offer. The cost of packages per person may come in as low as £12 and for an hourly hire at £50. If you want to hire a venue for a day you can find small venues that will charge you only £50, but the hire costs of bigger venues usually start at around £800. The prices may vary depending on the day of the week and the time of the day, so make sure you check all the deals the venue is offering. (Based on Tagvenue data.)

Which areas of London are best to look for an outdoor venue?

For the best outdoor experience look for venues along the River Thames. You can either hire a riverside venue or a boat, where you can ask for cruise options. Look for venues in The City or Canary Wharf to enjoy London’s famous skyline. You can hire venues in one of the many parks of London, such as The Battersea Park or The Regent’s Park for an outdoor experience not too far away from the city centre.

Can I hire an outdoor venue with an enclosed area in case of rain?

London is known for its unpredictable weather, so many venues have backup options for outdoor spaces in case of sudden weather changes. Many open air spaces either have an option of putting out umbrellas, or indoor spaces where they can reseat you. However, make sure to discuss this with the venue manager before booking your chosen venue.

Can I hire an outdoor venue for free?

Free venue hire is another way of referring to minimum spend venues. That is a pricing option that allows you to only commit to a certain amount for you and your guests to spend on food and drinks, while not having to pay a hire fee for the space itself.