Westminster spotlight: Covent Garden & Temple

Set in the heart of the West End are Covent Garden and Temple, the ultimate destinations for exquisite dining, thirst-quenching cocktails and a buzzing atmosphere. Amongst the array of quaint cafés and eclectic shops are some truly unmissable venues. Here are our top five picks:

London Film Museum is host to a fantastic selection of motion picture memorabilia. Located just off Russell Street the museum is steeped in iconic history and is now home to the James Bond Exhibition. Showcasing the epic 50 year history of the Bond franchise, stepping into the venue is like entering your own 007 experience.

The incredible location is available to hire for a multitude of events, from receptions to special celebrations. The event team has over 25 years’ experience and will manage your event from start to finish and with the essence of Bond all around you, your party will truly have a ‘license to kill’.

Just a short walk from Covent Garden station, and fresh from an extensive refurbishment, is the London Transport Museum. The museum is quintessentially ‘London’ and showcases the institutions that have become the transport life lines throughout the capital. If you’re looking to propel an event to new heights then the museum’s galleries are available for exclusive hire, offering a unique location for your event to really take-off. The galleries can hold up to 500 guests for a drinks reception or 180 for a seated dinner. Juxtaposed against the modern event space is the venue’s Grade II listed exterior, along with the cast iron pillars of the Victorian Flower Market, making the London Transport Museum a perfect marriage of traditional and contemporary.

A stroll along embankment is The IET London: Savoy Place. After a refurbishment the venue is preparing to reopen its doors this autumn, offering plenty of options for anyone searching for an exciting events venue. Setting itself apart from the competition, the venue offers cutting edge IT, energy efficiency and wireless connectivity throughout making it a premier venue for events and meetings. Not to be overlooked however is the venue’s stunning new rooftop terrace offering panoramic views over the river and beyond.

Although The IET London doesn’t reopen its doors until the autumn, advance bookings can be made on their website.

Meander a little further down the Thames and the HQS Wellington is hard to miss. Combining a maritime atmosphere with a static location opens this venue up to a vast array of event opportunities. Built in 1934 and with six years of wartime service, that saw the rescue over 450 merchant navy men, HQS Wellington comes with an undeniable sense of history and intrigue. The event team offers a selection of packages alongside a bespoke service allowing you to entirely tailor your event. With the Quarter Deck accommodating up to 220 guests or the Committee Room available for a more intimate feel there is something for everyone at HQS Wellington.

Stepping back onto dry land and past the lions of Trafalgar Square is St Martin-in-the-Fields, a central London location offering historic architecture and cultured surroundings. The venue is one of London’s landmark churches and is enriched by its musical tradition, a unique combination that allows it to stand out from the rest. Dating as far back as the 18^th Century, and with historic links to Henry VIII, the venue presents an exhilarating link to the past. Offering competitive events packages and spectacular historic surroundings, St Martin-in-the-Fields is well worth a visit.

Covent Garden is a treasure trove of unique, exciting and superb event venues. Whether you’re hosting a large-scale conference or a small and intimate breakfast meeting there’s bound to be something to suit!