In this guide, we take a look at the finest London art galleries and museums dedicated to art/artworks that offer venue hire for events.
To find out about all the venues at which we work, please visit our Venues Page.
The Courtauld
After a magnificent refurbishment The Courtauld re-opened to great acclaim earlier this year. The pristine, pastel walls of its galleries are hung with one of the world’s finest collections of art, including some of the most recognisable examples of Impressionist art. As a location for both receptions and dinners, the Courtauld offers the highest levels of elegance and the chance to enjoy its paintings, prints, sculptures and decorative arts in private.
Did you know?
Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (on show at The Courtauld) was painted a week after the artist left hospital, having a few weeks earlier cut off most of his left ear after a heated argument with Paul Gauguin.
The National Gallery
The magnificent facade of the National Gallery dominates the north side of Trafalgar Square and is home to some of the world’s most recognisable masterpieces, dating back to the 13th century. From Botticelli and Bellini to Constable and Canaletto, the nation’s collection is to be marvelled at and that is what you and your guests can do, in private. The options for venue hire start outside the Gallery, where you can host a reception or dinner on the Portico Terrace, overlooking Trafalgar Square. Within the National Gallery, you can take your pick from an array of wonderful event spaces from the majestic Barry Rooms to the newly refurbished Room 32 and extensive Wohl Room.
Did you know?
By Word of Mouth partners exclusively with The National Gallery for daytime meetings and conferences. Click here to find out more.
The Royal Academy of Arts
Based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, the Royal Academy is home to Britain’s longest established art school (the RA Schools) and hosts one of the highlights of the summer season, The Summer Exhibition. Hire of the Main Galleries (during the Summer Exhibition) and John Madejski Fine Rooms is offered exclusively to corporate supporters, whilst the RA Collection Gallery, based in the Burlington Gardens building and home to an early copy of Leonardo’s The Last Supper, is open to all to hire. To find out more about the benefits of becoming a corporate supporter of the RA, click here.
Did you know?
By Word of Mouth has catered for events during some of the RA’s most prestigious exhibitions in recent years and is the catering partner for the 2022 Summer Exhibition Preview Party.
Saatchi Gallery
With an enviable location adjacent to Chelsea’s King’s Road and housing contemporary galleries showing its world renowned collections of modern art, Saatchi Gallery seeks to provide an innovative platform for contemporary art and culture. By Word of Mouth has organised receptions and dinners in its spacious, white painted rooms and the artworks always become a talking point. Exhibitions are headline grabbing, with subjects ranging from Bob Marley to Tutankhamun and the focus being on making contemporary art accessible to all.
Did you know?
Saatchi Gallery is housed in a Grade-II listed building which was formerly the Duke of York’s Barracks
Serpentine Gallery
Sitting proudly in the centre of Kensington Gardens, the Serpentine Gallery is another of London’s leading galleries dedicated to contemporary art and makes a charming and elegant setting for events. Each year, a leading artist or architect is chosen to design the temporary Serpentine Pavilion which is constructed in the leafy grounds of the Gallery for the summer months. Events in the pavilion are always a highlight of the summer season and are artistically inspiring as well as offering a semi-alfresco setting.
Did you know?
This year’s Serpentine Pavilion, Black Chapel, is designed by Chicago based artist Theaster Gates who drew inspiration for the project from the great kilns of Stoke-on-Trent.
Tate
A true icon of the artworld, Tate is home to the UK’s national collection of British art, and international modern & contemporary art. The two London based galleries, Tate Britain and Tate Modern have very contrasting styles. The former is located in a Grade-II listed building on Millbank in Westminster and has a rich architectural history dating back to the late nineteenth century. The latter sits in the former Bankside Power Station with new buildings added in 2016 and is home to the world’s most visited collections of modern and contemporary art. Whatever style or size of event you are planning, Tate’s landmark buildings offer an exceptional range of event spaces and the opportunity to enjoy the collections in private.
Did you know?
The original Tate (now Tate Britain) was known as the National Gallery of British Art and its site is the former location of Millbank Prison.
The Wallace Collection
Exquisite collections of paintings, sculpture, furniture, arms & armour and porcelain make up the Wallace Collection. Its home, Hertford House in W1, is the former home of the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, whose widow bequeathed the collections to the nation in 1897. Large events and receptions take place in the Great Gallery, surrounded by Old Master paintings (including Frans Hals’ The Laughing Cavalier), and in the leafy Courtyard with its glazed roof and pink painted walls, whilst the five interconnected galleries that make up the Drawing Room Suite are ideal for receptions. Elsewhere in the Museum, a series of smaller rooms and galleries offer a sumptuous setting in which to hold intimate gatherings.
Did you know?
According to of the terms in the will of Lady Wallace, the Wallace Collection is a closed collection, meaning that nothing more can be added to it.