Hire unusual venues in London for a birthday in a Tower Hill speakeasy from £10 an hour; a product launch in an immersive Shoreditch LED space from £48 an hour; a corporate away day in a Mayfair gallery from £180 an hour; a summer party on a Thames barge at Vauxhall from £185 a session; or a wedding aboard a tall ship at London Bridge from £1,380. Compare and book unique places for events on Tagvenue.
Based on Tagvenue’s data, as of August 2026, here’s an overview of some of the best spaces you can book for your event in London:
Whole Space at The Boathouse London - Paddington East
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Entire Ship at The Golden Hinde
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The Home at Anomalous Space
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| Space type | Event Venue | Boat | Event Space in an Event Venue |
| Venue | A floating venue on Paddington's waterways, The Boathouse London pairs elegant furnishings with its unique location. Ideal for intimate parties, company events, or celebrations with your own music, DJ, or catering. | A faithful replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hinde, docked in central London, with period details and a unique historic setting. Perfect for themed parties, lively celebrations, or corporate events with onboard bars, PA systems, and DJ-friendly spaces. | Georgian townhouse in London’s cultural hub near Angel, offering creative spaces with PA system and BYO DJ options. Great for parties, social gatherings, and unique celebrations. |
| Booking costs | from £150 hire fee / per hour | from £3000 hire fee / per session | from £180 hire fee / per hour |
| Capacity | 30 guests seating, 35 standing | 40 guests seating, 120 standing | 55 guests seating, 100 standing |
| Location | Paddington, London | Southwark, London | Angel, London |
| What users say | ‘Absolutely LOVE the venue, would recommend! The team were so lovely and helpful before and after the event.’ | ‘An absolutely awesome venue that I was shocked could even be hired out, let alone on New Year's Eve!’ | ‘Brilliant, unique space. Amber is amazing at making sure everything is perfect and organised for your day.’ |
The cost of unusual venues averages around £1500 minimum spend per event. The final price will depend on location, size, amenities, and demand. Some venues also offer additional packages that include catering, AV equipment, or additional services. Take a look at the usual price ranges in London, based on Tagvenue data from August 2026:
| From £500 | to £3000 | minimum spend per event |
| From £110 | to £250 | hire fee per hour |
| From £900 | to £4500 | hire fee per event |
Based on the popularity and user ratings on Tagvenue (updated August 2026), the best options include:
Main Bar Room at Ninth Ward London
in Islington Borough - rated 4.9/5
Our user said: ‘The venue management were awesome, right through the booking process until our event.’
Whole Space at The Boathouse London - Paddington East
in Paddington - rated 4.9/5
Our user said: ‘Absolutely LOVE the venue, would recommend! The team were so lovely and helpful before and after the event.’
The Bedouin Tent & Garden at St Ethelburga's Centre
in Tower Hill - rated 4.8/5
Our user said: ‘Really unusual venue with helpful staff (Nelson).’
You'll find unusual venues in various sizes, from smaller spots to larger venues; keep in mind that the type of space and your chosen layout will affect the capacity! Below you can see the typical venue sizes in London, together with the standard prices in each size range, based on Tagvenue data (August 2026):
| Small | up to 80 guests | prices average £130 hire fee per hour |
| Medium | between 110 and 150 guests | prices average £1500 minimum spend per event |
| Large | over 150 guests | prices average £2100 minimum spend per event |
These are the venues within 0.6 mi from Central London, available to book on Tagvenue:
Based on Tagvenue data (as of August 2026), users looking for unusual venues most commonly go for these venue types:
| Event Space | prices average £130 hire fee per hour | typically between 100 and 200 guests |
| Bar | prices average £1000 minimum spend per event | typically between 50 and 120 guests |
| Church | prices average £130 hire fee per hour | typically between 75 and 200 guests |
| Cocktail Bar | prices average £500 minimum spend per event | typically between 60 and 200 guests |
| Hall | prices average £672 hire fee per hour | typically between 150 and 400 guests |
Smaller unusual venues usually fit up to 80 guests standing. Here are some great options in London, based on Tagvenue data as of August 2026:
Sizona Warehouse at Sizona Location, rated 4.9/5 - blank canvas for 25 guests
Our user said: ‘The venue was perfect for our gathering, and the atmosphere was lively and welcoming.’
The Main Bar at Ester, rated 4.8/5 - bar for 50 guests
Our user said: ‘Had my 30th birthday here. Really great space and team - wholeheartedly recommend for private hire!’
The Crypt at St Anne's Limehouse, rated 4.9/5 - event space for 75 guests
Our user said: ‘Absolutely amazing event space! Held my 30th here, around 40 guests.’
A unique or quirky venue will offer your event a huge dose of character, and a huge shot of fun. Whether you hire a railway arch or a bedoiun tent in the heart of London, a cool and unusual venue will get your party off on the right foot. Many unique party venues are playful takes on your run-of-the-mill bar, pub, or club. They offer a vibrant atmosphere for all of your guests to enjoy and often serve plenty of fun cocktails and menu items. And don’t forget all of the photo opportunities a unique venue offers! These venues are a sure way to take your event from average to unforgettable.
Here are some of our favourite quirky locations you should consider while looking for your favourite venue:
You can easily find the right space and vibe for your event. Check out our top unusual spaces:
|
Theme / style |
Where to host it |
Capacity |
From |
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Hidden speakeasy |
The Speakeasy at MNM · Tower Hill |
60 people |
£10 hire fee/hr |
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Immersive, futuristic LED |
Entire Venue at Hijingo · Shoreditch |
200 people |
£48 hire fee/hr |
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Industrial warehouse loft |
1900s Brewery Cooperage Loft · Clerkenwell |
35 people |
£250 hire fee/hr |
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Eclectic, maximalist bar |
Main Bar Room at Ninth Ward London · Islington |
150 people |
£2,700 min spend/day |
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Middle Eastern tent & garden |
The Bedouin Tent & Garden at St Ethelburga's · Tower Hill |
30 people |
£65 hire fee/hr |
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Tudor tall ship on the water |
Entire Ship at The Golden Hinde · Southwark |
120 people |
£1,380 hire fee/session |
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Moored Thames barge |
The Lower Deck at Tamesis Dock · Vauxhall |
120 people |
£185 hire fee/session |
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Art gallery |
50 people |
£180 hire fee/hr |
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Nautical rum tavern |
Captain's Quarters at Rhum Tavern · Marylebone |
80 people |
£250 min spend |
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Rock'n'roll music history |
Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus · St James |
450 people |
£15,000 min spend |
Where you book sets the tone as much as the venue does. Here are the strongest clusters to consider for your event:
Quirky restaurants in London average around £1,500 minimum spend, but several genuinely unusual spots start from as little as £10 per person or a low hire fee.
What makes each of these worth a look is that the character or theme is built in, so you spend on the food and drinks, not the decoration. Here are our top picks based on atmosphere and theme:
Keeping it cheap: finalise guest numbers early so you don't oversize the room, skip fixed set menus in favour of brunches or sharing platters, and book midweek or off-peak when minimum spends drop. For more, browse cheap private dining venues and quirky restaurants in London.
Page last updated in August 2026
To provide you with relevant information, our pages are refreshed using an algorithm that aggregates real-time data, including bookings, reviews, and venue updates.