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 September 2026, here’s an overview of some of the best spaces you can book for your event in London:
Entire Ship at The Golden Hinde
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The Home at Anomalous Space
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Basement Bar at Brix Ldn
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|---|---|---|---|
| Space type | Boat | Event Space in an Event Venue | Bar in a Restaurant |
| Venue | 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. | Modern restaurant in London Bridge with a New York-inspired steak and smokehouse vibe, featuring a basement bar and spaces for private dining or events. Ideal for birthdays, team gatherings, or celebrations with DJs, dancing, and bespoke cocktails. |
| Booking costs | from £3000 hire fee / per session | from £180 hire fee / per hour | from £3000 minimum spend / per afternoon |
| Capacity | 40 guests seating, 120 standing | 55 guests seating, 100 standing | 60 guests seating, 150 standing |
| Location | Southwark, London | Angel, London | Southwark, London |
| What users say | ‘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.’ | ‘Venue was hired for a 40th birthday party with c.70 guests.’ |
The cost of unusual venues averages around £1000 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 £500 | to £3000 | minimum spend per event |
| From £99 | to £300 | hire fee per hour |
| From £900 | to £4500 | hire fee per event |
Based on the popularity and user ratings on Tagvenue (updated September 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.’
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).’
The Speakeasy at MNM
in Tower Hill - rated 4.8/5
Our user said: ‘Unusual space; atmospheric… guests loved it.’
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 (September 2026):
| Small | up to 80 guests | prices average £130 hire fee per hour |
| Medium | between 120 and 150 guests | prices average £1000 minimum spend per event |
| Large | over 200 guests | prices average £3000 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 September 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 250 guests |
| Bar | prices average £1000 minimum spend per event | typically between 80 and 150 guests |
| Cocktail Bar | prices average £500 minimum spend per event | typically between 60 and 250 guests |
| Restaurant | prices average £2000 minimum spend per event | typically between 90 and 120 guests |
| Church | prices average £1560 hire fee per event | typically between 75 and 200 guests |
Smaller unusual venues usually fit up to 80 guests standing. Here are some great options in London, based on Tagvenue data as of September 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: ‘Lovely, helpful staff - both through the booking stage and on the night of the event. Great location.’
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.’
Cheap unusual venues in London start from £65 hire fee per hour or £450 hire fee per event. Check out these budget-friendly spaces you can book through Tagvenue, as of September 2026:
The Office at Anomalous Space, from £66 hire fee per hour
(up to 20 guests standing)
Our user said: ‘Unique venue, good space, good light and nice energy. Price and location worked well.’
Event Space at Alaska Waterloo, from £450 hire fee per event
(up to 120 guests standing)
Our user said: ‘Open and spacious venue. Great value for money with an upfront cost and no bar spend. Helpful hosts.’
The Player's Lounge at Bat & Ball, from £300 minimum spend per event
(up to 40 guests standing)
Our user said: ‘I’ve been in the event game for almost 10 years and Bat & Ball is one of my favourite venues to work with.’
In London, unusual venues are most commonly booked for 25 to 80 guests. Here are some popular kinds of events people have hosted at these spaces on Tagvenue, as of September 2026:
| Party | Usually between £500 and £2,000. |
User who booked Mala Madre Events Space at The Last Talisman for 40 guests
said: ‘The space, staff, food and location are all absolutely excellent!’ |
| Birthday Party | Usually between £500 and £2,000. |
User who booked The Speakeasy at MNM for 35 guests
said: ‘Great staff, great venue. Everyone loved the cozy atmosphere.’ |
| Christmas Party | Usually between £1,700 and £5,200. |
User who booked Thomas Doggett’s Bar at Doggett's Coat and Badge for 65 guests
said: ‘The whole event was wonderfully supported.’ |
| Wedding | Usually between £750 and £3,100. |
User who booked The Clubhouse at Greenwich Yacht Club for 80 guests
said: ‘The GYC is an awesome venue and the staff there are superb.’ |
| Meeting | Usually between £300 and £1,000. |
User who booked The Office at Anomalous Space for 8 guests
said: ‘Great venue. Excellent location. Everything we needed for a day workshop.’ |
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 |
|
Hidden speakeasy |
The Speakeasy at MNM · Tower Hill |
60 people |
£10 hire fee/hr |
|
Immersive, futuristic LED |
Entire Venue at Hijingo · Shoreditch |
200 people |
£48 hire fee/hr |
|
Industrial warehouse loft |
1900s Brewery Cooperage Loft · Clerkenwell |
35 people |
£250 hire fee/hr |
|
Eclectic, maximalist bar |
Main Bar Room at Ninth Ward London · Islington |
150 people |
£2,700 min spend/day |
|
Middle Eastern tent & garden |
The Bedouin Tent & Garden at St Ethelburga's · Tower Hill |
30 people |
£65 hire fee/hr |
|
Tudor tall ship on the water |
Entire Ship at The Golden Hinde · Southwark |
120 people |
£1,380 hire fee/session |
|
Moored Thames barge |
The Lower Deck at Tamesis Dock · Vauxhall |
120 people |
£185 hire fee/session |
|
Art gallery |
50 people |
£180 hire fee/hr |
|
|
Nautical rum tavern |
Captain's Quarters at Rhum Tavern · Marylebone |
80 people |
£250 min spend |
|
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 September 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.