Workshop Spaces for Hire in London

So, you need to plan and organise your first workshop. Thanks to a large variety of interesting workshop venues, London is a great place to start. If you’re looking for a venue to make your next class, meeting or conference a success, an art or business workshop venue will be a great option for you. From blank canvas spaces to large meeting halls, you will find your next workshop space stress-free and with no extra fees. In order to make the process even easier, we’ve created this complete guide on how to organise a workshop, and how to pick and hire a workshop venue that will match all your needs.

Things to consider when scouting for a workshop venue

Are you stuck trying to compare all these different venue options? In order to get through the hiring process as quickly and efficiently as possible, you will have to develop a plan for your workshop. If you have a concise agenda and goal, you will be able to look for the space most suitable for your event. Here’s all you need to know when it comes to comparing workshop offers: 

• Use case - There are so many different and creative ways to carry out a creative workshop. This is why you should know the goal you want to achieve and some ideas for workshop activities that will help you get there.
• Facilities - Does the venue have the facilities you require? Depending on the nature and length of your workshop this can range between A/V equipment, online meeting tech, breakout areas, bathroom or a dedicated dining room.
• Accessibility - It’s crucial that the venue is accessible from the airport, major roadways or public transit - especially if some of the workshop attendees must commute from outside the city. If you’re not sure which tube or bus connections are near your venue of choice, just check out the local area on the search map. We also include the name of the closest public transport stop on each venue page. Accessibility could also mean things such as private parking spaces (and parking garages available close to the building), elevators, or wheelchair ramps. 
• Location - The specific area in which the venue is located is something you should also think about. The general rule is that the closer the venue is to your location, the better. If you’re hosting a business workshop for your colleagues, you should opt for a venue that’s relatively close to your office (especially if most of them don’t work remotely). If you’re planning an open workshop of some sort, and you find it complicated to figure that out, you can ask the participants about their general commute. You can also just go for a space in a well-connected area instead.
• Space - You should give a lot of attention to the amount and type of space you’re going to go for. First of all, unless your workshop would require a lot of excess space, you shouldn’t go for the biggest space you can find, even if you expect a lot of people to participate. Your workshop venue should have just enough space to accommodate everyone attending. That way, when you carry out your tasks, the space feels more inclusive and welcoming. It will encourage social interaction and teamwork. Obviously, you should make sure your space isn’t too small as well. Usually meeting and workshop venues have a predetermined number of seats they’re willing to accommodate.
• Layout - The layout of your seats is almost as important as the space itself. It should depend on the character of your workshop. If you’re giving a presentation or sales pitch, you should have every seat pointed directly towards you and the projector. If you’re planning to split the audience into smaller groups, go for a few sets of square or circle tables and chairs for more effective teamwork. If you’re going for a creative workshop, hiring a nice, open space for you and the participants will be your best bet.
• Catering - If this is a business company workshop, you should definitely think about providing some food and beverages. Before you start researching catering firms and takeout options, simply ask the venue manager if they already have a trusted caterer they work with or if they can prepare a buffet for the workshop day. When it comes to refreshments, you should at the very least provide everyone with some water, regardless of your workshop activity.
• Equipment - Different types of workshops will differ from each other when it comes to gear and supplies. Business workshops will usually require office supplies, whiteboards, and audiovisual equipment needed for running an online or offline presentation. If you’re after a creative workshop space, they will usually have some art tools and supplies, a backdrop meant for photography sessions, and a lounge or meeting space. 
• Price - What is your budget for the workshop? It’s crucial to know how much you can spend on a space, as venue hire often makes up the majority of every event budget. Usually, workshop venues in London follow one of these pricing models:
• Flat hire - This is the most common pricing model when it comes to London venues. It’s so popular mostly due to its simplicity - you pay a specific amount per every hour, day or 4-hour session.
• Per person - This pricing model is the most popular among managers of large conference and meeting rooms. Usually, there is a minimal amount of attendees that has to be confirmed before the venue accepts the booking, so check the venue pages for more details.
• Minimum spend - These venues will require you and the participants to purchase a previously agreed upon amount of food and drinks. This could be a nice option if you’re going for a longer meeting or workshop with a lunch break included.

If your budget is tight, make sure to pick a couple of different venues that match your needs and run your calculations - which option will be more affordable for the time and headcount of your meeting? Is it better for you to hire the venue by hour, or opt for a 4-hour or 8-hour session instead?

The basics of organising a workshop

Is this your first time organising a business, art, or creative workshop and you don’t know where to begin? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Tagvenue really wants to help you make your next event productive and meaningful. But before you can get into your venue and carry out your workshop you will have to take some steps to prepare your workshop event and set yourself up for success.

First things first, you will have to think of the overarching goal you want to achieve with your workshop. For a business scenario, it could be something like finding a solution to a problem, creating a strategy, or team bonding. If you’re after an art or creative workshop, this can be anything from teaching a concept to a group of people, making an eye-opening presentation, or making an interesting piece of art or music. Naming the main purpose of a meeting or workshop will make all the other steps easier, as you will have a specific guideline of what you’re going for.

When you’ve found the main purpose of your meeting, then you will have to make a more detailed agenda. There are many different ways to plan your workshop, but it will all usually come down to these four parts:

• Introducing your objective - Share your main goal with everyone and discuss how you propose to look for a solution. You can also get some icebreakers going if you’re working with a group that has never collaborated with each other before. If you make everyone feel comfortable and included, the outcome of your workshop will be much better.
  
• Establishing the workflow - This is when you can create groups, and give them everything they need for the tasks, including both the supplies, and your advice. You should make sure this part of the process will go as quickly and smoothly as possible while still making sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to the purpose of the workshop.
• Brainstorming and creative tasks - During the main part of the workshop you should either take the leadership role or, when the participants are split into groups, just be there  to answer any questions and provide feedback. Your role in the workshop will obviously depend on your role in the workshop group and your and your company’s needs. It is important to give everyone the correct amount of time for the length and complexity of the tasks. You want to plan your workshop venue hire so that you have just a bit of excess time for everyone to finish on time.
• Presentation and summary - After you’re done working on your project, you can gather everyone, show the results of your work, and celebrate if you’ve achieved your goal!

When you finish the planning phase of your next workshop, then it’s time to gather all the resources you need. If you’re going to need some art and office supplies, you should list them and get them as soon as possible. Usual gear for a business workshop would include whiteboards, computers, or virtual meeting equipment, particularly cameras and conference mics. Many of the venues set up for meetings and conferences will already have such gear, so feel free to ask the venue manager what can be arranged for you. When it comes to an art or creative workshop, this will largely depend on the type of project you want to tackle, so feel free to get inspired and see what you can come up with.

Then, take a headcount of all the attendees. If you’re hosting a closed workshop, you probably already have an idea on who you should invite. But it’s still good to make a list of all of them in order to track the amount of people who will be coming. That way it will be easier for you to pick an appropriate venue. However, if you have no idea how many people will attend the workshop, find a way for them to RSVP - for example, you can do it by asking the participants to send you an email or social media message.

Then, after you have all the right information, you can search for your venue. If you have a general vision of what you want this workshop to look like, this part will be quick and simple. Hop on our platform and filter out the amount of seats, area, and facilities you’re going to need for your workshop and contact the venue managers of spaces that interest you the most. They will help you by answering all your questions, explain the terms and conditions of the venue, and arrange a meeting for you to see the venue in advance if that’s what you want.

Workshop Venues in London FAQ

Where can I find a good workshop space in London?

Workshop venues are available all across London. If you’re looking for space for a business workshop, you can use some of the meeting spaces in Soho. This trendy district of Central London has a surprising amount of nice professional board rooms with everything you need for a successful meeting. If you’re looking for more open and inspiring spaces, there are multiple venues around Shoreditch Church that would fit that description. And considering they are easily accessible from the A10, on top of having great reviews from Tagvenue customers, you won’t be disappointed.

Will a workshop space have equipment for hire?

Workshops can vary from spaces suitable for classes or activities such as yoga all the way to more professional spaces that might be more suitable for a training or meeting. Expect these spaces to be able to offer basic items such as AV equipment, tables, chairs, or whiteboards. Depending on the nature of the workshop venue, managers may have different types of art, photo or sound equipment available, so make sure to read through the venue pages and ask the managers for more info.

How much will an affordable workshop space cost in London?

Workshop spaces in London can be found starting around £20 per hour or £300 per session. When searching for a price that suits your budget, make sure to check whether different days of the week or times have lower hire fees. (All data from Tagvenue.)

What are the best types of venues for an artistic workshop?

• Meeting rooms - For a business workshop, you need a space with a good amount of seats, that can also be opened up for design thinking or brainstorming sessions. London is a worldwide business hub, so you won’t have any trouble finding a nice meeting space for your next workshop.
• Blank canvas spaces - If you need lots of rooms of activities, blank canvas spaces are the way to go. These are extremely common across the entire Greater London area and they can be set up in any way you need them. Simply talk to your venue manager and see if they can help you fulfil your ideas.
• Creative spaces - If you want to make something or collaborate with artists, creative spaces will offer all you’re going to need. Dedicated spaces for photography, art and brainstorming are some of the features many of these venues will offer.
• Theatres and conference halls - if you’re after a large-scale open workshop or an inspiring presentation, you should think big. Theatres for hire in London have an interesting aura while most conference halls and event spaces will have all the amenities needed for a big workshop.