Festive Party Venues in London With Character

At Christmas, our hotels come into their own as places to gather. Across London, bars, dining rooms, rooftops, and private spaces become settings for everything from drinks with colleagues to full-scale festive dinners.

What sets a Red Carnation celebration apart is the character of the setting and the generosity with which it is hosted. One party might unfold beneath falling snow in Bloomsbury, another above the rooftops of Mayfair. You could gather around a long table beside a roaring fire in Kensington, or take over a private bar opposite Buckingham Palace.

Here are some of our favourite spaces for celebrating Christmas in London.

THE RUBENS AT THE PALACE: Christmas with a little extra pageantry

Opposite the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace, The Rubens at the Palace gives a Christmas party a suitably grand London backdrop, with spaces ranging from elegant dining rooms to bars made for cocktails, music and a later finish.

Getting there: Victoria Station is just a two-minute walk away, with Underground, National Rail and coach connections all close by.

THE LEOPARD BAR

For a cocktail reception with a slightly untamed side, take over The Leopard Bar. Rich wood panelling, sumptuous interiors and plenty of feline character set the scene, with its own private entrance, private bar and the option to add live music.

The bar can host up to 40 guests standing or 29 seated, making it particularly well suited to drinks receptions and smaller company celebrations. For Christmas, lean into the bar’s personality with canapés, cocktails and its signature Espresso Martini, finished with a leopard-print crema. 

DINNER, DRINKS, AND LIVE MUSIC

For those looking to make an evening of it, dinner at The English Grill brings seasonal British cooking and tableside theatre to the celebration, while The Cavalry Bar offers cocktails, a Champagne trolley and live music on Friday and Saturday evenings.

EXPLORE CHRISTMAS AT THE RUBENS

THE MONTAGUE ON THE GARDENS: 
Après-ski, without leaving Bloomsbury

Few London Christmas parties start with falling snow, schnapps and an Alpine lodge. At The Montague on the Gardens, they can.

Getting there: Russell Square Underground Station is around a six-minute walk away, with King’s Cross St Pancras and the Eurostar also within easy reach. The Montague on the Gardens

THE SKI LODGE

The Montague’s much-loved Ski Lodge transforms the hotel’s outdoor Wood Deck into an Alpine-inspired setting filled with pine trees, falling snow, twinkling lights, ski racks and plenty of festive detail.

Groups of ten or more can gather over mulled wine, hot spiced cider, schnapps and seasonal food, with the adjoining Conservatory providing an indoor space alongside the Lodge. For larger celebrations, the Great Russell Suite can become part of the evening too.

THE WINTER LODGE

For a smaller gathering, the Winter Lodge offers a more intimate take on the season. Designed as a traditional log cabin and available for exclusive hire for 10 to 30 guests, it is particularly good for teams looking for their own space, with festive dining available alongside mulled wine, spiced cider and all the trimmings.

THE GREAT RUSSELL SUITE

Planning something bigger? The Great Russell Suite can host up to 100 guests for a banquet or 150 for a reception, with its own private bar and direct access to the Wood Deck. It works particularly well for parties that begin in the Ski Lodge before moving inside for dinner, dancing and a later finish. 

DISCOVER THE SKI LODGE

THE CHESTERFIELD MAYFAIR: 
Elevated Festivities in Central London

From a covered rooftop to an oak-panelled private dining room, The Chesterfield Mayfair offers two very different ways to gather in the heart of Mayfair.

Getting there: Green Park is the nearest Underground station, with Bond Street, Oxford Street and Piccadilly all within walking distance.

STANLEY'S ROOFTOP BAR

Take Christmas up a level at Stanley’s, the hotel’s rooftop space overlooking Mayfair. Available for exclusive hire for up to 60 guests, it works for everything from cocktails and canapés to seated dinners and company celebrations.

Its retractable roof, heaters and blankets mean winter weather need not spoil the plan, creating an atmospheric rooftop setting long after summer has disappeared. Tailored menus and cocktails allow the space to be shaped around the party itself.

THE LIBRARY

For a Christmas dinner with real atmosphere, make The Library your own. Oak-panelled walls and a warm, soulful interior give it a completely different mood from the rooftop, with space for up to 20 guests for dinner or 40 for a reception.

It is an especially appealing setting for a private festive dinner, with seasonal menus, personalised touches and a room that already has plenty of character before the first cracker is pulled.

The Chesterfield’s festive party packages include a three-course seasonal menu, sommelier-selected wine, mince pies, Christmas crackers and personalised menus and place cards, with options to add canapés, sparkling wine and after-dinner drinks.

PLAN A CHRISTMAS PARTY IN MAYFAIR

THE MILESTONE HOTEL & RESIDENCES: 
Gather opposite Kensington Palace

Overlooking Kensington Palace and Gardens, The Milestone lends itself particularly well to smaller celebrations where the setting matters just as much as the menu.

Getting there: High Street Kensington Underground Station is around a six-minute walk away, with the hotel directly opposite Kensington Palace and Gardens.

THE WINDSOR SUITE

Aged pine panelling, a spectacular chandelier and an open fireplace give the Windsor Suite instant atmosphere for a winter celebration.

Ideally suited to private dining and elegant cocktail receptions, the room can accommodate up to 30 guests for dinner or 40 for a reception. Its own butler’s pantry also makes it particularly well suited to a dinner built entirely around your group.

THE HIDEAWAY

Then there is The Hideaway, darker, more intimate and extremely cosy. Tucked beside The Stables Bar, this wood-panelled retreat feels like your own private hideout for the evening.

With room for up to 12 seated guests or 18 for a standing reception, it is made for smaller gatherings, cocktails and celebrations that call for somewhere tucked away from the rest of the hotel. 

For those looking to begin earlier, The Milestone’s Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea also offers a more playful way to gather before moving into one of the hotel’s private spaces for the evening.

DISCOVER FESTIVE CELEBRATIONS AT THE MILESTONE

THE EGERTON HOUSE HOTEL:
A Demure Little Christmas

Tucked away on a leafy residential street in Knightsbridge, The Egerton House Hotel feels more like a private townhouse than a traditional London hotel. Its intimate scale, original artwork and warm, characterful interiors make it particularly well suited to smaller festive gatherings, with Harrods, the V&A and the Natural History Museum all close by.

Getting there: South Kensington Station is around an eight-minute walk from the hotel, while Knightsbridge Station is around 11 minutes away. Harrods is also an eight-minute walk, making The Egerton an easy meeting point for guests coming from across central London.

THE MARTINI MASTERCLASS: FOR A SLIGHTLY TIPSIER AFFAIR

For something a little more spirited, The Egerton’s Martini Masterclass turns one of the hotel’s signatures into the main event. Led by the bar team, guests are taken through the history, ritual and technique behind the perfect martini, with seasonal canapés served alongside. 

Choose the Classic Martini Experience for an introduction to the essentials, or the more indulgent Connoisseur’s Collection, with guided tastings and a bespoke final serve. Refined, intimate and still very demure, of course. 

PLAN A MARTINI MASTERCLASS

FIND YOUR CHRISTMAS PARTY VENUE IN LONDON

A rooftop above Mayfair. An Alpine Lodge in Bloomsbury. A private bar opposite Buckingham Palace. A fireside dinner in Kensington.

Our London hotels offer plenty of ways to celebrate, but no two feel quite the same. Our events teams can help shape the details around your group, from menus and drinks to entertainment and those thoughtful extras that make the night feel entirely your own. To enquire about your festive celebration, simply contact the respective hotel and they'll be more than happy to help you begin planning your perfect event.