Best corporate Christmas party venues in London and 2024 theme ideas 

28 May 2024

We know, we know, Spring has only just arrived, but here at Merlin Venues we don’t think it’s ever too early to start thinking about Christmas. It’s our favourite time of year and as any event planner will know, the handful of good dates get booked up really early. It definitely pays to be ahead of the game when booking the best corporate Christmas party venues in London.

As well as sharing all the highlights of our world-famous, iconic venues, we also wanted to help you start thinking about Christmas party themes, too. We know it gets harder, year on year, to come up with original ideas, so we wanted to kick-start your creative thinking.  

Dinner Party at Madame Tussauds

Masquerade ball at Madame Tussauds 

 Madame Tussauds is one of our most popular work Christmas party venues. As with most venues in our portfolio of attractions, it offers the perfect party combination of fabulous, inspiring spaces with inbuilt entertainment.

Your guests will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with over 150 of the world’s most famous figures while enjoying interactive experiences which feature throughout the displays. Madame Tussauds is all about glitz and glamour – pair this with the festive cheer of Christmas and you and your guests are in for a fabulous Christmas event.  

You don’t have to theme your Madame Tussauds Christmas party – we think it works perfectly just as it is – but if you wanted to take it to the next level, a masquerade ball is a fabulous option. Get your guests to create themselves a mask of their favourite celebrity, so you can all spend the evening schmoozing with your celeb pals. Imagine the photo opportunities!  

Christmas Landlady at The London Dungeon

Victorian Christmas party in The London Dungeon  

Looking for an alternative way to celebrate the festive season with colleagues? A night of thrills and gore at The London Dungeon might just fit the bill. With live actors, immersive experiences and a fairground ride to rival those in any theme park, a London Dungeon Christmas party is a truly unique way to reward your staff.

Your guests will be led through a history of the Victorian underworld, with all of its sights, smells and sounds – no holds barred. The London Dungeon party package comes with a DJ and dance floor, a bowl food menu and exclusive use of the Dickensian tavern for your drinks reception. Of all of our unique party venues in London, The London Dungeon is our most unusual Christmas party choice, so it pretty much guarantees to make an impact with your guests. The only question is, can they handle it? 

Christmas Party at Shrek’s Adventure!

Big kids’ Christmas with DreamWorks Shrek 

Shrek’s Adventure! on the Southbank is one of Merlin Venue’s most fun and frivolous attractions. Decorating gingerbread men, pinning the tail on Donkey, taking a journey on a 4D magic bus… the fun kids have on a day out with Shrek and his friends is a joy to behold. Although, something we’ve noticed, is that it’s not just the children who seem to enjoy the escapism of falling into a modern fairy tale.

Why not give your team permission to embrace their inner child and book a Christmas party at Shrek’s Adventure!? Couple the DreamWorks immersive experience to Far Far Away with some fabulous cocktails and a resident DJ, and you’ve got the recipe for the perfect Christmas party.  

Christmas Dinner party at Sea Life London

Sparkles and glamour with a Christmas party in Sea Life London Aquarium  

There’s something otherworldly about watching sharks, rays and wildy colourful tropical fish swim all around you at an immersive aquarium. Add in delicious cocktails, a Christmas tree and glitterballs and we think you’ve got truly ethereal experience. Doesn’t that sound like a Christmas party you’d like to attend?

With seated and standing options, a Christmas party at Sea Life London Aquarium offers a unique, tranquil atmosphere for your celebrations. Guests will enjoy moving through Shark Walk and Ocean Tunnel while mingling with their fellow revellers. A simple theme of sparkles and glamour will tie in nicely with the venue’s decorations and help add a sense of occasion to your night.  

Christmas Dinner party at Riverside Rooms

Classic Christmas parties in London’s Riverside Rooms 

If you feel your colleagues might prefer a more traditional Christmas celebration, the Riverside Rooms, County Hall on London’s Southbank offer the perfect location for classic, festive parties. The oak-panelled, period spaces boast stunning views over the River Thames where your guests can take in Parliament and the Lastminute.com London Eye.

Your sit-down, three-course, Christmas dinner will be served within this cosy, seasonally-decorated space complete with Christmas tree. If you’d like your dinner to progress onto a night of dancing and further merriment, there’s a drinks lounge in between our two main spaces which can be used while your space is transformed for stage two of your party.  

If you want to upgrade your Riverside Rooms celebration, you can book a private Champagne flight on the London Eye. Or perhaps there’s another Merlin Venues attraction you’d like to treat your guests to? We’d be happy to discuss whatever extras you’d like to add onto your party. We also work closely with some fabulous entertainment partners who can provide live bands, performers and acts of all sorts – including carol singers.  

Star Wars at Movies at Madame Tussauds

Movie madness at Madame Tussauds 

Movies at Madame Tussauds is a distinct event space on the same site as the main attraction, dedicated to Marvel and Star Wars. A Christmas party here will see you and your guests enjoy cocktails and a sit-down dinner surrounded by your favourite superheroes. With a 4D, 360 degree mini-movie, supersized wax work figures and show-stopping immersive experiences, your guests will feel like Hollywood stars for the night.  

Nostalgic characters Christmas party theme at Shrek’s Adventure! 

Kids films are a very important part of Christmas for most of us. It’s not until your favourite kids Christmas film – be it Home Alone, The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Grinch – comes on the TV that Christmas truly begins. Get to know your colleagues on a different level and host a fancy dress Christmas party at which everyone comes as their favourite character from a festive childhood movie. With Shrek’s magical kingdom as your backdrop, you and your team can spend an evening letting your hair down and getting in touch with your inner child.  

Celebrity Lookalikes at Madame Tussauds 

Does Daniel Craig’s doppelganger sit opposite you every day? Is your boss often mistaken for Ariana Grande? Why not theme your office Christmas party and see which member of your team is the most uncanny celeb lookalike? For those in your office who don’t have a rich and famous double, much can be achieved with a bit of make-up and a fancy dress outfit. And even if the comparison is pretty poor, there will be plenty of fun in guessing! 

Seasoned Catering

Catering at your Merlin Venues Christmas party 

Our catering partner, Seasoned, shares the high value we put on our Corporate and Social Responsibilities. They put sustainability at the heart of everything they do by sourcing through local, ethical suppliers and creating seasonal menus to reduce their carbon footprint.  

Organisers booking Christmas events with Merlin Venues can look forward to delicious catering options with a decadent, three-course dinner, or you can opt for bowl food and a drinks reception. Whatever you choose, you and your guests will be more than impressed with the delicious dishes our in-house chefs will prepare.  

There are lots of choices on our Christmas menus, some more traditional than other. Here are a few of the Christmas menu highlights to whet your appetite… 

Canapes 

Cranberry, pecan and goat’s cheese truffles
Crisp, pork belly fritter, caramelised pineapple
Crisp red mullet escabeche 

Bowl food 

Maple-roasted pumpkin, spiced vegan feta, candid pecan nuts
24-hour braised beef ragu, roasted root vegetables & horse radish dumpling
Mince pie Eton mess shots 

Starters 

Gin-cured salmon, beet and red cabbage remoulade, soda bread, seaweed butter
Mushroom duxelle, pickled mushrooms and Jerusalem artichoke 

Mains 

Turkey Wellington, savoy cabbage, duchess potato, roast carrot and cranberries
Maple roasted butternut squash, crispy kalettes, puffed rice, tahini dressing 

Desserts 

Salted caramel tart, pistachio tuille, tonka bean ice cream
Christmas pudding and orange terrine, crème patisserie, white chocolate 

Give back this Christmas with corporate Christmas parties at Merlin Venues  

Christmas is a time for celebrating, and also, for giving. For every guest booked into a Merlin Venues Christmas party, we will donate £1 to either Merlin’s Magic Wand or Sea Life Trust so we can work together to create a more sustainable, inclusive world.  

Your 2024 Christmas party 

If you want to host a Christmas party to remember, get in touch with Merlin Venues to see which one of our world-famous attractions is best suited to your needs. Fill out the form below and one of our friendly team members will get back to you to discuss how we can help you realise your festive vision!