Riverside Christmas Party Venues in London

OXO2 | Up to 485 guests

Perched on the second floor of the OXO Tower on the South Bank, this gallery-style space looks straight across the water to St Paul's. Both rooms open onto a private balcony, so drinks and dancing come with a wide sweep of the Thames skyline.

Buffini Chao Deck | 100 seated / 200 standing

Set on the National Theatre's rooftop between Waterloo and Blackfriars bridges, this deck wraps guests in retractable glass panels that hold the warmth in and the skyline out. Dinner or drinks here come with a 180-degree sweep of the river and the City beyond.

Between the Bridges | 600 seated / 1000 standing

Right next to the London Eye, this open-air festival space turns the South Bank into a heated, covered street food market for the night. Six bars, eight food traders and a stage sit beside the water, giving the party an energetic pace that suits big teams who want to move rather than sit still.

Sea Containers | 108 seated / 300 standing

On the 12th and 13th floors of the Sea Containers building, floor-to-ceiling glass puts the Thames and St Paul's right at eye level. The private dining rooms both open onto a private balcony for guests who want fresh air between courses.

For groups who fancy a change of scene before or after dinner, the best bars in London at Christmas is worth a browse too.

Riverside Rooms | Up to 100 guests

Set inside County Hall, opposite the London Eye, this Grade II-listed venue features grand oak-panelled walls and tall windows that frames the river view. Every room looks out over Parliament and the water, giving the party a traditional, formal feel without losing the river as a backdrop.

City Cruises | Up to 300 guests

Boarding from Westminster Pier, this boat venue puts the whole party on the water rather than beside it. A four-hour sail past Big Ben, the London Eye and Tower Bridge comes with a three-course dinner, a DJ and a dance floor that moves with the tide.

Tattershall Castle | 80 seated / 200 standing

Moored on the Embankment opposite the London Eye, this permanently docked old paddle steamer boat makes a night out feel different. The Stateroom sits below deck with big windows onto the water, while the open-air deck above gives party-goers and stargazers a breather from some serious dancing.

Tower Bridge Walkways | 120 seated / 250 standing

Suspended 42 metres above the river between the bridge's two towers, this is as close as a party can get to standing over the Thames itself. Glass floor panels let guests look straight down at the water below, while the East and West walkways frame the City skyline on either side.

HMS Belfast | 144 seated / 180 standing

Moored between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, this restored World War II warship boasts exposed steel and original naval fittings. The Ship's Company Dining Hall sits low in the hull, with the Quarterdeck above giving guests a direct look at Tower Bridge and the water.

Coppa Club Tower Bridge | 140 seated / 350 standing

Right on the riverbank near the Tower of London, this bar and restaurant has a wide terrace and a run of private, heated igloos. Tower Bridge and the Shard sit directly across the water, lit up for the season as the party spills outside.

For more venues with historic character across the city, take a look at the best historic Christmas party venues in London.

Magazine | 600 seated / 2000 standing

On the Greenwich Peninsula, this purpose-built space stands at scale, with a dining room that opens onto sweeping sightlines across the water to Canary Wharf. A separate funfair zone keeps the night moving once dinner wraps, so guests aren't stuck at the table for hours.

The Intercontinental | 2500 seated / 3000 standing

This riverside hotel sits directly on the Thames at the O2, with floor-to-ceiling windows in its Riverside Suites framing Canary Wharf across the water. For the biggest guest lists in London, one of the UK's largest pillar-free ballrooms sits a short walk from a private outlook over the river.

The Pelligon | Up to 750 guests

This glass-domed venue sits on the water in Canary Wharf, with a waterside terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows that pull the South Dock skyline into the room. Its 27-metre atrium gives the party height and light rather than intimacy, best suited to a bigger, brighter kind of celebration.

Setlist | 300 to 600 guests

Set at the foot of Somerset House, this fun bar pairs riverside dining with the Thames on one side and the City skyline on the other. Dinner looks out over the water before the room opens up for music and dancing later in the night.

The Mermaid | 300 seated / 500 standing

On the riverbank at Blackfriars, the Upper and Lower River Rooms both run floor-to-ceiling glass along the water, taking in Tate Modern, the Shard and Shakespeare's Globe across the Thames. The adjoining space in this popular conference centre keeps the party going once dinner is done, without guests having to leave the building.

"Riverside venues are some of the first to sell out for December, especially Thursdays and Fridays. If a group has their heart set on a particular stretch of the river, I'd always say get the enquiry in by September." - Georgia, Party Planning Specialist

From glass-walled rooftops on the South Bank to a warship moored beneath Tower Bridge, London's riverside venues offer some of the most distinctive backdrops for a Christmas party anywhere in the city.

With 25+ years of experience in the Christmas party industry, planning hundreds of events on and around the Thames every year, you can rest easy knowing you're in safe hands.

Fill out our enquiry form or call us on 0203 967 6967, and our team will help you find the right riverside venue, space and package for your group.