Unique Venues of London (UVL) has created a special section of their website focussing on top things for delegates to do in London next summer.
Those looking for alternative hospitality or unusual experiences in the city during the Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond could incorporate a number of behind the scenes and never before offered opportunities from UVL into their itineraries. All experiences can be found on the ‘2012’ section online, a special area providing inspiration to event planners and delegates.
With 73 member venues, UVL provides an eclectic mix of museums, galleries, sporting venues and one-of-a-kind buildings. Highlights of the experiences available through the consortium include:
1. The Royal Pass: This special combination pass from Historic Royal Palaces comes in three versions giving entry to a choice of four of London’s historic palaces in the UVL collection. Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House and Kensington Palace are all iconic attractions and this flexible souvenir ticket offers great value. For garden lovers there is a joint ticket for Kew Palace and Kew Gardens.
Ideal for: group tours, royal and garden enthusiasts
2. Glass Armonica demonstrations: see Benjamin Franklin’s unique musical invention demonstrated in the only remaining home of the scientist, diplomat, philosopher, inventor and Founding Father of the United States. The Benjamin Franklin House is offering The Historic Experience, including a dramatisation with live performance, cutting edge lighting, sound and visual projection.
Ideal for: American companies or those interested in historic figures
3. Breakfast at the Natural History Museum: Enjoy a private guided tour of the museum before it opens to the general public. The exclusive tour can include the Darwin Centre and its cocoon filled with real specimens and interactive activities, a private viewing of the Dinosaur Gallery complete with dinosaur expert, or even a tour of the museum’s tank room including hidden treasures such as a giant squid, huge fish, reptiles, deep sea invertebrates and specimens collected by Charles Darwin.
Ideal for: those interested in the natural world and looking to be wowed!
4. Dance classes: Create a bespoke series of dance classes or a one-off masterclass with the world-leading dance organisation, Laban. Classes can be inspired by architecture, creativity, team building, health and fitness and include a tour of the building, winner of the Sterling Prize in 2003. A perfect link to the summer events, Laban was designed by Herzog and de Meuron, the Swiss architects known for the 2008 Olympic Games’ National Stadium in Beijing.
Ideal for: creative people and those who love to dance!
5. Olympian bodies: Visit the Royal College of Physicians for a whirlwind tour of an exhibition on anatomy, including the body during sport. The exhibition explores the history of anatomy from the seventeenth century to the present day, with highlights being the College’s historic artefacts. These include the Italian anatomical tables dating from 1650 – the oldest surviving teaching aids for the study of human anatomy.
Ideal for: those interested in the science behind sports and human anatomy
6. Go behind the scenes: St Paul’s Cathedral are offering private daytime tours of the world-famous building, including areas usually closed to the general public – Quire and Triforium. Tours incorporate the history the amazing building, its architecture and tombs and memorials in the Cathedral, including Sir Christopher Wren, the Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson. Tours can also be tailored to a group’s requests and interests.
Ideal for: immersing in British history
7. See a concert: The BBC Proms is the world's greatest classical music festival. Hire one of the Royal Albert Hall’s private boxes for your delegates over the summer to really impress. One of the world’s most treasured and distinctive buildings, leading artists from every genre have graced the stage.
Ideal for: musically minded guests
8. Sport vs. Design: An exhibition by the Design Museum exploring the creative partnerships between the worlds of sport and design. Best experienced with the curator of the museum on a private tour, exhibits including the Speedo LZR swimsuit and Shimano Di-2 electronic bicycle shifting technology show how innovative design has helped athletes push the boundaries of sporting achievement.
Ideal for: Olympic sponsors, scientists and sports fans
9. England’s first public art gallery: Visit the Foundling Museum, not only Britain’s first home for abandoned babies but also the first public art gallery, and home to the largest collection of eighteenth century everyday fabrics, a collection of rare artifacts from the musician Handel and paintings by Hogarth.
Ideal for: fascinating your guests and experiencing London’s unique history
Lisa Hatswell, General Manager of UVL comments: “With many UVL venues hosting Olympic Games sponsors, sporting events, Country Houses or hospitality in their diverse event spaces, it’s fantastic that so many of our members are also able to offer unique experiences, unavailable anywhere else. This illustrates how diverse UVL can be, not only during the Olympic period itself but also beyond 2012, in creating engaging experiences for business and leisure visitors to the city”.
For further information and inspiration visit http://www.uniquevenuesoflondon.co.uk/2012/index.html
