Conference and venue hire

Welcome to SOAS University of London – a bold, global institution in the heart of Bloomsbury. 

Our campus blends academic prestige with cultural vibrancy, offering an inspiring backdrop for conferences, celebrations, creative projects, summer schools or language courses, exams and everything in between. 

Whether you're planning a high-impact corporate event in our pioneering boardroom, a dynamic community gathering in our gorgeous open spaces, or a standout filming location, SOAS provides the spaces, expertise, and atmosphere to bring your vision to life.

Events we welcome

• Conferences and symposiums
• Corporate meetings and training days
• Cultural festivals and community events
• Exhibitions, launches and receptions
• Filming, photography and media shoots
• Student-led and academic events

Accessibility and support

We have an unbeatable location in central London; moments from Russell Square, King’s Cross, Euston and St Pancras, SOAS is one of the most accessible venues in the capital.

Our friendly Events team is here to support you every step of the way. When you book an event with us, we'll provide you with all the support you could need:

• Technical support: professional AV equipment and on-site technicians ensure your event runs smoothly.
• Hospitality: from coffee breaks to evening receptions, our approved catering partners offer a range of menus to suit your event.
• Accessibility: most of our venues offer step-free access, lifts and accessible facilities
• Campus-wide Wi-Fi: reliable guest Wi-Fi keeps your event connected.

SOAS isn’t just another London venue — it’s a place where ideas, cultures, and creativity meet. Our spaces combine modern facilities with distinctive architectural charm, giving your event a unique sense of place. Our event spaces include:

• Meeting rooms.
• Open spaces (e.g., lecture theatres): perfect for conferences, keynote talks, screenings and large presentations.
• Seminar and meeting rooms: flexible, modern spaces for workshops, training sessions and collaborative meetings.
• SOAS Gallery and exhibition spaces: a standout venue for cultural events, exhibitions, receptions and private views.
• Private dining room: intimate and luxurious private dining room perfect to impress your guests, with excellent food and drinks!
• Board Room: our iconic Senate Chamber.
• Open spaces.
• SOAS Library.

You can find images of some of our event spaces below, and a full list of our event spaces and their functionalities in the following booklet:

We can host large and complex conferences (up to 1,000 guests) in person and with hybrid functionality across our campus. We provide tailored packages in accordance to the events' needs. Please fill out our enquiry form for more information.

Conference types we have hosted so far include:

• academic conferences
• business or corporate conferences
• tech summits
• medical or scientific conferences
• training workshops
• networking events
• hybrid or virtual conferences

SOAS has a variety of iconic buildings with different styles and outstanding grounds suitable for commercial filming, photo shoots, catwalks, TV commercials, drams, interviews, music videos, adverts and promotions, as well as space for cast, actors/crowds, make up and costume support.

SOAS supports academic endeavours and international collaboration, and for over 20 years we have welcomed many summer schools and international language courses. We are pleased to offer a preferential rate for such activities and now also offer accommodation. Please enquire for further information.

SOAS offers a versatile and high‑quality hospitality and catering service designed to support everything from intimate fine‑dining experiences to large‑scale academic and corporate events. 

Our service combines thoughtful menu design, professional hosting, and flexible event spaces to meet the needs of internal departments, visiting delegations, and external clients. Our menus are as follows: 

• Fine dining menu (PDF, 282 KB)
• Canapé menu (PDF, 1.1 MB)
• General hospitality menu (PDF, 2 MB)

• SOAS Event Risk Assessment (Word, 306 KB)