The new Wembley way
If you’ve not been to Wembley for a few years, you’re in for a big surprise, says Paul Harvey.
Having hosted some of the biggest events in recent UK history, such as the 1966 World Cup Final and Live Aid, the Wembley Park redevelopment is now turning this corner of North West London into one of the UK’s most exciting neighbourhoods.
Against a backdrop of tree-lined boulevards, a lively food scene, designer shopping and modern living, Wembley Park’s myriad event facilities are aimed at establishing it as a global meetings and events player.
The newly-created Destination Wembley brings together a clutch of world class venues for every event type, including Wembley Stadium, The Drum at Wembley, OVO Arena Wembley, Hilton London Wembley, BOXPARK Wembley and London Designer Outlet.
With a delegate capacity of more than 20,000 across 26,000 sqm of event space, Wembley Park really is an events force to be reckoned with. There are more than 1,400 hotel rooms and 3,000 parking spaces in the immediate Wembley area, which is less of a schlep out than you might think – just three stops from Baker Street. And with 70,000 sqm of outdoor space right on hand, there’s plenty for event planners to play with.
Wembley Stadium is the headline-grabber; the home of England’s national football teams and one of the world’s biggest and most beloved stadiums, seating more than 90,000. It’s also more than just a sports stadium – it's a versatile event venue with a wide range of spaces for conference, exhibitions, product launches, awards shows – and the small matter of eight Taylor Swift shows this summer.
On my visit, I got the chance to walk down the famous tunnel and emerge pitchside, blinking in the sun - it makes for a truly memorable experience, soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's most famous venues. It's worth swinging by the changing rooms too, where getting a selfie with your favourite player's shirt is a must.
The Great Hall is the stadium’s flagship events room, a 2,000-capacity blank canvas space with 5m ceilings and skyline views of London and the famous Wembley Way. Meanwhile, the Bobby Moore Suite also holds 2,000 and with direct access to the stadium seating and pitch, as well as four bar areas and two kitchens, it’s a grand space for events to match.
Need something smaller? For private meetings or dining, the executive boxes around the edge of the pitch add a touch of class, providing high-tech specs in a secluded environment.
One of the things that makes Destination Wembley attractive for big events is that planners can dominate the media landscape, with mega banners and flags the length of Wembley Way as well as the bridge, which has digital screens on both sides and underneath. You can really do something amazingly special here.
Proudly billed as the UK’s greenest public building, Brent Civic Centre sits at the heart of Wembley Park, opposite Wembley Arena and in the shadow of the stadium’s famous arch. It's home to The Drum, which features multiple event options both inside and out across its four floors.
The first floor Grand Hall is a stunning, double-height circular space for up to 850, while the third floor Conference Hall – which also doubles as the council chamber - is flooded with natural light and perfect for conferences and larger meetings for up to 150.
The centre is a real community hub and has a wonderful welcoming feel that would enhance any event. Fun fact: the venue is also a popular filming location, most famously grabbing a starring role in Avengers: Age Of Ultron as the site of a dust up between the Incredible Hulk and Iron Man.
Located halfway down Wembley Way, BOXPARK Wembley launched in December 2018 and offers an immersive food, drink and leisure experience with a cutting edge vibe. The brainchild of entrepreneur Roger Wade, the venue hosts a diverse selection of around 20 street food traders around a central event space, as well as PLAY, a dedicated leisure space for activities such as mini-golf and a virtual reality experience.
BOXPARK Wembley can host anything from parties to drinks receptions, conferences and full takeovers across more than 1,800 sqm of dedicated events space. It’s big with corporates, especially for Christmas parties and would be perfect as the venue for an informal gala night for a two-day event. The sheer variety of food on offer here makes it an instant wow - the huge range of choice is sure to excite every event attendee.
The Hilton London Wembley was built in 2012 and is at the centre of Wembley Park, opposite the stadium and next to the arena. Whether it's a function, conference or celebration, one of its modern, flexible spaces are sure to fit the bill.
The contemporary four star hotel boasts 361 guest rooms and a ballroom seating up to 600 guests, offering pre-function space and splitting into three sections.
The Association Restaurant offers refined European dining, while the stylish Sky Bar 9 has panoramic views of Wembley Park for up to 300. There are also 10 flexible meeting rooms and boardrooms for up to 90.
OVO Arena Wembley will be at the centre of the esports universe for three days in June when it hosts the BLAST Premier Spring Final, the second biggest franchised Esports gaming event globally. The arena itself was built for the 1948 London Olympics and is still packing in sports crowds well into the 21st century.
The old London Weekend Television studios have been converted into a theatre, the Troubadour Wembley Park, which is set to bring in the crowds this summer with a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express.
London’s only outlet centre, London Designer Outlet, offers year-round savings on massive brands such as Nike, Next and The North Face. With 50 shops, 20 varied eateries and a nine-screen cinema, it offers plenty for delegates to do in their downtime, while its central event space, Retail Square, is a popular location for music and consumer events.
Wembley Park is also home to Europe's largest multi-storey coach car park, another huge opportunity for event planners, having hosted a concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
There are about 7,000 people living across the Wembley Park development, set to rise to 30,000 by the time the project is finished in 2034. Currently that’s young professionals, young families, and lots of foreign students or postgrad students, with big Chinese, French and Italian communities. It gives it a real community feel, with playgrounds and green spaces dotted around. Minimal traffic and large pedestrianised areas mean the surroundings feel clean and safe.
Where Wembley Park really comes into its own is offering such a wide range of venues across such a secure and modern living environment. It’s the 15-minute city brought to life for event professionals, everything a planner could need within touching distance. Whatever the event, Destination Wembley is bound to offer something that suits – and delegates will enjoy the ease of attending in this pocket of event heaven.
For more information and support with event sourcing, contact the Destination Wembley team at [email protected]
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