A meeting room is a private, enclosed space set aside for a group to meet, present or make decisions without interruption. Most seat between four and thirty people, are booked by the hour, the half day or the full day, and come with a table, a screen and video-conferencing technology.
That is the short answer. Below is the longer one: the types of meeting room you will come across, how they differ from conference rooms, what separates a good room from a forgettable one, and what you can expect to pay in London.
What is a meeting room?
A meeting room is a dedicated, bookable space where a small group can work together away from the noise of an open office. The purpose is focus: a conversation that needs everyone’s attention, a pitch that needs a screen, an interview that needs privacy.
Most meeting rooms include:
- A central table with seating for four to thirty people
- A display screen, with the ability to share a laptop
- A camera, microphone and speakers for anyone joining remotely
- Secure, reliable Wi-Fi
- Controllable lighting, heating and ventilation, and ideally natural light
- A whiteboard or flip chart on request
- Refreshments, and catering where the building offers it
What separates one room from another is rarely the list above. It is the address, the quality of the room itself, and whether anyone is on hand when the screen refuses to connect.
Meeting room, conference room or boardroom: what is the difference?
The terms are often used interchangeably, though they can suggest different settings, layouts and purposes.
A meeting room suits smaller group discussions, whether you’re working through ideas with your team or meeting clients.
A conference room often accommodates larger groups, with the layout and technology to support presentations, training and discussion. Clear sound and good visibility help everyone take part.
A boardroom offers a more formal setting, usually centred on a single table. It’s typically used for board meetings, strategic discussions and key business decisions.
| Space | Typical capacity | Best suited to | Usual layout |
| Meeting room | 4 to 20 | Client meetings, pitches, workshops, team sessions | Boardroom or U-shape |
| Boardroom | 8 to 20 | Board meetings, formal negotiations, AGMs | Single long table |
| Conference room or event space | 20 to 200+ | Presentations, conferences, training, away days | Theatre or classroom |
| Interview or huddle room | 2 to 6 | Interviews, private calls, one-to-ones | Small table or soft seating |
For groups of around thirty or more, it may be worth looking at larger meeting rooms, conference spaces or event venues.
Types of meeting room
In-person meeting rooms
For first client meetings, negotiations and interviews, meeting in person gives you and your guests the opportunity to build rapport and notice body language which can help shape the conversation. With everyone around the same table, you can follow the discussion closely, ask questions as they arise and work through the details together.
Hybrid meeting rooms
A hybrid meeting room brings people together around the table and those joining remotely, with the layout and technology helping everyone follow the conversation and contribute. Cameras need to give a clear view of the people speaking, while microphones should pick up contributions from across the room without voices becoming distant or difficult to hear.
When choosing a room, consider how the meeting will feel for colleagues joining online, including whether they can follow shared presentations and take part comfortably throughout the discussion.
Virtual meeting rooms
A virtual meeting room is an online space hosted on a platform such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Google Meet, with participants joining from their own locations. It can be a practical choice for regular updates or conversations with colleagues and clients based elsewhere, allowing you to stay in touch without arranging travel for every meeting.
Interview and huddle rooms
Interview rooms provide a setting for interviews, confidential calls and one-to-ones, where a quiet environment and privacy help you and your guest give the conversation your full attention. Huddle rooms are compact spaces for small groups to discuss ideas, work through a question or join a call together, although they may offer different levels of privacy. If you’re booking one for a sensitive conversation, check that it’s enclosed and that conversations cannot easily be heard outside.
What makes a good meeting room?
From the welcome at reception to the first cup of coffee, the room and the service around it help set the tone for your meeting. When your guests are comfortable and the practical details are taken care of, you can give your attention to the conversation and the people you’ve brought together.
Room size
The room should feel proportionate to your group, with enough space for everyone to sit comfortably, move around the table and see any shared screens. Capacity can change with the layout, so check how many people the room accommodates in the arrangement you plan to use, allowing for presentation equipment or any space you’ll need for group work.
Flexible room layouts
The way a room is arranged should reflect how you want people to take part, whether they’ll be discussing ideas around a table, taking notes or listening to a presentation.
- Boardroom: Seating around a single table, suited to discussions where everyone contributes
- Theatre: Rows of chairs without tables, allowing a larger audience to face the speaker
- U-shape: Tables arranged with an open end, combining space for a presenter with opportunities for discussion
Tell our team how you’d like the room arranged when you book, and we’ll advise on the layouts available so everything can be prepared before you arrive.
Video conferencing options
Video conferencing allows you to include colleagues and clients who cannot join you in person, provided the room is equipped so they can see, hear and contribute clearly. Reliable connectivity, microphones that cover the table and cameras positioned to show those speaking help the conversation run smoothly, alongside a straightforward way to share presentations.
Before booking, check that the equipment works with your chosen meeting platform and ask what support is available on the day, particularly if you’ll be connecting your own laptop or sharing material from several devices.
Comfortable furniture and surroundings
Supportive seating and a table with enough space for laptops, papers and refreshments help your guests settle in, particularly when the meeting will last several hours. Lighting and acoustics also contribute to comfort, while the architecture and interiors give each room its character.
We choose our properties for their architectural interest and bring the same care to our meeting rooms as we do to our offices, creating distinctive spaces with thoughtful details throughout.
The service around the room
Attentive service allows you to stay with your guests while the practical arrangements are taken care of, from greeting them at reception and showing them to the room to bringing refreshments at an agreed time. Our team can help you plan catering and support around your agenda, so the service fits naturally with the way you want the meeting to run.
How much does it cost to hire a meeting room in London?
The cost of hiring a meeting room in London depends on its size and location, how long you need it for, and any catering or additional support you choose. When comparing rooms, check what the hire rate includes so you can plan around the full cost of your meeting.
Within our collection, Quincey at Hudson House seats four and is available from £100 an hour, while the Great Room at Central Court accommodates up to 34 and starts from £495 an hour. These are just a few examples of the options available in our meeting room listings.
Our rooms can be booked by the hour, half day or full day, with current rates and availability shown in our booking portal.
How to choose the right meeting room
Once you know who’s attending and what you want to achieve, these six points will help you choose a room that suits both your guests and the way you plan to use the time.
- Location: how easily can your guests reach it, and what does the address say about you
- Capacity: book to the number attending, allowing a little room rather than a lot
- Layout: can the room be arranged the way your session needs
- Technology: is it genuinely ready for people joining remotely, and is support on hand
- Catering: what is available, and how far in advance it needs arranging
- Privacy and welcome: Check that the room offers the discretion your conversation requires, whether the building is unbranded and how your guests will be greeted
Meeting rooms to hire across London
We have more than seventy meeting rooms across over twenty properties in central London, each close to transport links and in an address that gives the right impression. A selection of them:
| Room | Building | Neighbourhood | Seats | From |
| Great Room | Central Court | Holborn | 34 | £495 per hour |
| Temple Franks | Central Court | Holborn | 12 | £222 per hour |
| Michelin | Michelin House | Kensington and Chelsea | 12 | £210 per hour |
| Victoria | Nova North | Victoria | 10 | £198 per hour |
| Glasse | Hudson House | Covent Garden | 6 | £130 per hour |
| The Fleming | Octagon Point | City of London | 10 | £198 per hour |
Rooms are also available in Belgravia, the City of London, Knightsbridge, Marylebone, Mayfair and St James’s.
So, if you are organising a day out of the office why not make it a memorable one. Argyll has exceptional meeting rooms across London’s finest locations.
For more information speak to our team.
Find your ideal meeting room
If you’d like to see a room before you book, we’d be happy to show you around and talk through your plans. Browse our meeting room collection or speak to our conferencing team on 020 3008 8888.
Frequently asked questions
What is a meeting room used for?
A meeting room provides a dedicated space for client meetings, pitches, interviews, board meetings, training sessions and team workshops, away from the interruptions of a shared office. The right room gives you the privacy, seating arrangement and equipment you need for the people attending and the discussion you have planned.
How big should a meeting room be for ten people?
For ten people seated around a table, look for a room with a boardroom capacity of at least ten and enough space to move comfortably behind occupied chairs. If you’ll be using presentation equipment or splitting into smaller working groups, ask the team whether a larger room would suit your plans.
How much does it cost to hire a meeting room in London?
The cost depends on the room’s size and location, the length of your booking and any catering or additional services you choose. As a guide, our Quincey room at Hudson House seats four and is available from £100 an hour; you can compare prices in our meeting room listings and confirm availability when you book.
What is the difference between a meeting room and a conference room?
The terms often overlap, although a meeting room usually suggests a smaller space for discussion, while a conference room may accommodate larger groups, presentations and training. The room’s layout, capacity and equipment will tell you more about its suitability than the name alone.
Can you hire a meeting room for one hour?
Yes. Our rooms can be booked by the hour, the half day or the full day, which suits interviews, client meetings and conference calls as easily as a full day of workshops.
