Where people come to learn, not just to attend.
The environment shapes the learning. When your participants are at ease, comfortable and free from distraction, they engage more fully and retain more deeply.
At The Central, your group has the venue to themselves. No other organisations sharing the building, no noise from adjacent events. Just a quiet, sheltered space in Marylebone where the focus stays on the work in the room.
Our team takes care of everything around the programme, so your facilitators can concentrate entirely on the people in front of them.
Enquire about your training day
Enquire about your training day
Why The Central?
Built for the way a training day actually works
Rooms that move with your programme
A training day rarely stays in one format. Our spaces can shift between classroom, cabaret and workshop layouts as the day requires. Rooms can be combined for plenary sessions and separated for smaller group work. The Atrium provides a natural space between sessions for informal discussion, reflection and refreshments. Your programme sets the shape. We fit around it.
An atmosphere that puts participants at ease
Good facilitation depends on people feeling comfortable enough to contribute. The Central is a warm, human environment, not a corporate hire space. Participants are welcomed personally and looked after throughout the day. It’s that kind of care that makes a difference to how freely people engage.
A location your participants can reach without effort
A training day lost to a difficult journey is a training day lost. The Central is a short walk from Oxford Circus, Great Portland Street and several other Underground stations. Major mainline hubs including Marylebone, Euston, King’s Cross, Victoria and Farringdon are within a few stops by tube, making it straightforward for participants travelling from across London or arriving from further afield.
“Thank you all for your help with this event. It was really wonderful.”
Rian
Recommended Spaces
Spaces suited to every group size and format
Whether your programme runs in a single room or moves between spaces throughout the day, we have the flexibility to support it.
Explore each space in full:
- Conference Rooms, for classroom teaching, coaching sessions and parallel streams
- The Atrium, for arrivals, breaks and informal peer discussion between sessions
- Wolfson Hall, for large group training and opening or closing plenary sessions
- The Atrium and Conference Rooms Combined, for multi-stream days with combined networking and session space
Example Event Setups
How a training day at The Central can be structured
Every programme has its own rhythm. Here are some typical ways facilitators and learning teams configure the venue across the day.
Full-day programme (up to 60)
- Conference Rooms Combined in classroom layout for morning input sessions
- The Atrium for arrival, mid-morning break and working lunch
- Rooms reconfigured into smaller groups for afternoon practice and application
- Wolfson Hall available for a closing plenary or all-hands session
Half-day workshop (up to 18)
- Conference Room 1 in boardroom layout for interactive group work
- The Atrium for arrival refreshments and end-of-session networking
- Flip charts, writing materials and AV set up and ready on arrival
- Catering timed to fit around your session breaks
Multi-stream learning day (up to 60)
- Conference Rooms Combined open plan for morning plenary
- Rooms partitioned into parallel streams for afternoon breakouts
- The Atrium as a shared gathering space between streams
- Materials and AV set up separately for each room
Leadership or away-day programme (up to 30)
- Conference Rooms Combined or Wolfson Hall for main facilitated session
- Breakout space for small group exercises and peer reflection
- Catering designed around the pace and tone of the day
- The Atrium for informal discussion and end-of-day wind-down
“All my team members loved the venue and the team is a great help. Highly recommend it.”
Patrick
Catering
Food and refreshments that keep your group at their best.
Energy and concentration are closely linked. Our in-house catering team understands the shape of a training day and builds menus that sustain your participants across it. The food is prepared in our high standard kitchen and guests often comment on the quality and presentation of what we serve. Each course arrives at the right moment, without disrupting the flow of the session.
Every menu is built around your group’s needs. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are included as standard.
Training day catering typically includes:
- Arrival tea, coffee, juice and pastries
- Mid-morning refreshments served into the room or The Atrium
- Working lunches in The Atrium
- Afternoon refreshments timed to the session schedule
- Post-programme drinks on request
AV and technical capabilities
Everything your facilitators need, in place before they arrive.
Whether your programme relies on slides, video, group exercises or live-streamed content, the AV at The Central is set up and tested before your first participant walks through the door. Your facilitators should not have to think about the technology.
Audio and visual
Connectivity and practical support
- Large built-in HD projector (up to 6,000 lumens) in Wolfson Hall
- Built-in HD screen in Conference Room 1
- Portable HD screen for multi-room or multi-display setups
- Professional lighting system with precise control
- Lectern with built-in microphones
- Three cordless microphones or two cordless microphones and a lapel microphone
- 150/150 Mbps WiFi (download and upload)
- Support for hybrid participation and remote learners
- Rooms partitioned or combined to suit your session structure
- Flip charts and writing materials provided as standard
- Dedicated on-site support throughout the day
- Trusted AV supplier recommendations on request
“The event was a great success and the day ran so well and smoothly. Thank you very much for all your support on the day and in advance.”
Kate
It’s all about you and your guests
Planning Support
We fit around your programme. You focus on your participants.
Diane MacLennan, our Events Director, works with you before the day to understand your programme and ensure every practical element is in place. Room layouts, catering timings, AV requirements, session transitions: she coordinates it all.
On the day itself, a duty manager is on-site throughout. Your facilitators won’t need to worry about anything outside the room. The Central handles it.
Planning support includes:
- Bespoke packages tailored to your programme and budget
- Layout consultations for single and multi-room setups
- Catering schedules timed to your session plan
- Flip charts, writing materials and room essentials provided
- A dedicated registration area for smooth participant arrivals
- On-site duty manager for the full duration of your day
Accessibility and Practical Details
A venue every participant can reach and move through with ease.
Getting your group together should be the easy part. The Central is fully accessible and straightforward to reach from across London and beyond.
Accessibility
Getting here
- Full wheelchair access throughout
- Lift access to all areas
- Accessible toilet facilities
- Hearing loop
- Baby changing facility
- 42 Hallam Street, London W1W 6NW
- Short walk from Great Portland Street, Regent’s Park and Oxford Circus Underground stations
- Also close to Baker Street and Warren Street
- Within a few stops of Marylebone, Euston, King’s Cross, Victoria and Farringdon mainline stations
- Several bus stops nearby
- Off-street car parks available in the area
- Single yellow line parking from 6:30pm Mon to Sat and all day Sundays
Can rooms be reconfigured between sessions?
Yes. Our team can reset rooms between sessions to match a different format. If your programme moves from classroom input to small group work in the afternoon, let Diane know at the planning stage and we will build that into the day.
Can we run parallel workshop streams at the same time?
Yes. The conference rooms can be used independently and simultaneously, which makes them well suited to multi-stream learning days. The Atrium provides a shared space for participants to gather between sessions.
What materials are provided?
Flip charts and writing materials are included as standard. All AV is set up before your group arrives. If your facilitators have specific requirements, share them with Diane when you plan the day and we will make sure everything is ready.
Can you support remote or hybrid participants?
Yes. Our AV setup and 150/150 Mbps WiFi support hybrid delivery. Remote participants can join via video link with the same quality of audio and visual as those in the room.
Is the venue exclusive to our group for the day?
Yes. The Central operates on an exclusive use basis. Your group has the whole venue to themselves. No other organisations are in the building at the same time.