Queen Elizabeth II Centre

The History of Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

Several buildings once stood on the land that the Queen Elizabeth II Centre now calls home. The Stationery Office's headquarters, which were formerly the "Parliamentary Mews" constructed in 1825 by Decimus Burton and transformed in 1853-5, we're located at the northern end of the property. The Westminster Hospital, which was constructed by W & H W Inwood in 1831-4 and later extended in 1924, was located on the southern side. The previous structures were demolished in 1950 after they were deemed unnecessary. Thomas Tait designed a new Colonial Office to be constructed on the site, but construction had only reached the foundations when work was suspended in 1952. 

An executive agency of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities runs the centre, which is owned by HM Government. It contains 32 adaptable "empty box" style rooms that can accommodate a variety of events. It specialises in hosting gatherings with 40 to 1,300 delegates. 2,000 square metres of show space are also available. The centre is a very successful venue that hosts more than 400 meetings annually and pays a dividend to the Exchequer each year, making it independent of taxpayer funding. 

Her Majesty the Queen inaugurated the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre (QEIICC) in 1986. 

Located in a special location between Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and The Houses of Parliament, the centre is an executive agency of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). 

Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre as an event location

The QEIICC offers 26 conference and event venues across 7 levels, including the following, combining this spectacular setting with unparalleled convention facilities: 

• a 1,300 person's capacity plenary chamber
• On one floor, the exhibition space is almost 2,000m2
• For around 300 people, 4 large conference rooms 6 more meeting rooms with enough for over 100 people.
• 12-room syndicate
• Additional offices, speaker lounges, and catering rooms are available. 

The centre also offers a wide variety of internal support services, all of which give unparalleled building knowledge, knowledgeable people, and goods and services that are customised to meet specific needs. 

The QEIIC, one of the UK's most technologically advanced conference venues, offers high-definition audio-visual equipment, wireless internet access throughout, and digital signage on all seven floors. 

Awards and Recognitions of the QEIICC

Worldwide business, association, and public sector organisations are welcome at the QEIICC. At the centre last year, 407 events took place, serving an average of more than 500 delegates each. The centre's revenue in the most recent fiscal year, 2008–09, exceeded £11 million, which was a record high.

Since 1986, the QEIICC has received various honours, including:

• World Travel Awards winner for "Europe's Leading Conference centre" 
• Winner of the London Tourism Awards' "Innovation in Business Tourism" 
• Winner of the National Recycling Awards for "Best Recycling Target Success" 
• The QEIICC's "Our People Speak For Themselves!" campaign was a finalist for the 2008 Meeting Industry Marketing Awards for best print advertising campaign (MIMA)

Looking for another great promotions location in London? Check out Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.