Venue
This year @media will take place at the Business Design Centre in London. Formerly the Royal Agricultural Hall, the magnificent 125-year-old building brims with character and is located in one of the cooler parts of London, with plush bars and swish restaurants aplenty in the near vicinity.
Getting There
The Business Design Centre can be found just off Upper Street in Islington, standing out from the other buildings with its huge curvy glass front exterior.
Once you’re in London you can reach Islington by taxi, bus or by the underground. The nearest underground station is Angel, on the Northern line (City branch), which is a five minute walk away from the venue.
There are numerous major railway stations in Central London linking the rest of the country and Europe via EuroStar.
Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports also serve frequent flights into London and have direct rail links into central London.
The Local Area
Islington is well known as one of the trendier parts of London. You will find shops, restaurants, and bars aplenty nearby the conference venue.
Conference Venue
- Business Design Centre - 52 Upper Street / 020 7359 3535
Hotels
There aren’t too many hotels in the immediate vicinity of the venue - The roll-out of bed, roll-into the conference nature of the Hilton certainly makes it the best bet, and the Jury’s Inn isn’t too far away. These hotels are going to be get booked up very quickly, but there are more not too far away.
- Hilton - 53 Upper St. (Next door to the conference venue) / 020 7254 7700 - ££££
- Jury’s Inn - 60 Pentonville Rd. (app. 5 minute walk from venue) / 020 7282 5511 - £££
- Thistle City Barbican - 120 Central St, Clerkenwell (app. 15 minute walk from venue) / 0870 333 9101 - ££££
- The Oxford Arms Guest House - 21 Halliford St. (app. 15 minute walk from venue) / 020 7226 6629 - £
- Swinton Hotel - 18-24 Swinton St. (app. 15 minute walk from venue) / 020 7837 1451 - ££
- Holiday Inn London King’s Cross - 1 King’s Cross Rd. (app. 15 minute walk from venue) / 020 7833 3900 - ££
Restaurants
The selection of restaurants in the surrounding area spoils even the fussiest eater for choice. Curry? Sushi? Noodles? Pizza? Ropa vieja? It’s all here. For those with a more refined palate, exquisite American cuisine can be found at the exclusive McDonald’s and Burger King dining establishments.
- ASK - 52 Upper Street (adjoining the conference venue) / 020 7226 8728 - Italian - under £10
- Thai Square - 347-349 Upper Street (app. 3 minute walk from venue) / 020 7704 2000 - Thai - under £24
- Pizza Express - 335 Upper Street (app. 3 minute walk from venue) / 020 7226 9542 - Italian - under £10
- Wagamama - The Shopping Centre, Parkfield Street (app. 3 minute walk from venue) / 020 7226 2664 - Japanese - under £10
- Miso - 67 Upper Street (app. 3 minute walk from venue) / 020 7226 2212 - Oriental - under £10
- Yo! Sushi - The Shopping Centre, Parkfield Street (app. 3 minute walk from venue) / 020 7359 3502 - Japanese - under £10
- Cuba Libre - 72 Upper Streett (app. 5 minute walk from venue) / 020 7354 9998 - Cuban - under £15
- Rodizio Rico - 77-78 Upper Street (app. 5 minute walk from venue) / 020 7354 1076 - Brazilian - under £24
- Masala Zone - 80 Upper Street (app. 5 minute walk from venue) / 020 7359 3399 - Indian - under £15
- LaTasca - 21 Essex Road (app. 5 minute walk from venue) / 020 7288 2288 - Spanish - under £10
- Lola’s - The Mall, 359 Upper Street (app. 5 minute walk from venue) / 020 7359 1932 - European - under £24
- Almeida - 30 Almeida Street (app. 10 minute walk from venue) / 020 7354 4777 - French - under £30
Pubs & Bars
There are almost as many pubs in Islington as there are planktonic life forms in the Pacific. Here are a few that are either well located, or known to be particularly good.
- The Steam Passage - 44 Upper Street (app. 2 minute walk from venue)
- O’Neills - 59 Upper Street (app. 2 minute walk from venue) / 020 7704 7691
- The Camden Head - 2 Camden Walk, Camden Passage (app. 2 minute walk from venue) / 020 7359 0851
- The Glass Works (Lloyds No. 1) - Unit 5-6, Parkfield Street (app. 3 minute walk from venue) / 020 7354 6100
- The Nag’s Head - 12 Upper Street (app. 3 minute walk from venue) / 0871 984 1191
- The York - 82 Islington High Street (app. 3 minute walk from venue) / 020 7278 2095
- The Angelic - 57 Liverpool Road (app. 5 minute walk from venue) / 020 7278 8433
- The Living Room - Suncourt House, 18/26 Essex Road (app. 5 minute walk from venue) / 0870 4422712
- The Bull - 100 Upper Street (app. 5 minute walk from venue) / 020 7278 2095
- The Winchester - 2 Essex Road (app. 5 minute walk from venue) / 020 7354 9174
- BRB at Arc - Corner of City Road & Torrent Street (app. 7 minute walk from venue) / 020 7837 9421
- The Elbow Room - 89 Chapel Market (app. 8 minute walk from venue) / 020 7278 3244
- The Castle - 54 Pentonville Road (app. 8 minute walk from venue) / 020 7713 1858
- Clockwork - 96 Pentonville Road (app. 10 minute walk from venue) / 0871 223 0458
- The Garden - 179 Upper Street (app. 10 minute walk from venue) / 020 7226 6276
