BAFTA 195 Piccadilly - Industry Insight and Learning Beyond the Classroom

A highlight from our 2025 programme calendar was an invitation to BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, offering our students and team a rare opportunity to step inside one of London’s most prestigious cultural and event venues. Experiences like this sit at the heart of how we teach at The Event School London, connecting learning directly to the realities of the industry and the people who shape it.

The visit combined a full venue showcase with a private screening of Conclave in BAFTA’s beautifully designed screening room. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this was not simply a tour, but a carefully curated event experience. Guests were welcomed with exceptional hospitality, including refined cuisine and bespoke cocktails created specifically for the evening, setting the tone for an immersive and thoughtfully delivered showcase.

What made the experience particularly valuable was the insight it offered into how a venue of this calibre operates behind the scenes. Our students were able to see first-hand how premium events are planned, produced and delivered, from guest arrival and flow, to technical production, catering coordination and audience experience.

These are the kinds of operational details that are difficult to fully grasp from a textbook alone, yet are essential for anyone aspiring to work at the top end of the events industry.

Industry engagement opportunities like this allow students to understand not only how a venue hosts its own flagship events, but also how it positions itself for external corporate and social clients. BAFTA 195 Piccadilly is a perfect example of a venue that offers more than just space. It delivers atmosphere, heritage, brand alignment and a sense of occasion that clients actively seek when they want to create memorable experiences with real impact. Understanding how venues articulate and deliver that value is a crucial skill for future event professionals.

This event also reinforced the importance of experiential learning and learning outside the classroom.

At The Event School London, education does not stop at lectures and assignments. It extends into real venues, live events and professional environments where students can observe, question and reflect on industry practice as it happens. These experiences deepen understanding, build confidence and help students begin to see themselves as part of the industry they are entering.

Crucially, opportunities like this are made possible through The Event School London’s long-standing industry connections.

Our relationships with leading venues, suppliers and event organisations open doors that allow students to access spaces and experiences that would otherwise remain out of reach. These connections are not incidental. They are the result of two decades of active engagement with the events industry and a commitment to ensuring our programmes remain relevant, current and professionally grounded.

The BAFTA 195 Piccadilly showcase was a perfect example of how industry collaboration enriches learning. It offered insight, inspiration and a clear view of how world-class events are delivered, while reinforcing the value of face-to-face, experience-led education. Moments like these shape not only skills and knowledge, but ambition and perspective, preparing our students to step confidently into their future careers in events.