We love that these venues are easy to get to from central London, but still provide a countryside feel for away days and conferences
Capacity 180
London terminal Liverpool Street
Tel 01920 487722
In 200 acres of Home Counties parkland, this five-star Jacobean property has 161 elegant bedrooms and 14 event spaces - many with open fireplaces and period features. Most impressive of all, Poles Hall was once a convent chapel and now lends itself to atmospheric dinners. The group mustn’t forget their clubs, either – there’s a championship course on site.
Capacity 200
London terminal London Bridge
Tel 01342 824988
This beautiful Victorian mansion is set amid 186 acres of landscaped Sussex countryside, with pristine lawns, secret gardens, lakes and woodland trails through Ashdown forest. The hotel offers modern events facilities and slick service to complement the grand façade and its stately surrounds. Fifteen suites and syndicate rooms cater for conferences and banquets with equal aplomb.
Capacity 200
London terminal London Bridge
Tel 01342 859753
In a beautiful manor house, this five-star hotel has 58 guest bedrooms and a variety of event spaces for hire. The largest is the purpose-built Shelley Suite, which has its own private garden. The south-facing Churchill Suite is good for special occasions. The property recently added 19 luxury Cedar Lodge suites.
Capacity 200
London terminal Paddington
Tel 01993 885200
Jacobean-style Eynsham Hall was built just over 100 years ago and has recently undergone a £2.5m renovation. It was used for rest and recuperation by Allied forces during WWII and is now a retreat from the distractions of contemporary life. Amid 135 bedrooms and 40 meeting rooms, the main space is the oak-panelled Green Room, where arched windows lead onto landscaped gardens.
Capacity 200
London terminal St Pancras
Tel 01622 767855
Spanning two islands, Leeds Castle is a historic setting for conferences, activity days and banqueting. The stand-alone Maiden’s Tower was once a Tudor bake house, and is now a self-contained venue with five en-suite bedrooms at your disposal. The Fairfax Hall is our pick for drinks receptions, while the Garden House is the spot for small meetings.
Capacity 200
London terminal Victoria
Tel 01322 612778
Part of the Alexander Hotels portfolio, this 19th-century manor house combines modern business facilities with luxury leisure. The Pavilion conference centre has five meeting spaces: its Clockhouse Suite is good for both banquets and conferences; board meetings work well in the Cottage Suite. The Utopia Spa has pools, saunas and steam rooms, and there are 15 acres for teambuilding.
Capacity 200
London terminal Paddington
Tel 01753 717171
Built as a private home in 1789, Stoke Park became the UK’s first ‘country club’ in 1908. The location of the house was originally chosen for its unrivalled vantage point and, today, its nine function rooms offer fine views of its Capability Brown grounds. For special occasions, we advise the Fountain Room, which looks south across a private terrace to a remarkable water feature.
Capacity 200
London terminal Waterloo
Tel 0844 875 0040
Part of Eventist Group, Tapenade is one of the preferred catering suppliers of Syon Park. As well as being home to the Duke of Northumberland, the 15th-century estate’s main house acts as a striking backdrop to events – we’re particular fans of the Great Conservatory.
Capacity 200
London terminal Liverpool Street
Tel 020 8501 6700
This party-vibe Topgolf in Essex sees players score points for hitting microchipped balls around a driving range in a variety of games. Groups can book as many of the five-person bays as they need, tucking into drinks and bar food as they play. If you need to pair business with pleasure, ask about the Tee Room event space.
Capacity 208
London terminal Euston
Tel 01923 237996
After a recent refurb, Topgolf Watford now has an 18-hole adventure-putting course. At its driving range, players score points for hitting microchipped balls towards targets in a range of teambuilding games that don’t require prior experience of golf. Exclusive hire of the on-site restaurant is an option – the space doubles as a good spot for after-parties and trophy presentations.
Planning something for a different-sized group? Find more venues by capacity here.