The United Kingdom is home to a diverse and multi-cultural population. From the stunning Cliffs of Dover, to the highlands of Scotland there are so many things to do and plenty to discover. There are some stunning venues in other parts of the UK that can deliver amazing conferences, meetings and events.
Birmingham
Welcome to Birmingham – a city full of surprises!
Birmingham is a city located at the heart of a region full of history and heritage, beautiful quaint villages and access to lush rolling countryside – Birmingham really is the Gateway to the heart of England! A fascinating industrial history and world-class cultural scene, combined with superb shopping, major international events and exhibitions, great nightlife and award-winning restaurants, Birmingham has a unique quality that brings with it an exciting and dynamic spirit. Great venues such as the NEC and the ICC attract many international exhibitions and sporting events to Birmingham
Visit the Water’s Edge at Brindley Place – an award-winning Waterfront and the Symphony Hall with Birmingham Symphony Orchestra famous for its world class music. Birmingham offers various conference facilities with a capacity from 20 up to 12,000 delegates.
Birmingham International Airport (10 km from town centre) is among the largest UK airports and is served by several international airlines like British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France / KLM and Continental Airlines among others. The destinations include most major European airports and some airports in North America, Africa and Asia.
The following other International Airports are accessible in this order:
Manchester Airport / 130 km
Heathrow Airport / 185 km
Stansted Airport / 200 km
Manchester
Manchester has reinvented itself as a truly contemporary Metropolis, with modern landmark buildings, a brilliant source of art and culture, great bars and world-class hospitality. Here there’s every experience imaginable, from fine dining and top-class theatre, to major sporting events and year-round festivals. It’s a shopping destination in its own right, rivalling that of the capital, with the added advantage that you don’t have to travel far from one store to another. Manchester offers various conference facilities with a capacity from 20 up to 5,000 delegates.
Manchester International Airport (15 km from town centre) is the biggest UK airport outside of London. The airport has extensive connections to all major European cities and is served by British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France / KLM and SAS and other European airlines on these routes. The Intercontinental operations are expanding fast and British Midland, Deltas and Ethiad Airlines are operating on these routes among others.
The following other International Airports are accessible in this order:
John Lennon Airport Liverpool / 55 km
Leeds Bradford Airport / 75 km
Birmingham Airport / 130 km
Glasgow
Right at the beginning of the 1990s, Glasgow celebrated its status as European ‘City of Culture’, and in 1999, its dazzling architecture won it the accolade of ‘UK City of Architecture and Design’. Since then, the city has gone from strength to strength, building a reputation as a destination where a great experience is guaranteed if the visitor seeks culture, entertainment, good food and drink, and all day shopping experience – or a taste of all of these.
Glasgow is home to Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. The Burrell collection is a haven for culture lovers, a wonderful display of art objects from across the world. The Lighthouse, right in the heart of Glasgow, is where a Charles Rennie Mackintosh conversion houses a variety of dynamic exhibitions on art and architecture. The Gallery of Modern Art, set in the neo-classical elegance of the former Royal Exchange displays the work of living artists from across the world.
Shops range form High Street chains to exclusive chic boutiques. Wander down the pedestrian shopping zones on Sauchiehall Street, Buchanan Street and Argyll Street, or the covered malls like Buchanan Galleries and the St Enoch Centre. Exclusivity is the theme of Princes Square, with its glass-roofed airy ambience, while the nearby Italian Centre is another parade of top fashion and designer labels. In between lies the Merchant City, trading on its solid reputation for innovative retailing, while its bars and cafes earn its description as the city’s ‘Left Bank’. At the other end of the shopping scale, the Barras offers the flea market experience, with the chance of a bargain always at the next stall. Meanwhile, Glasgow’s restaurants offer the best in international cuisine and the freshest of local Scottish produce.
Liverpool
After being awarded European Capital of Culture 2008, the city has moved into the sights of business travellers and tourists from around the world. As the birthplace of The Beatles, its theatres, museums (Tate Modern and Beatles Museum) make Liverpool truly diverse. Liverpool’s history as one of the world’s great Ports has left a remarkable legacy of art and architecture that gives it a distinctive look and unique atmosphere. Liverpool offers various conference facilities with a capacity from 20 up to 400 delegates. The New Exhibition centre will be open from 2008 and will offer a capacity of 9500 delegates.
John Lennon International Airport Liverpool (20 km from town centre) is a fast expanding airport and domestic as well as European destinations are served from here. Easy Jet and Ryan Air are by far the biggest operators, but nearby Manchester International Airport is served by most flag carriers.
The following other International Airports are accessible in this order:
Manchester Airport / 55 km
Leeds Bradford Airport / 120 km
Birmingham Airport / 175 km
Cardiff
Cardiff’s history dates back to Roman times, and Cardiff Castle, right at the heart of the city, is well worth a visit. Extensive re-development has given Cardiff world-class sporting and entertainment complexes. Cardiff is also home to the world famous Millennium Stadium, home of Welsh football and rugby and the temporary home of the FA Cup final.
Cardiff’s main shopping streets also offer smaller, Victorian glass-covered arcades housing a variety of specialist shops. Cardiff offers various conference facilities with a capacity from 20 up to 5,000 delegates.
Cardiff International Airport is the main airport in Wales and only 20 km from the town centre. It is served by Air Wales, Air France / KLM, Bmibaby and Ryan Air among others. The destinations include European airports and a wide range of domestic airports. Close by Bristol Airport is also easily accessible.
The following other International Airports are accessible in this order:
Bristol Airport / 70 km
Birmingham Airport / 185 km
Heathrow Airport / 220 km
Brighton
Fashionable, funky and loaded with style, Brighton & Hove – located on the south coast, just 49 minutes by train from central London – have a Royal Palace, elegant Regency architecture, museums, laid-back beach life and superb shopping. Visit the Royal Pavillion, former home of King George IV, and probably the most exotic, extravagant Royal Palace in Europe. Stroll along the Victorian Pier and the beachfront, where stylish bars and cafés spill out onto the pavement. For shopping, try The Lanes, smart and chic, and the bohemian North Lane, both good for antiques and designer clothes. Brighton offers various conference facilities with a capacity from 20 up to 5,000 delegates.
Brighton is located only 50 km away from Gatwick Airport, with its many international connections. British Airways, Easy Jet, Air France / KLM fly to many European destinations, while US Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Delta Airlines serve the North American routes. Various charter airlines use the airport as their hub.
The following other International Airports are accessible in this order:
Heathrow Airport / 110 km
London City Airport / 125 km
Luton Airport / 160 km
Stansted Airport / 160 km
Harrogate
Harrogate has fabulous shopping, cafe culture, fine cuisine, glorious gardens, graceful architecture and a glamorous heritage as a European spa town.
The Harrogate International Centre is one of the UK’s conference success stories and one of the world’s top venues for conferences, exhibitions, banquets and entertainments – and is centrally located in the heart of this cosmopolitan spa town. Harrogate offers various conference facilities with a capacity from 20 up to 1,600 delegates. HIC is surrounded by a wide range of visitor facilities including an excellent choice of restaurants, cafe bars, shops, boutiques, antiques and a range of welcoming first class accommodation.
Leeds Bradford International Airport is only 20 km from Harrogate. It offers a good selection of connections to domestic and European destinations. British Midland, Air France / KLM and Ryan Air operate from this airport. Nearby Manchester Airport offers a good selection of Intercontinental connections.
The following other International Airports are accessible in this order:
Manchester Airport / 70 km
Liverpool Airport / 115 km
Birmingham Airport / 185 km
Cambridge
Cambridge and the surrounding area hold an unrivalled reputation for being a centre of excellence both in learning and ambience. The name Cambridge instantly summons breathtaking images – the Backs carpeted with spring flowers, King’s College Chapel, punting on the river Cam and of course the calm of the historic college buildings plus a wide range of attractions, museums, hotels, restaurants and public houses. Cambridge offers various conference facilities with a capacity from 20 up to 1400 delegates.
Situated in the heart of East Anglia, this historic city is well served by rail, airports (Heathrow, Luton and Stansted) and motorways giving easy access to London, the Midlands and the South East.
London Stansted Airport is located only 45 km from the city centre of Cambridge via the M 11. Stansted Airport is mainly served by low budget airlines like Ryan Air, Easy Jet and Air Berlin, which serve destinations all over Europe. More recently business class only airlines like Max Jet started flights to various destinations all over the United States.
The following other International Airports are accessible in this order:
Luton Airport / 65 km
London City Airport / 90 km
Heathrow Airport / 140 km
Gatwick Airport / 155 km
Leeds
Rich local history, world-class sports, fantastic shopping and diverse year-round entertainment are just some of the things that make Leeds such a great place for everyone to enjoy. Leeds offers the latest modern hotels, unrivalled visitor attractions, great venues such as the Royal Armouries and Harewood House located just outside the city. Horseracing is held at Wetherby – just outside Leeds. It is the only English city outside London to have its own opera and ballet companies – Opera North and Northern Ballet. Leeds offers various conference facilities with a capacity from 20 up to 2,400 delegates.
Situated in the heart of the UK, Leeds is perfectly placed for travelling to and from, and is the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales. Leeds also boasts a thriving international airport served by many international airlines and has one of the busiest train stations outside the capital.
Leeds Bradford International Airport (20 km from town centre) might not be so well known, but offers a good selection of connections to domestic and European destinations. British Midland, Air France / KLM and Ryan Air operate from this airport. Nearby Manchester Airport offers a good selection of intercontinental connections.
The following other International Airports are accessible in this order:
Manchester Airport / 75 km
Liverpool Airport / 120 km
Birmingham Airport / 190 km
Bristol
Bristol – with its rich maritime history, has always been an adventurous city in search of new horizons. The City’s spirit of boldness and creativity expresses itself in art, architecture and an enviable quality of life. Bristol is a happening city that hits a high note with everyone from clubbers to culture vultures.
The city has beautiful Georgian terraces and waterfront arts centres. All this is set against a truly classic view – the River Avon and its dramatic Gorge reaching almost into the heart of the city. Bristol offers various conference facilities with a capacity from 20 up to 800 delegates.
Bristol International Airport is only 15 km from town centre and is served by British Airways, Easy Jet and Air France / KLM among others. The destinations include most major European airports and a wide range of domestic airports.
The following other International Airports are accessible in this order:
Cardiff Airport / 70 km
Heathrow Airport / 165 km
Birmingham Airport / 165 km
Oxford
A visit to Oxford is unique. The sheer beauty of the city’s colleges and riverside settings, national and international treasures, literary links and stunning film and TV locations; idyllic days by the river; shops with real character; music and drama ranging from candlelit evensong in College Chapels to Shakespeare in the park. Oxford has a lively mix of restaurants, cafés, pubs and theatres for a vibrant and cosmopolitan buzz. Oxford offers various conference facilities with a capacity from 20 up to 600 delegates.
Oxford has the advantage of being only 70 km away from Heathrow Airport. Heathrow is served by nearly all flag carriers and various other airlines.
The following International Airports are accessible in this order:
Heathrow Airport – 75 km
Luton Airport / 104 km
Gatwick Airport / 130 km
London City Airport / 145 km
Stansted Airport / 145 km
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon offers a magical blend of heritage and drama in and around Shakespeare’s home town. Explore five houses with Shakespeare connections including Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Shakespeare’s Birthplace for a fascinating insight into his life and times. Visit one of England’s most beautiful parish churches at Holy Trinity to see Shakespeare’s grave. Enjoy some of his great works which are performed throughout the year by the world’s largest classical theatre company – the Royal Shakespeare Company – which has two Stratford theatres.
As well as its literary connections, there is much to see and do in and around Stratford. Take a boat out on the River Avon, explore the area by hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses or discover some of Britain’s finest historic houses and glorious gardens! Stratford-upon-Avon offers various conference facilities with a capacity from 20 up to 500 delegates.
Stratford upon Avon International Airport is only 40 away and is served by British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France / KLM and Continental Airlines among others. The destinations include most major European airports and some airports in North America, Africa and Asia.
The following other International Airports are accessible in this order:
Manchester Airport / 140 km
Heathrow Airport / 145 km
York
York is one of the most intriguing cities in England. Superbly preserved – York has witnessed more than 2000 years of history. Highlights in York include the magnificent York Minster, the fascinating Railway museum and the Castle Museum with its perfectly recreated Victorian and Edwardian street-scenes. Visit the Yorvik Centre, Clifford’s Tower and creep through the terrifying York Dungeon.
Quaint teashops and pedestrianized streets make York an ideal city to explore on foot. York hosts premier horse racing at one of the UK’s leading race courses. With a wealth of hotels, York is the ideal touring base from which to discover the Yorkshire Dales with its pretty villages, its historic houses and gardens. York offers various conference facilities with a capacity from 20 up to 700 delegates.
York is served by Leeds Bradford International Airport (50 km from town centre). It offers a good selection of connections to domestic and European destinations. Jet 2, British Midland, Air France / KLM and Ryan Air operate from this airport. Nearby Manchester Airport offers a good selection of intercontinental connections.
The following other International Airports are accessible in this order:
Manchester Airport / 70 km
Liverpool Airport / 115 km
York Airport / 185 km
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
In the North East of England, Newcastle and Gateshead face each other across the River Tyne coming together at the dazzling Quayside. There you can find the award-winning Gateshead Millennium Bridge and BALTIC The Centre for Contemporary Art plus The SAGE which provides a great conference and cultural centre.
Surround yourself in 2,000 years of fascinating history, see cutting-edge media installations and fabulous classical Georgian architecture in the sweeping street on Grainger Town. Enjoy wonderful food, relax in pavement cafes, traditional pubs and contemporary bars and be bowled over by nights full of live music, theatre and music. Newcastle offers various conference facilities with a capacity from 20 up to 1000 delegates.
Newcastle International Airport is located only 10 km from the town centre and very easily accessible. British Airways, Air France / KLM, Easy Jet and Ryan Air offer connections to most domestic and many European destinations.
The following other International Airports are accessible in this order:
Newcastle Airport – 20 km
Leeds Bradford Airport / 150 km
Edinburgh Airport / 200 km
