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Destination
hile London sits atop most
organiser’s list for destinations
in the south of England, that
doesn’t mean the nation’s capital is the
only option. The South East region, which
encompasses the counties of Kent, East
Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire,
Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and
Buckinghamshire, casts its net over
countless conference and event venues
and teambuilding solutions.
From hotels and dedicated venues to
stately homes and attractions offering
non-traditional event options and wide
open spaces, the region has something for
all event organisers in both urban and rural
settings.
The large region is threaded with
motorways, A-roads and railways, allowing
easy access to and from both Heathrow
and Gatwick airports.
Owing to the region’s vast size
geographically, organisers looking to
explore its offerings would be well advised
to contact MEET Beyond London and take
advantage of the team’s local knowledge
and free inspirational resources. The
organisation is a regional information hub,
putting organisers in touch with venues and
destinations directly through a website,
e-newsletters, familiarisation trips and
industry events.
MEETING
BEYOND
LONDON
Destination
focus
BERKSHIRE
The town of Windsor is a 15-minute
drive from Heathrow Airport and is
accessible on key mainline railway
lines to Windsor & Eton, Maidenhead
and Ascot. Windsor and neighbouring
Maidenhead boast numerous small,
high-end board retreat properties
such as the 5-star Stoke Park, with
its championship golf course. There
are also large capacity purpose built
facilities and those with historical
significance, such as De Vere
Beaumont House Estate. This hotel
venue features 75 conference,
training and event spaces and 414
bedrooms.
Organisers can take advantage of
the Thames by taking up to 150
delegates aboard a riverboat for a
networking event or post-conference
drinks. Exclusive evening tours of
Windsor Castle add unrivalled
prestige to any event, or for the more
energetic delegates organisers can
book polo experience.
www.conference-news.co.uk
The South East
of England is a large
area, and as such
is not short on options
for conferences and
meetings
SURREY
Guildford is located in the heart of
leafy Surrey and has become a big
hitter in the business market, owing
in part to its location on the London
to Portsmouth line. More and more
venues have opened in recent years,
with the 183-bedroom Harbour Hotel
Guildford being the latest addition to
the town’s inventory. The hotel, which
has several event spaces in a range
of sizes, sits literally next door to G
Live, a large-scale events venue
designed to be stylish and modern.
The venue, which opened in 2011,
can hold up to 1,700 standing or
1,000 seated and is popular for
entertainment, conferences and
music.
Guildford sits on the edge of the
Surrey Hills, an official Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty. There
are plenty of smaller, intimate venues
located throughout, and the area
offers some of the most spectacular
walks in the country.
Within the M25 off junction 10 is
Booklands Museum, Weybridge, the
birthplace of British motorsport. The
Brooklands circuit, the world’s first