Summer Events
Holding
Court
Hampton Court Palace is one the UK’s leading tourist destinations…
and makes for a unique summer conference and meetings venue
ne of six palaces cared
for by independent
charity Historic Royal
Palaces, Hampton
Court Palace boasts a variety of
spectacular spaces and imaginative
concepts to make any summer
event stand out from the norm.
Surrounding the Baroque palace
are acres of immaculate gardens
and parkland, offering a unique
opportunity for event organisers to
combine their meeting agenda with
time spent enjoying the great
outdoors. A one-of-a-kind
experiential session offered at the
palace is Operation Centaur, a ‘real
horse power workshop’ offering
teams the chance to explore hidden
areas of the palace such as the
paddocks within Home Park, while
working alongside the palace’s
most regal residents; the Shire
horses. These majestic creatures
are part of the palace’s heritage,
descending from Henry VIII’s own
Great War Horses and are still the
largest horses in the world – as well
as being rarer than the Giant
Panda!
Rather than a traditional
teambuilding exercise experienced
time and time again – bowling, the
pub, a good old trust fall – a
session with the palace’s Shire
horses brings in that extra bit of
insight while enabling teams to get
outside in the fresh air, all through
working closely with the horses for
that extra special, calming
experience.
A range of skill developments
also benefit teams through a variety
of activities, from confidence
building and stress management, to
problem solving and creativity. Time
spent in an outdoor environment is
also proven to have real benefits to
employee wellbeing, through
reducing stress and releasing
endorphins for a happier team, plus
the calming presence of the
majestic horses makes for an
all-round healthier approach to a
company away day.
Operation Centaur works well as
part of a wider agenda, bolted on to
a team meeting or conference in
the palace beforehand. The range
of unique spaces on offer can
accommodate all manner of event
goals, whether you are looking for
an intimate business catch up or a
larger conference.
At the heart of the palace is the
Albemarle Suite, available to hire for
a range of daytime events. Named
after the favourite courtier of
William III who resided there, the
space can accommodate 16
Right: Hampton Court
Palace in summer
“A SESSION WITH THE PALACE’S
SHIRE HORSES BRINGS IN THAT
EXTRA BIT OF INSIGHT WHILE
ENABLING TEAMS TO GET
OUTSIDE IN THE FRESH AIR.”
www.conference-news.co.uk
boardroom style or up to 24 for a
banquet, offering the ideal location
for meetings, private events and
away days.
The suite was originally designed
at the turn of the 18th Century and
boasts views over the palace’s
stunning formal gardens. Being
positioned at the heart of the
palace, the Albemarle Suite is also
the perfect starting point to explore
this iconic venue.
For larger conferences, the
Garden Room can seat up to 180
guests and offers wireless
microphones and a lectern, along
with a projector and screen with
ceiling-mounted speakers
throughout the room.
Set in a secluded walled garden,
hire of this versatile venue includes
exclusive access to the paved
terraces and a private walled
garden, making the perfect setting
to incorporate outdoor celebrations
in the summer months.