The county of Northumberland is a dream destination for meeting planners wanting to host conferences, meetings and events a little further afield than usual.
The most northerly county in the UK has long been fought over due to its border with Scotland but in recent times has become a tranquil haven for both conference delegates and tourists alike given attractions such as Hadrian’s Wall and many picturesque, deserted beaches.
Boasting a magical blend of town, coast and country settings, Northumberland offers event organisers a beautifully diverse landscape that features not only an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in its magnificent heritage coastline but also spectacular national parks that provide the perfect environment for teambuilding events and corporate activities on both land and water. With superb golf courses catering for corporate golf events, all delegates will find an activity to enjoy in this remarkable county.
Welcoming villages and town such as Berwick-upon-Tweed, situated close to the Scottish border, Alnwick and Hexham, located in the south of the county, provide an excellent array of meeting venues able to cater for all corporate events. Being an area rich in heritage there are several historic buildings, stately homes and castles able to provide prestigious backdrops whilst there are also sporting, academic and cultural venues offering a variety of conference spaces and charming country house hotels ideal for corporate retreats, private meetings and intimate weddings.
Travelling to Northumberland by car is easy from both Scotland and the south thanks to the A1 connecting London to Edinburgh and traversing the county whilst the A69 and A66 link with the M6 and the A19 provides an alternative route from the south. Rail access is just as convenient with many direct services connecting to London whilst Newcastle Airport lies in close proximity for international conference delegates.
A venue that truly takes advantage of its impressive setting within Kielder Forest Park is Kielder Conference and Training Centre which offers the ideal setting for teambuilding events and corporate activities having 27 miles of shoreline alongside purpose-built conferencing facilities for corporate events. Several sporting venues in the region provide outstanding conference and banqueting facilities as well as meeting and training rooms including Hexham Golf Club and Hexham Racecourse whilst academic venues offering the same include Longridge Towers School, set in a fantastic historic building. A true sense of heritage can be experienced when hosting events in one of the many stately homes and castles in Northumberland such as Alnwick Castle, Chillingham Castle, Ellingham Hall and Chipchase Castle, all exquisite venues experienced in hosting conferences, corporate hospitality events, banquets and weddings. Queen’s Hall Arts and The Maltings Theatre are cultural venues providing versatile conference and exhibition spaces with capacity for 350 delegates each whilst a more unusual venue, the Blue Reef Aquarium, is a memorable backdrop for any corporate event or wedding. Paxton House is a striking unusual venue within 80 acres of glorious grounds set on an enchanting riverbank, ideal for luxurious weddings, corporate events and conference retreats. Equally well equipped are Northumberland’s hotels which offer a variety of conference and banqueting suites suited to all occasions including weddings, exhibitions, training events and meetings. These include Langley Castle Hotel, Eshott Hall, Macdonald Linden Hall Golf & Country Club and Marshall Meadows Country House, whose peaceful location is perfect for corporate retreats and only enhances the beauty of their exhibition spaces and conference rooms. Major hotel groups represented in the county of Northumberland include Classic Lodges, Goodnight Inns, Oxford Hotels & Inns and WWT.