Which UK City Would We Choose for a National Conference?
If delegates are travelling from across the UK, choosing the right city can make as much difference to a conference as choosing the venue itself.
There is no single city that works for every national conference. The best choice will depend on where delegates are travelling from, the size of the event, budget, transport connections and whether overnight accommodation is needed.
When we are asked to find a venue for a national conference, these are some of the cities we would consider first.
Birmingham
For a conference attracting delegates from across the country, Birmingham is often one of the first places we would look.
Its central location and excellent rail connections make it relatively straightforward to reach from London, Manchester, Bristol and many other parts of the UK. Birmingham New Street is in the heart of the city, with a good choice of conference venues and hotels within walking distance or a short journey.
There is also plenty of variety. Large conferences can consider venues such as the ICC Birmingham and Millennium Point, while hotels, academic venues and dedicated meeting spaces provide options for smaller events.
If accessibility from different parts of the country is the main priority, Birmingham would be one of our strongest contenders.
Manchester
Manchester is another excellent choice, particularly for conferences attracting delegates from the North of England, Scotland and the Midlands.
The city has a well-established conference and events market, with everything from large convention and exhibition venues to hotels, university spaces and more unusual locations.
Manchester also works particularly well when delegates are staying overnight. There is a large hotel stock, plenty of restaurants and an excellent choice of places for post-conference dinners, networking and informal events.
For a conference that needs to feel like more than a day in a meeting room, Manchester has a lot to offer.
Leeds
Leeds can sometimes be overlooked in favour of Manchester, but it is a city we would certainly consider for a national conference.
The railway station is very centrally located, which means many conference venues and hotels can be reached on foot. This is a real advantage when hundreds of delegates are arriving by train.
Leeds also offers a good mix of purpose-built conference facilities, hotels, academic venues and characterful event spaces.
For organisers looking for a well-connected northern city without necessarily choosing one of the most obvious conference destinations, Leeds is well worth considering.
Bristol
Bristol is a strong option for conferences attracting delegates from the South West, South Wales, London and the Midlands.
The city has a distinctive character and a good range of conference venues, from hotels and dedicated meeting spaces to museums, historic buildings and more unusual event locations.
Bristol can be particularly appealing when the organiser wants delegates to enjoy the destination as well as the conference itself.
Transport needs to be considered carefully, however. Depending on the venue, delegates arriving at Bristol Temple Meads may need onward transport rather than simply walking from the station.
Edinburgh
For conferences where the destination itself is part of the attraction, Edinburgh is difficult to overlook.
It has excellent conference infrastructure, a large choice of hotels and venues, good rail connections and an international airport. The city is particularly strong for multi-day conferences where delegates will be staying overnight.
Edinburgh can also give an event a greater sense of occasion, which may be important for an annual conference, association event or conference attracting international delegates.
The obvious consideration is geography. If most attendees are based in southern England, travel time and cost need to be weighed against the benefits of the destination.
Glasgow
Glasgow is another strong Scottish conference city, particularly for larger events.
It has extensive conference and exhibition facilities, good hotel capacity and an established reputation for hosting major events.
For organisations with a significant number of delegates in Scotland or the North of England, Glasgow can make excellent sense. As with Edinburgh, we would look closely at the geographical spread of the delegate list before recommending it for a truly national audience.
London
London has the largest choice of conference venues in the UK and unrivalled domestic and international transport connections.
For conferences attracting international delegates, London may be the obvious choice. It also offers an enormous range of venues, from major conference centres and hotels to historic buildings, universities and unusual event spaces.
The downside is cost. Venue hire, accommodation and catering can all be more expensive than in other UK cities.
For a national conference where most delegates are travelling from elsewhere in the UK, we would not automatically assume that London is the best location simply because it has the greatest choice of venues.
So Which City Would We Choose?
If we were organising a conference for delegates travelling from all over the UK and there were no other geographical considerations, Birmingham would often be our starting point.
Its central location, rail connections and range of conference venues make it one of the easiest cities to consider for a genuinely national audience.
That does not mean Birmingham will always win.
Manchester may make more sense for a predominantly northern audience. Edinburgh could be stronger for a multi-day conference where the destination is important. London may be the best choice when international delegates are attending, while Leeds and Bristol can offer excellent alternatives depending on where attendees are travelling from.
Before recommending a city, we would want to know where the delegates are actually based. A conference location should work for the people attending it, not simply look convenient on a map.
Planning a National Conference?
If you are unsure which UK city would work best for your conference, Function Fixers can help you compare the options.
Tell us your approximate delegate numbers, where attendees will be travelling from, preferred dates, budget and conference requirements. We can recommend suitable destinations, identify venues, check availability and obtain rates on your behalf.
Our independent venue finding service is completely free.
Send us your brief and we will help you find the right city and the right venue for your conference.