As great as London may be, it tends to be the place that most people go – and stay in – when they visit the UK. If you need event destinations outside the capital, consider these cities (which are easily accessible by air). Join Todd Bludworth in this Spotlight Episode as he explores the best place to host your next event with Pip MacFarlane.

●     Edinburgh

○     The Scottish capital is the perfect spot for history, spectacular views, and a traditional experience of Scotland

○     Choose a venue in the historic Old Town, with the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle, or the bustling, neoclassical New Town

○     In the evenings, unwind with a scotch and classic Scottish dishes such as haggis, black pudding, or Scottish smoked salmon

○     Looking for a fun bonding activity? Try traditional Scottish ceilidh dancing (pronounced kay-lee)

●     Manchester

○     The UK’s “second city”, Manchester, has a large international airport, so it’s perfect for welcoming your global guests

○     Vibrant city in the north of England

○     Home to one of the world’s best-known soccer clubs, Manchester United

○     Great nightlife in Manchester, so ideal for unwinding after a busy day of meetings

○     Also close to Liverpool, the music capital of the UK

●     Brighton

○     30 mins from London Gatwick Airport, one hour from central London

○     Arty seaside town - not quite the Florida Keys, but a great example of a British seaside town

○     May is Brighton Festival season, a big arts festival showcasing music, dance, theater, performance art, and more

○     Brighton Pride takes place in August. Brighton is considered the “LGBTQ+ capital of the UK” and is known for its open-minded community and fun atmosphere

○     Opt for an event venue on the seafront for views over the English Channel

●     Birmingham

○     Birmingham is around an hour northwest of London by train (worth mentioning that all big cities are very reachable by train in the UK!)

○     Huge, very multicultural city

○     Head to Cadbury World to enjoy the most famous British chocolate

○     Opt for the city center, cultural hub Digbeth or historic Jewellery Quarter for the best event venues in the middle of the action

○     This is the place to be to sample a huge array of different cuisines

●     Belfast

○     Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and just a short hop across the sea from Great Britain (the main island of the UK)

○     It’s a lot less busy than the big English cities, so ideal for a more laid-back atmosphere

○     The Ballyhackamore district is the “brunch capital of Belfast”, earning it the nickname “Ballysnackamore.”

○     The Titanic was built in Belfast in 1912, and there is a popular Titanic Museum

○     If you want to make the most of your time in Northern Ireland, be sure to head out to Giant’s Causeway, north of Belfast, for one of the country’s most striking natural features

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