Unique away day venues in Kent

A team away day works best when it feels different from a normal day at the office. Kent has plenty of places that can host your meeting in the morning and give the team something to remember in the afternoon: vineyards, castles, a historic dockyard, a county cricket ground and country parks.

We checked what each venue publishes about its rooms, numbers and prices. These change, so confirm the details with the venue before you book.

Unique Kent away day venues at a glance

Venue	Where	Group size	Published prices
Chapel Down Winery	Tenterden	10 to 50	Away day £120 per person
Balfour Winery	Staplehurst	Up to 130	On request
Leeds Castle	Near Maidstone	Up to 80 theatre style indoors, 500 in a marquee	On request
Penshurst Place	Near Tonbridge	16 to 200	On request
The Historic Dockyard Chatham	Chatham	10 to more than 200	On request
The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence	Canterbury	Up to 250	On request
Maidstone Museum	Maidstone	Up to 150	On request
Shorne Woods Country Park	Near Gravesend	Up to 80	From £65 half day
Lullingstone Country Park	Eynsford	Up to 40	From £65 half day
Trosley Country Park	Near Meopham	Up to 40	From £65 half day
Brockhill Country Park	Near Hythe	Up to 40	From £65 half day

Country park prices are the starting rate on Kent County Council's venue hire page. Its room brochures for Lullingstone and Trosley show £60 for a half day and £100 for a full day, so check the current price. The council's figures for Lullingstone (36) and Trosley (58) also differ slightly from the brochures, so confirm numbers for your layout.

Vineyards

• Chapel Down sells a Corporate Away Day for 10 to 50 people at £120 per person. It lasts five hours: a morning meeting in the Wine Sanctuary, a vineyard tour, a tutored tasting and a two-course lunch in The Swan restaurant. The six-hour Luxury Corporate Away Day costs £175 per person.
• Balfour Winery has four main rooms, from the Balfour Brut Room for 20 to The View for 100 to 130. Its packages pair a morning meeting with lunch, a guided tour and a tutored tasting, and the Delegate Meeting Room package includes free transfers from Marden station.

Castles and historic houses

• Leeds Castle has meeting rooms inside the castle and in Maiden's Tower, each taking up to 80 theatre style. The Fairfax Barn takes up to 180 for dinner. Activities on the estate include adventure golf, a 9-hole golf course, falconry and Segway tours.
• Penshurst Place has the medieval Baron's Hall, completed in 1341, which holds 200 for a reception. The Sunderland Room seats 125 theatre style and the Buttery takes 16 for a meeting. The parkland is used for archery, falconry, quad biking and more.

Heritage, sport and the arts

• The Historic Dockyard Chatham hosts meetings for 10 up to conferences for more than 200. Extras include a private tour of HM Submarine Ocelot and a hands-on session in the Ropery.
• The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence is the home of Kent County Cricket Club. The Cowdrey Meeting Room seats 25 and the Harris Room seats up to 250, with panoramic views across the ground.
• Maidstone Museum lets you meet in a Victorian library for up to 40 or a Tudor-panelled room for up to 60, in the centre of Maidstone.

Country parks

Kent County Council hires out meeting rooms at four of its country parks. They are simple meeting rooms with countryside walks on the doorstep.

• Shorne Woods: the Chestnut Room seats 80 theatre style.
• Lullingstone: the Orchid Room takes up to 40 theatre style.
• Trosley: the Hamilton Room takes up to 40 theatre style.
• Brockhill: the Badger Room takes up to 40 theatre style.

Tips for planning an away day

• Split the day. Hold the meeting in the morning while people are fresh, and save the activity for after lunch.
• Check travel. Country venues can be harder to reach by train, so ask about parking or transfers.
• Plan for rain. Ask what happens to an outdoor activity if the weather turns.
• Ask about food early. Some venues set minimum numbers for their menus, and dietary needs take time to arrange.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most unique away day venues in Kent?

Vineyards such as Chapel Down and Balfour, castles such as Leeds Castle and Penshurst Place, and The Historic Dockyard Chatham all combine a meeting room with something to see or do.

How much does an away day at a Kent vineyard cost?

Chapel Down publishes a Corporate Away Day at £120 per person for 10 to 50 people. Balfour Winery gives prices on request.

What is the cheapest away day venue on this list?

The Kent County Council country park rooms at Shorne Woods, Lullingstone, Trosley and Brockhill. The council lists room hire from £65 for a half day.

Can I combine a meeting with team building in Kent?

Yes. Leeds Castle offers falconry, adventure golf and Segway tours, and Penshurst Place lists archery, falconry and quad biking in its parkland.

See all away day venues in Kent, or browse unique venues and castles and historic houses. Planning a golf day instead? Read our guide to golf club venues in Kent.