Stoneleigh Abbey

Kenilworth, England · Meetings · Weddings

Cistercian abbey turned palatial home near Kenilworth: Riding School for 300, Saloon for 60, Orangery for 50 workshops, Gilt Hall for 30

Private events, workshops, conferences and weddings at a Warwickshire abbey run by a charitable trust. The Riding School takes up to 300, the Saloon 60, the Victorian Orangery 50 for workshops, and the Gilt Hall 30.

Maximum capacity: 300
Event spaces: 4
Outdoor spaces: Yes
Historic building: Yes

Event spaces

The Riding Schoolup to 300Gothic Revival hall for conferences and large events
The Saloonup to 60Rococo plasterwork, events up to 60
The Orangeryup to 50Victorian orangery for workshops, spring and autumn
The Gilt Hallup to 30intimate events overlooking the Knot Garden

Transport

Train station: Kenilworth2.6 km · about 5 min by car
Airport: Birmingham Airport (BHX)19 km · about 40 min by car

Distances as the crow flies; times are estimates. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Getting there and practical details

Neighborhood: Stoneleigh, Warwickshire

Stoneleigh Abbey, at Kenilworth in Warwickshire, began as a Cistercian abbey in 1154 and became a palatial home and the seat of the Leigh family for over 400 years. It is run by a charitable trust and hires out four spaces for events: the Riding School for up to 300, the Saloon for up to 60, the Orangery for up to 50 and the Gilt Hall for up to 30.

Seminars and company events

The private events page lists workshops, group tours with refreshments, birthdays, baby showers and anniversaries. The Riding School, built in Gothic Revival style from red Dumfries sandstone as the family's riding school, suits larger events such as theatrical productions, conferences or gatherings of up to 300. The Victorian Orangery has views over the River Avon and the parkland and is the venue for workshops of up to 50, though availability is limited to spring and autumn because of the wedding season.

The Saloon, with Rococo plasterwork showing the myth of Hercules, holds events of up to 60. It was used in 1858 for a banquet for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The Gilt Hall, with high ceilings and marble-style columns overlooking the Elizabethan Knot Garden, suits an intimate event of up to 30.

Weddings and receptions

The abbey says it hosts weddings and uses its Orangery in the wedding season. The pages provided give no wedding-specific capacities, so the room figures above apply. Enquiries go through the bookings team, who share a brochure with packages.

Rooms and capacities

Riding School: up to 300. Saloon: up to 60. Orangery: up to 50 for workshops, spring and autumn only. Gilt Hall: up to 30. The Elizabethan Knot Garden, a former monastic herb garden, lies beside the Gilt Hall.

The four spaces fit a day that moves from a morning workshop in the Orangery to a lecture or conference in the Riding School, with a dinner or drinks in the Saloon. Because the Orangery is limited to spring and autumn, organisers planning in summer should ask which of the other rooms can take a workshop.

Accommodation

The pages provided do not mention accommodation. Guests stay in Kenilworth, Warwick and Coventry.

Catering

Group tours include refreshments. The pages provided do not describe a full catering offer, so ask the bookings team.

History and setting

Founded in 1154, converted after the Dissolution into a palatial home, and the seat of the Leigh family for over 400 years. The estate stands in parkland beside the River Avon, and the house opens Sunday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.