Outside Conferences
Though primarily used by the Ditchley Foundation for in-house conferences, the house is available midweek, and on a limited number of weekends, for outside organisations wishing to hold conferences, seminars, discussion sessions, board meetings, etc.
Ditchley Park is a country house, and retains country house traditions. The dining room, kitchens and pantry operate as they would in a private household. The house offers complete seclusion and calm within a 3,000 acre farming estate, only one and a half hours from central London. In keeping with this ambience, the bedrooms and meeting rooms are not equipped with telephones, television or network points (although these are, of course, available elsewhere in the mansion), encouraging a relaxed and undisturbed environment for discussion. The nature of the Mansion dictates that Ditchley is unsuitable for wedding receptions and other large social gatherings.
Conference size
The number of people most comfortably accommodated is between thirty five and sixty. The main conference table can seat forty-six, with additional chairs for observers. Up to forty-four may be seated in the dining room, with a further sixteen places available in the adjoining breakfast room.
There are twenty-nine bedrooms, of which thirteen are double and nine twin-bedded, in the Mansion, a further eight bedrooms, including five doubles, in the East and West Wings, and four bedrooms, two doubles and two twin-bedded, in Lower House, which stands about 300 yards from the main building. The latter are often allocated to conference support staff.In addition to the main conference room, there are three smaller rooms, with seating for between twelve and sixteen people, suitable for group discussions. The East Wing contains a comfortable lecture theatre with seating for sixty-eight, and both overhead and digital projectors are available on request.
Tours and outings
For those who are able to make time in their schedule, trips to Oxford or Woodstock can be organised, or private tours arranged to visit Blenheim Palace, Broughton Castle or Rousham House. All three houses are of great historical interest and are still home to the families for whom they were built; with both Broughton and Rousham, the owners themselves will conduct the tour. Alternatively, or additionally, a tour of the Ditchley Mansion could be fitted into your programme.
THE DITCHLEY PARK CONFERENCE CENTRE LIMITED is the trading arm of the Ditchley Foundation, and runs all commercial activities. Outside agencies booking Ditchley Park can normally expect to have exclusive use of the Mansion and its facilities.