Wilton Park is the UK’s foremost multilateral facilitator. It serves as the UK government’s expert in convening international policy dialogue, bringing together decision-makers from around the world to turn ideas into action.
“I’m glad that as Wilton Park continues to burnish its very significant reputation and impact over 80 years, it’s also bringing more diverse voices into the room – faith leaders, business leaders, civil society, alongside governments and diplomats. Because that mix of voices is absolutely crucial to getting the right answers to the challenges that we face.”
Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Events
Our History
Some of the key moments from our history.
1946
Heinz Koeppler establishes Wilton Park.
1947
Lady Astor, the first woman to take a seat in the UK Parliament, spoke at Wilton Park on “Women in Public Life”.
1951
Wilton Park relocates to Wiston House, Sussex.
1968
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visits Wilton Park’s 100th conference.
1972
Wilton Park’s 143rd conference explored the ecological crisis and its societal impact, marking Wilton Park as an early voice on environment and sustainability.
1973
Prime Minister Edward Heath and the French President, Georges Pompidou, agree discussions on European enlargement should be addressed at Wilton Park and create the European Discussion Centre.
1975
In the wake of the OAPEC oil embargo, Wilton Park began tackling global energy concerns, focusing on European energy security and reducing reliance on imports.
1980
Wilton Park becomes a venue for South African representatives to discuss the transition from apartheid
1983
As satellite broadcasting and global news networks begin reshaping diplomacy, Wilton Park examines how the communications revolution is transforming political decision-making and international relations.
1986
Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms in the Soviet Union enabled the first Soviet participants at Wilton Park events.
1988
The first overseas Wilton Park conference takes place in Finland, on East-West relations.
1988
Discussions during a 1988 Wilton Park conference predict the the collapse of the Soviet Union.
1994
Post-Cold War, Wilton Park conferences focus on implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention — a landmark arms control agreement signed in 1993 to take effect in 1997.
1999
Wilton Park holds a conference on the Western Balkans after Milosevic, less than three months after the end of NATO’s air campaign
2003
Conferences go beyond Europe for the first time to Japan and Brazil.
2012
Rt Hon William Hague MP and Angelina Jolie, United Nations’ Special Envoy, attend Wilton Park’s conference on preventing sexual violence.
2018
From 2018 to 2021, Wilton Park convened multiple dialogues on promoting inclusive citizenship drawing together major local and international faith-based organisations.
2019
From 2019 Wilton Park hosts a series of conferences to support UK work on responsible space behaviours culminating in the adoption of a resolution at the UN General Assembly.
2020
Wilton Park convenes a series of dialogues on artificial intelligence, including on its use in the public sector. Dialogues on AI become a growing area of focus.
2021
Wilton Park acts as the Secretariat for the major COP26 initiative, Catalyst for Climate Action, on behalf of the UK’s COP26 Presidency.
2022
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Wilton Park convenes a series of dialogues on issues including economic recovery, criminal justice, information warfare, and strategic deterrence.
2025
Wilton Park continued its important work on faith, convening ‘the role and responsibility of religious leaders in times of war, atrocities and polarisation’ conference. The event was referenced by the UN Secretary General in his report to the General Assembly.