Whether you’re dreaming of a formal garden wedding, walking down an aisle of wildflower meadows or exchanging vows in a rustic woodland setting, the following venues have been reviewed by our team to bring you the best outdoor wedding venues in the UK.
Benham Park, Berkshire
There is a certain thrill in watching a great house stir back to life. Benham Park, the neo-classical mansion designed by Henry Holland in 1775 and wrapped in Capability Brown parkland, has been quiet for over a century. Just reopened, it is already tipped to be one of the most talked-about new wedding addresses in Britain. The setting is pure English theatre. One hundred and thirty six acres of landscaped parkland unravel in every direction, offering lawns for Champagne tents, woodland glades for candlelit dinners and space enough for marquees of six hundred. There is a ballroom for those who like their celebrations within gilded walls, but the lure here is the outdoors – where the Berkshire sky and ancient trees frame the day. Inside, ten bedrooms, including two grand suites, provide refuge once the festivities fade. There is a private roof terrace for midnight toasts, a cinema and games room for straying beyond the dance floor. Yet it is the sense of privacy, of stepping into your own estate for a moment in time, that makes Benham Park feel different. A house with heritage, remade for the next generation of weddings. For enquiries email: [email protected]
Cornwell Manor, Oxfordshire
Sleeping 24 guests, the manor house and gardens can be rented for weekends from June to September, ensuring a level of exclusivity most discerning couples look to prioritise. Envisage the morning of the big day amid four poster beds and thick-curtained framed views of the garden topiary, services in a traditional, honey-stone church, the emerald English gardens or The Ballroom for civil ceremonies, and Champagne-laced receptions along a terrace, with sweeping views of the lakes and formal gardens. As if it were their own home, couples and their family and closest friends have the full run of the grounds across the weekend, with lazy Sundays along the pool following breakfasts anywhere at anytime and a clever assortment of venue locations for every step of a weekend-long wedding. It’s worth noting that all weddings at Cornwell Manor require the hire of a marquee and a wedding planner, as well as one of the venue’s approved caterers. cornwellmanor.com
Brinsop Court, Herefordshire
A 14th-century moated manor wrapped, Brinsop sits at the heart of an 800-acre estate in the rolling country north-west of Hereford, taken on exclusive hire for the weekend. The outdoor options are the draw: a central courtyard for a ceremony under the vine gazebo, three formal lawns, and any number of clearings in the surrounding woodland, with the moat – swans and all – as the backdrop for golden-hour photographs. For something more formal, vows can be exchanged by candlelight in the Banqueting Hall or the Elizabethan Library, beneath its ornate sculpted ceiling, in a house that once hosted Wordsworth. brinsopcourt.com
Monkey Island Estate, Berkshire
A private island on the Thames at Bray, reached only by footbridge or boat, Monkey Island hands couples seven acres of garden entirely to themselves – ten minutes from Windsor, under an hour from London, and yet wholly apart from both. The lawns run down to the water on every side, with room for a marquee or pitched tipi and a celebration of up to 300, and a firepit for the evening under open skies. Take the island on exclusive hire and the grounds, the riverside gardens and the moored Floating Spa are yours for the weekend. monkeyislandestate.co.uk
Minerva Vines, Bath
A vineyard and orangery on the edge of Bath, Minerva Vines conjures the South of France a good deal closer to home. The Corston estate looks out over 360 degrees of rolling hills, with Bath in the distance and an ancient hill fort crowning the horizon; the golden light and open skies do the rest. At its centre is the Orangery, a glasshouse that seats up to 120 (rising to 200 from 2027), but couples can also marry outside, among the vines or out in the meadows. This is a working family vineyard, now run by third-generation farmer Emily Addicott-Sauvao and her husband Eddie, and the estate’s own award-winning wines anchor the day – a pre-wedding vineyard tour and tasting are included. Accommodation is arranged five minutes away at The Pig. minervavines.com
Wasing Estate, Berkshire
Where ancient woodland, wild swimming and curated celebration meet on a storied English estate – Wasing sits at the heart of a 4,000-acre Berkshire estate, just an hour from London, yet worlds away in atmosphere. This exclusive-use venue feels both rooted and quietly luxurious, drawing couples in with its rich history, natural beauty and unforced elegance. Begin in the newly renovated Garden Room, now beautifully adorned with rustic oak beams, warm aged brickwork, sandstone tile floors, and elegant pewter cast iron radiators — where floor-to-ceiling glass doors open onto the Italian Gardens in full bloom. Ceremonies take place beneath the hand-painted dome of the Victorian Summerhouse or in the 15th-century chapel, its stone walls soaked in centuries of love stories. The Castle Barn, with its oak beams and expansive terrace, sets the stage for drinks, dining and dancing that lingers well into the night. For something more untamed, The Woodland offers a secluded glade ideal for free-spirited, festival-style weddings, with winding paths, fairy lights and towering trees. There are 26 boutique bedrooms across the estate, each with its own design language – some with copper bathtubs, others with mezzanine hideaways. Kitts Cottage is reserved for pre-wedding preparations, while wild swimming and a wood-fired sauna offer grounding rituals before or after the big day. Wasing Park is a place to gather, roam and celebrate at your own rhythm. Atmospheric, intimate and entirely your own. wasing.co.uk
Knepp Estate, West Sussex
Couples who have read Isabella Tree’s Wilding will be happy to hear they can marry in its pages. This West Sussex estate, England’s first major lowland rewilding project, is both a pilgrimage for ecologists and one of the best outdoor wedding venues in the UK, where longhorn cattle, Tamworth pigs and red deer roam freely. The wedding site is a meadow on the edge of ancient woodland overlooking Springwood Pond, at the heart of a 700-acre Repton park, which couples take exclusively for a long weekend. Couples can hold a commitment ceremony among the wildflowers, then bring in tipis and caterers for the celebration, before retiring to The Bothy cabin. Weddings run June to September only, capped at a hundred and fifty, an hour from London. knepp.co.uk
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Glenapp Castle, Aryshire
This five-star castle sits hidden in 36 acres of gardens and woodland on Scotland’s South Ayrshire coast, its turrets rising at the end of a tree-lined drive, the gardens running down towards a seascape that takes in Ailsa Craig and the islands beyond. Couples can exchange vows almost anywhere on the estate, from the lawns to the Gertrude Jekyll gardens, and Scottish law is obliging: anyone may marry here. For larger parties, a marquee opens along one side to the sea, a transparent panel overhead framing the turrets. Seventeen bedrooms and a penthouse apartment take exclusive-use gatherings of up to thirty-four, with a private chef and the castle’s own sommelier in attendance. Weddings run up to two hundred. glenappcastle.com
North Cadbury Court, Somerset
A Grade I Elizabethan house owned by the Montgomery family – of cheddar fame – North Cadbury sits in 1,500 acres of Somerset countryside below Cadbury Hill, the earthwork long rumoured to be the real Camelot. The house and grounds come on exclusive hire for a minimum of two nights, with no set packages, no corkage and no curfew, so the day runs entirely to your own clock. Outdoor ceremonies take place under the garden gazebo, beside the lake, or out on the lawns with the house behind; St Michael’s Church stands next door for those who want it. Indoors, vows are exchanged in the airy Ballroom or the wood-panelled North Hall, reached by a sweeping oak staircase. A playful streak runs through the place – a rooftop golf tee, tennis, croquet, a basement disco – and up to 82 guests can stay across the house and coach house. northcadburycourt.com
Crockwell Farm, Northamptonshire
This family-owned farm is a true home away from home and have become experts in hosting wedding with over 20 years experience. Crockwell Farm has views over the South Northamptonshire countryside and can be exclusively yours for three days and two nights. Guests can stay in the 18th-century farmhouse and cosy cottages. Dryden cottage was designed for the newlyweds and comes complete with copper roll-top bath. Marry in the stone vaulted barn, starlit marquee or outside in the romantic Orchard Pavilion. Crockwellfarm.co.uk
Ballyfin, County Laois
Ballyfin is a Regency mansion at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in Ireland, restored over the better part of a decade and reopened in 2011 as what is now counted among the finest country houses in the world. An hour from Dublin, take over the whole of the estate with 614 acres of parkland, lake and ancient woodland, twenty bedrooms hung with 17th-century Flemish tapestries and Chinese tapestries, a Michelin-starred kitchen drawing on the estate’s gardens, and an A-team staff who line up to greet you on arrival. Ceremonies take place across the demesne, on the lawns, down by the lake among the follies and grotto, or in the glass conservatory concealed behind a library bookcase, which seats up to eighty. ballyfin.com
Kingston Estate, Devon
Kingston is the antidote to the conveyor-belt wedding: an exclusive-use Georgian estate deep in the South Hams, taken for two or three days and free of the in-by-eight, out-by-midday choreography of the package affair. The 1735 mansion sits in thirty acres near the river Dart, within easy reach of Dartmoor and the south Devon coast, and couples and their guests are encouraged to treat the grounds as their own for the duration. Civil ceremonies are licensed across a range of settings, from an intimate exchange in the mansion house to gatherings of up to 250 outside in the Walled or Rose Garden. Up to a hundred guests stay on site, and the celebration runs as long as you like, thanks to a vaulted club with a late music licence and no curfew. kingston-estate.co.uk
St Audries Park, Somerset
Of Country House Weddings’ six exclusive-hire estates, St Audries is the one for couples who want the day spent outdoors. A Georgian manor at West Quantoxhead, it sits in 100 acres of deer park between the Quantock Hills and the Bristol Channel, reached by a winding drive through woodland where the deer graze – remote in feeling, though only 45 minutes from Bristol and Taunton. The grounds are made for a summer ceremony, while the Victorian Orangery, with views out to the water, is the standout for vows. Afterwards the party spreads across the house and terrace as the sun goes down over the Channel, and the whole estate is yours on exclusive hire, with rooms for up to 70 across the main house and a scatter of cottages.
Unique Homestays Weddings – Gulliver’s Hall
Tucked away within 320 acres of private land, Gulliver’s Hall is not your typical country venue. There are no manicured lawns or predictable pavilions here. Instead, expect wildflower meadows, a sculptural stone barn, and roe deer grazing just beyond the treeline. It is a place where modern bohemians and romantic eccentrics find their footing, surrounded by red kites overhead and the distant scent of elderflower in bloom. Entirely dry hire and unlicensed, the space encourages complete creative freedom. Couples can hold a humanist ceremony in the weathered stone barn, seating up to 70, or exchange vows beneath the open sky. Outdoor moments linger long in the memory, from barefoot croquet beneath ancient chestnuts to silent discos at twilight beside Giacometti-inspired sculptures. When guest numbers exceed 40, a dedicated wedding planner is included to orchestrate the day. The house itself sleeps 21 across artfully designed rooms, while a south-facing spa with pool, steam, sauna and sunken hot tub offers an idyllic setting to retreat, recharge and reflect. uniquehomestays.com
Pylewell Park
A wildly romantic escape where sea air, sweeping lawns and spirited charm meet, framed by 1500 acres of rolling Hampshire parkland and glimpses of the Solent beyond, Pylewell Park is easily one of the best outdoor wedding venues in the UK. A private beach, views that stretch to the sea at every turn, and New Forest ponies grazing at the edges of the estate all conspire to create a setting that feels quietly cinematic. Ceremonies unfold beneath the trees, in the walled gardens, or beneath the estate’s striking sail structure, while the post-ceremony ritual often involves a barefoot wander to the shoreline, perhaps a donkey sighting, then a slow amble back to the balustrade bar for champagne and croquet. Tradition takes a backseat here. The house encourages the unscripted, with its grand yet whimsical pavilion seating up to 200 and inviting couples to style the space as they please. Stay the weekend, or linger longer. There are 13 characterful bedrooms, including a three-bedroom penthouse with sweeping views. Whether dancing beneath festoon lights or slipping into a sea-facing sunrise swim, Pylewell Park offers something quietly extraordinary. A house that feels more like home, but better. pylewellpark.com
The Penn, Dorset
An elegant coastal retreat where English gardens meet dramatic cliffside views set high above Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, Pennsylvania Castle Estate sits poised on the clifftop, its honeyed stone walls catching the light as the sea glimmers just beyond. This is no ordinary seaside escape. With exclusive use of the estate, couples are invited into a world where lush gardens and ocean air create a setting that feels both cinematic and deeply personal. Ceremonies unfold beneath the pagoda or amongst the silvered leaves of the olive garden. Elsewhere, the clifftop roof terrace offers a moment of quiet drama, its panoramic views perfect for golden hour toasts or candlelit dinners that drift into the night. The Italian Garden and the English Rose Garden provide natural pauses in the day’s rhythm, where cocktails are sipped slowly and laughter rises with the evening breeze. The estate’s clifftop lodges offer luxurious accommodation, making this a true destination wedding without ever leaving the country. The Penn brings together the elegance of a country house wedding with the salt-tinged romance of the coast. Atmospheric, intimate, and entirely your own. thepennestate.co.uk
Euridge Manor, Wiltshire
A private Georgian-style estate near Castle Combe, Euridge has been worked into a piece of art-directed theatre: crumbling castle arches hung with chandeliers, rose-covered walkways, an Italianate terrace, sparkling water features and a thatched boathouse out over a still lake. Six spots across the grounds are licensed for ceremonies – the castle arch among the ruins, the boathouse, the secret-garden orangery among them – so outside is where the estate does its best work. Under cover there is the glass-walled Lost Orangery and a grand ballroom, both flooded with light, with dinner in either or under a marquee on the lawn. Easily one of the best outdoor wedding venues in the UK, Euridge handful of weddings are taken each year, from twenty guests to around 150, with rooms for some thirty-two across suites and cottages, the whole estate exclusively yours. euridge.uk
Regent’s Events, London
For couples who want a garden wedding without leaving central London, Regent’s Events offers five acres of private gardens in the heart of Regent’s Park. Three outdoor spaces are your blank canvas: York Lawns, an open-air setting for up to 400 with room for a styled marquee from May to July, surrounded by mature trees; and the more tucked-away Terrace and Secret Garden for intimate celebrations. Minutes from Baker Street and Marylebone, this B Corp-certified venue feels like a countryside escape with central transport links and, rarest of all in London, on-site parking. regentsevents.co.uk/
Stowe House, Buckinghamshire
A beautiful, 18th Century Buckinghamshire mansion steeped in history and romance inside and out. The mansion can be exclusively yours for your special day, the State Rooms range from intimate spaces for 40, to larger spaces for up to 180 guests. Evening wedding receptions can be held for up to 200 guests, and for those looking for a larger wedding or event, the stunning South Lawn is ideal for the perfect marquee celebration with a beautiful backdrop of rolling countryside and the mansions grand facade. As events are only permitted to take place during school holidays, your wedding day would be one of only a unique few that take place at Stowe each year, making it the perfect venue for those looking for a distinctive wedding celebration in the stunning Buckinghamshire countryside. stowevenuehire.co.uk/stowe-house-wedding/
The Walled Garden at Cowdray, Sussex
The second wedding venue on the Cowdray Estate is the Tudor Walled Garden, which sits adjacent to the dramatic Cowdray Ruins (a spectacular feature for wedding photographs). Think Alice in Wonderland – you’re even given the large rusty key to unlock the original heavy oak door to enter. You and your guests can celebrate in this colourful and historic setting, enjoying the delicious scents filling the air from the garden’s plentiful herbs and fruit trees. cowdray.co.uk
Port Lympne Reserve, Kent
Stretching over 600 acres with animals roaming freely, this outdoor wedding venue has a tropical feel making it hard to believe you’re in the UK. Say ‘I do’ in an enchanting Pergola situated in the old walled garden followed by a reception in an orangery filled with foliage with tigers roaring in the background. There are many wedding options within the reserve, including the eccentric hotel with Moroccan courtyard and colourful mural-decorated reception rooms. Smaller parties can opt for Giraffe Cottage, with private ranger for tours, or go for a luxury glamping experience at Bear Lodge. But of course, the real thrill is the view wherever you opt for at the reserve. aspinallfoundation.org
Morden Lake, Dorset
Set in the heart of Dorset woodland, Morden Lake is one of the UK’s more atmospheric outdoor wedding venues: towering trees, open water and secluded forest clearings, designed for couples who want to celebrate in nature without surrendering comfort. It hosts just eight exclusive-use weddings a year, so every celebration feels wholly personal, shaped around the couple’s own vision. Ceremonies take place beside the lake, guests seated facing the water as swans drift past; afterwards, couples step aboard a restored antique river boat for photographs before continuing in the woodland tipi. The style leans towards the immersive – fire-cooked feasts, street-food dining, cocktail bars beneath the trees. From the team behind Abbots Court and Almer Manor, it is fast becoming one of the South Coast’s most sought-after outdoor venues. mordenlake.co.uk
Coworth Park, Berkshire
Home to one of the most breathtakingly beautiful wildflower meadows we’ve seen, Coworth Park is the ultimate place for a quintessentially English wedding. The Rose Garden and Lime Grove create endless photo opportunities and each wedding here is totally bespoke. The Garden Room is designed so that guests can spill outside – a dance floor can be set up under the stars. For an intimate party, choose the Tudor-style Dower House overlooking the lake with resident swans. Check into the Mansion House Premium Suite for the most luxurious start to married life. dorchestercollection.com
Kin House, Wiltshire
One of the hottest new openings for 2022, Kin House is a lovingly restored Georgian manor house in the Wiltshire countryside, available for exclusive hire for weddings and events. Located on the edge of the pretty village of Kington Langley, this Grade II listed house is set within 10-acres of walled gardens and private woodland and has been sensitively restored to its former glory with interiors led by the British design studio Barlow & Barlow. Kin House has a variety of options for magical outdoor wedding ceremonies for up to 200 guests, as well as alfresco feasting set ups. Take a wander through the gardens and you’ll find a secluded wooded glade – the ultimate setting for celebrations under the stars. kinhouse.co.uk
Penshurst Place & Gardens, Kent
Steeped in heritage, this is a must-see for couples craving an outdoor celebration thanks to its Italian Garden and enormous walled garden which is divided into eleven distinct sections, all manicured to perfection. The Inner Courtyard is an enchanting and unique place for an outdoor ceremony, the ancient walls blooming with roses. Inside, Baron’s Hall has all the medieval features you could wish for – ladies can hang their hats on the magnificent suits of armour and dance the night away. penshurstplace.com
Tythe, Oxfordshire
Set in the Oxfordshire countryside, Tythe delivers so many beautiful ceremony backdrops. Take the blooming wisteria aisle or imagine walking up the avenue of silver birch trees. Or you could opt for the landscaped and flower-filled lawns in front of the newly-renovated Farmhouse. Say your vows framed by the wooden arbour or standing in front of the imposing original barn doors – the options are truly endless. You could marry with the backdrop of the open English countryside at this centuries-old working farm or in the pretty local church, with pathways that lead directly into Tythe’s manicured grounds. And if the weather doesn’t play ball, the indoor options are every bit as beautiful. www.thetythebarn.co.uk
The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Bath
Everything at this five-star hotel is exceptional – friendly staff, a tranquil spa and, of course, the unique location. In the historic heart of Regency Bath, the golden-glowing Crescent provides a wondrous backdrop for your big day. The beautiful private gardens can be transformed into an elegant wedding setting. Guests can join you on the Crescent Lawn for a Champagne reception. Check into one of the uber-luxurious bridal suites. The hotel is also available for exclusive hire. And for couples looking to be environmentally friendly with their wedding plans the hotel has a Green Key accreditation – meaning they go above and beyond to make weddings as sustainable as possible. royalcrescent.co.uk
Larchfield Estate, County Down
Without a doubt one of the best outdoor wedding venues in Northern Ireland. Located in the heart of the rolling County Down countryside, this family-owned walled estate offers a rural haven brimming with character. The 19th-century stone barn, walled garden with orangery, lake and cobbled courtyards can all be yours for the day. Guests can check into cottages just moments from the action. And for something a little different we love the luxury glamping truck, Myrtle, for the newlyweds. larchfieldestate.co.u
Notley Abbey, Buckinghamshire
Built in the 12th century and lovingly restored, Notley Abbey is a medieval masterpiece complete with fairytale turret. Once the grand home of Laurence Olivier, it can now be yours for the weekend and with nine stylish bedrooms. Exchange vows under The Nook in the ivy-clad walled garden, then follow this with a grand wedding banquet in the Monks Refectory. bijouweddingvenues.co.uk
Elmore Court, Gloucestershire
Eco-friendly Elmore Court is home to an impressive events space, The Gillyflower. Sustainably built, the futuristic building has stunning countryside views is totally soundproof with meadow roof. The grounds here are stunning, marry in any of their beautiful outdoor spaces including the the Walled Garden, The East Lawn and Cedar Lawn. Food is a forte, sourced locally and from the estate’s own gardens. The estate is in the process of rewilding 250 acres of the land and building treehouses in the woodland. There will be a dedicated ceremony space for woodland weddings. Treehouses will be open for stays in May 2023 and will eventually open to the public too – meaning couples will be able to book in to celebrate anniversaries. elmorecourt.com
Finnebrogue Woods, County Down
Looking for a laidback festival setting? Opt for this magical woodland hideaway in Northern Ireland. Wind through the mature forest and reach the giant Nordic tipis situated in a glade next to the idyllic lake. A woodland ceremony, quirky bridal retreat and outdoor campfire area add to the boho vibe. The passionate team here will help to plan every detail, offering a full bespoke decor service. finnebroguewoods.com
Lucknam Park, Wiltshire
The mile-long tree-lined driveway leading to this Palladian mansion is certain to wow your guests. Enjoy the ultimate five-star luxury experience from the moment you check in (dogs welcome too). Set in 500 acres of stunning parkland, the hotel boasts Michelin-Star dining, a state-of-the-art spa, equestrian centre, family play facility and nine cottages. It’s the perfect spot for intimate weddings, opulent celebrations or romantic escapes. lucknampark.co.uk
Hatch House, Wiltshire
This cherished family home has an old-school air of romance. The 17th century two-tier Dutch walled garden provides incredible views over the stunning Vale of Wardour and beyond. There are three licensed outdoor areas for ceremonies – the Lime Avenue is a very special way to make an entrance on your big day. hatch-house.co.uk
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