Top 10 UK Luxury Wedding Venues Outside London – This choice is so difficult, as there are so many lovely wedding venues in England that could fulfil all the requirements for inclusion amongst the top 10 UK luxury wedding venues outside London. Finally, after much deliberation and long consideration, I have chosen the venues listed below, with a short explanation as to the reason for my inclusion of these locations in my choice:
Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh
Not to be mistaken for Balmoral Castle, the Queen’s home in the Highlands of Scotland, The Balmoral Hotel looks out towards the ascetic majesty of Edinburgh Castle. Here you can celebrate your wedding with traditional Highland music played on bagpipes by a genuine piper and enjoy a champagne reception in the Bollinger Bar. The rooms are elegant and the staff attentive, with attention to detail extending to a sprinkling of rose petals across your bed in the honeymoon suite and a champagne breakfast provided for the happy couple the following morning.
As one of the top 10 UK luxury wedding venues outside London, the Balmoral Hotel provides graceful surroundings at a respectable price of just £26 per head plus catering as an extra. This price is based on at least 60 guests being included in the wedding party. The Balmoral Hotel is supremely good at providing the best in wedding receptions, having been the venue of choice in Edinburgh, Scotland, since 1902.
Blairquhan Castle, Maybole
This castle dates from the early 1800s and still retains much of its original furniture. This Regency venue is surrounded by manicured parklands and exquisitely cared-for gardens. Blairquhan Castle, in Ayrshire, Scotland, is one of the most exceptional of the top 10 UK luxury wedding venues outside London and certainly my choice of venue, if only for its exquisite location and sumptuously appointed rooms. The exclusive use of this castle for the ceremony and reception will not be a cheap option.
In fact, this luxury Blairquhan Castle comes at a high price: the facility fee alone is £1,900, with further costs available only on application!
Castle Rushen, Isle of Man
The famous motorcycle TT races take over the Isle of Man every year. If you are booking a wedding on the Island, make sure it doesn’t clash with this date, as you will find all the ferry bookings and flights have been booked at least a year in advance, and your guests will never manage to get to the Island.
For those who don’t know the location of the Isle of Man, it is a small island, just 33 miles long by 13.5 miles wide. Its total land area, home to 81,000 residents, is 221 square miles. To get to the Isle of Man by ferry from Liverpool can take 2 hours 40 minutes by catamaran or 4 hours if you take the conventional car ferry, although you can also fly from various domestic airports on the UK mainland to the Isle of Man’s only airport at the south of the island, at Ronaldsway, not too far from the town of Castletown.
Flying in for your wedding would probably be a better choice for your guests, as this medieval castle is located at Castletown, not too far from the airport. The castle dates back to the 13th century and is among the best-preserved in Europe. You will be absolutely blown away by the impressive limestone walls of the castle that tower above the luxurious grounds, ideal for your wedding photographs. This is certainly one of the most deserving of the top 10 UK luxury wedding venues outside London, and certainly a unique location to hold your wedding ceremony and reception. Castle Rushen can accommodate 130 guests for the ceremony, with exclusive hire costing in the region of £600.
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Racing buffs will know that Epsom Downs has hosted the Derby since 1780, and it is a famous sporting event attended by many well-heeled and famous people from around the world. Given the history of such a unique location, this had to be included among the top 10 luxury wedding venues outside London. The room hire is quite reasonable, ranging from £350 to £850, depending on the room required. The wedding itself is performed by the Registrar from Leatherhead Register Office, with 5 rooms licensed at the Racecourse for civil wedding ceremonies to be solemnised.
The Queen’s Stand offers incredibly breathtaking views across the Epsom Downs and over towards London, with the capacity for up to 250 guests for the actual ceremony. The Queen’s Stand can accommodate up to 400 guests for the reception. There are different wedding packages on offer, starting at £60 per head.
Llechwedd Slate Caverns
Llechwedd Slate Caverns is very well-deserving as one of the top 10 UK luxury wedding venues outside London, and is an absolute dream of a location for the romantic bride with that capacity for adventure. The Deep Mine at Llechwedd Slate Caverns is the location for the wedding ceremony, with the wedding party descending deep into the bowels of the earth aboard the steepest passenger railway in Britain. This would most certainly be a wedding to remember, as the railway has a gradient of 1 in 1.8, which is not far off vertical and not for the faint-hearted!
What actually makes the Deep Mine so popular as a venue for weddings is the atmospheric splendour of the underground lake. This chamber soars so far above people’s heads that it is reminiscent of a cathedral. The acoustics are incredibly imposing, and around the lake, beacons of light bounce across the waters from little lanterns lining the shores. There is sufficient room for a wedding party of 70 people, with the quaint charms of the traditional hostelry, the Miners’ Arms, close by, or Plas Waunyd, which offers private dining rooms for wedding parties to hold their receptions.
Portmeirion, Minffordd, Gwynedd
Staying in Wales, the Italianate village of Portmeirion has to be included among the top 10 UK luxury wedding venues outside London for its sheer splendour and chic architecture, if nothing else. Portmeirion is set amidst the Meironnydd mountains, with the Traeth Bach estuary providing the frontage.
For romance, this venue is second to none and is a truly memorable place to hold your wedding ceremony and reception. The bride and groom can choose from 4 rooms for the ceremony, and 6 function rooms for the reception. The wedding party can actually stay at this location if they choose to: there are self-catering facilities available in 17 cottages that each sleep between 3 and 8 people, as well as hotel facilities offering a further 53 bedrooms. For true romance, this exquisite fairytale setting will charm any bride.
The Guildhall, Windsor
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, celebrated their wedding at the Guildhall, set close to the residence of the Queen, Windsor Castle. It was also the venue for the civil partnership ceremony of Sir Elton John and David Furnish. The Guildhall, Windsor was designed and built in the 17th century by Sir Christopher Wren, whose other claims to fame were the construction of St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
There is sufficient room in the Ascot Room for a small wedding party of 30, whilst the Council Chamber has room for up to 120 guests. When you take into account the Guildhall’s charm and history and the sheer dignity of this building, it really has to be included as one of the top 10 UK luxury wedding venues outside London. This elegant location, whilst popular, will probably not break the bank: if you live within the boundaries of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, you will be charged just £250 per hour and, for non-residents, £350 per hour.
Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire
This castle in Gloucestershire is home to the Dent Brocklehurst family, with Lord and Lady Ashcombe currently living there. Sudeley Castle ranks among the top 10 UK luxury wedding venues outside London without having to prove itself! This castle, located amongst the gentle hills of the Cotswolds, has been described as ‘the most romantic castle in England’ – and truly a dream of a location for any bride on her wedding day.
This castle is truly beautiful, richly decorated with the most elegant rooms imaginable, which, together with 1200 acres of parkland and gardens which have won many accolades, will provide the most memorable wedding day and the most glorious of photographs. Sudeley Castle is a luxurious setting, offering true luxury to any wedding party, at a price that can only be described as luxurious!
Tylney Hall, Hampshire
Another exquisite and romantic stately home is the Grade II listed Tylney Hall, set amongst the Hampshire countryside in the south of England, offering 66 acres of delightful gardens and parklands for some unique wedding photographs set amongst the giant redwoods, or surrounded by the Rose Gardens.
Alternatively, stand on the Boathouse Bridge and enjoy the sunset on the panorama of the lake below. Tylney Hall has 112 luxuriously appointed bedrooms, many offering spa baths and four-poster beds, and all offering excellent views of the Hampshire countryside. Tylney Hall is close to the M3, making it a particularly convenient location, and a perfect choice as one of the top 10 UK luxury wedding venues outside London.
Tythe Barn, Oxfordshire
Last but not least, this venue is particularly deserving of the accolade as one of the top 10 UK luxury wedding venues outside London. Suffused with character, history and charm, the Tythe Barn is listed as an English Heritage site and has survived intact since the 14th century.
Despite the history of the Tythe Barn, many contemporary features were incorporated with empathy during its renovation. It can now be hired as a luxury and exclusive venue for the wedding ceremony and reception.
To see more luxury wedding venues, visit 5starweddingdirectory.com
Article by 5starweddings
This article is copyright-protected. 2018 – 5 Star Wedding Directory
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