Perhaps I’m biased, but I truly believe that most of the UK’s best wedding venues are in the South West of the country. Here you’ll find sprawling estates hidden down charming country lanes, an abundance of excellent locally-sourced food, and the freedom to take over your wedding venue for a whole weekend. Plenty of time for your suppliers to set up and for you to ease into your wedding weekend, with no rush to leave so you can truly revel in the celebrations.
I understand that clients are often looking for venues within one or two hours of London, for ease of international travel. However, I really recommend branching out a little further if you’re looking for something different, less ‘done’ and with a wealth of wonderful things to do pre and post wedding too! I’ve also linked some great suggestions for where to host rehearsal dinners or hangover brunches, as the South West is home to many gorgeous places to eat, from coast to country.
Exclusive use wedding venues with luxury accommodation are few and far between, but here are ten of my very favourites found right here in South West England…
Boconnoc Estate, Cornwall (image by Rebecca Rees)
The Boconnoc Estate (pictured above) is truly one of the most incredible exclusive-use venues in the world. Boconnoc is still a family owned estate, with a 14th century church on site and hidden down miles of private drive, so you will have complete exclusivity for your wedding weekend. If you’re looking to have a civil, celebrant-led or religious blessing outside, Boconnoc has multiple options for those too.
Weekend hire includes access to the stunning Stable Yard for your pre-wedding party, and the house has multiple rooms for hosting a post-wedding brunch too. Weddings of under 100 don’t need to hire a marquee. However if your guest numbers do exceed 100 you will need one, but you’ll really be making the most of the incredible views of the countryside and the estate.
Boconnoc has accommodation onsite for 50 people, in luxuriously appointed rooms and cottages filled with colourful fabrics and wallpapers, designed by Interior Designer Sarah Fortescue (whose family own the estate).
Cornwall is one of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations, with beautiful beaches, delicious food and a plethora of wonderful places for guests to stay nearby. The town of Fowey is just a short drive, where you’ll find the incredible Fowey Hall Hotel, The Harbour Hotel Fowey and lots of incredible restaurants, including North Street Kitchen which you’ll find on the Michelin Guide. If you’re keen to get out in the countryside, you can do a deer safari on site, paddle board on the lake, play golf at one of the nearby world-class golf courses, surf, swim in the sea…the possibilities are endless here! Boconnoc is an incredible venue for giving guests a taste of the English countryside for a weekend.
Prideaux Place, Cornwall (image by In Lovers Eyes)
This beautiful property dates back to Elizabethan England and has been owned by the same family for generations, so if you’re after a slice of English heritage for your big day this is the one for you. The handsome house is a beautiful backdrop to your marquee wedding and the views of the lovely town of Padstow and the sea beyond are just gorgeous. I’ve been a bit sneaky here, as Prideaux doesn’t have any accommodation directly onsite, however, the beautiful Fentonluna House, owned by the estate, is available to hire for your wedding and is just a short stroll away from Prideaux.
Prideaux makes my list is because it sits above the charming fishing port of Padstow, where you’ll find cobbled streets, postcard-perfect cottages and pretty fishing boats aplenty. If you book Prideaux, it’ll feel like you’ve booked the whole of Padstow; an exciting prospect as the town is somewhat of a foodie hub, so you’ll find excellent places to eat here. And as you’d expect, lots of 5* accommodation such as the Harbour Hotel Padstow, or The Pig just a short drive away. For your rehearsal dinner, I’d suggest the gorgeous Walled Garden, which is also run by the estate. It’s a secret gem hidden in the heart of Padstow, with beautiful sea views and is a charmingly unique space to host your nearest and dearest. Activities wise, the ocean and multiple beautiful beaches are literally on your doorstep.
Deer Park Country House, Devon (image by Emma Pilkington)
If you’re looking for a stylish country house experience, in a gorgeous setting with beautifully furnished rooms and a great team to help bring your wedding dreams to life, Deer Park is the place for you. There’s accommodation for 40 people in the house and properties on site. Ceremonies can take place in the gorgeous garden or inside the house depending on numbers. Your wedding reception unfolds in a beautiful orangery which boasts incredible natural light, beautiful Georgian windows and can seat around 180 guests.
If you’re looking for pre and post wedding activities here, you can host a lunch or supper in the divine walled gardens, surrounded by growing produce, which will most likely be served at some point during your wedding weekend! There are multiple cosy spaces indoors for smaller groups to gather throughout the weekend for activities, or for those seeking adventure, there are country pursuits aplenty – fishing, clay pigeon shooting and so many beautiful walks.
Deer Park is a venue that is super-luxe but not remotely pretentious. You’ll feel like you can take over the place, but with staff on hand to take care of your every need, it’s the ultimate wedding venue for switching off.
Belcombe Court, Wiltshire (image by Kernwell Photography)
Belcombe Court is another family owned property, hidden in beautiful Wiltshire. They only host a handful of weddings each year. Belcombe is a Grade 1 listed Georgian house, so you’ll truly be living out your Austen dreams here. The award-winning interiors of the house are beautifully done, blending old and new in such a thoughtful way. Romance seeps through every corner of the place, and outside a magical 60 acres of grounds await to be explored. It’s a special place for special weddings.
You’ll need to hire a marquee for your reception here, but this will just add to the whimsy of your day – I’d go for a tent with a gorgeous botanical print lining or an elegant sail cloth. There are multiple licenced spaces onsite for a civil ceremony – the Summer House, the Rotunda, the Octagonal Room or in the 17th century Barn.
As with all of these beautiful South West venues, there are a plethora of wonderful local suppliers on your doorstep in Wiltshire. If you’re looking for an escape, the sweet town of Bradford-upon-Avon is on your doorstep, and the historic city of Bath and Soho House’s Babington Estate just a 30 minute drive. However I think it’s likely you won’t want to leave the magic hidden within the gates.
St Giles House, Dorset (image by Imogen Xiana)
St Giles is truly incomparable. The façade of the house is exquisite and the interiors have been restored so sympathetically. It’s a house of wonder and beauty, yet it feels homely and welcoming. The gardens have been planted using native, seasonal plants and flowers so that there’s always something showing off no matter the time of year. It’s truly a venue for all seasons. St Giles is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty and in a designated ‘dark skies’ zone, which means on a clear night the stars have to be seen to be believed.
With space to seat 120 guests inside the house, a marquee isn’t essential here, however if you do want to host more guests, there is plenty of space here to put up a gorgeous tent in the grounds. One of the best parts about St Giles, is the secret nightclub space hidden below the house. Here you can extend your curfew to 2am and truly turn up the base with the incredible sound system. Plus there is accommodation onsite for up to 42 people so you can make sure your closest friends and family are all close by.
There is a church in the village for C of E weddings or blessings, and the house has multiple indoor rooms licensed for civil ceremonies.
For pre and post wedding events, there are spaces at St Giles for an informal BBQ or more formal rehearsal dinner. You could venture to local Pythouse Kitchen Gardens for a fire-cooked feast or host guests in style at 10 Castle Street.
The Lost Music Hall, Devon (image by Tara Statton)
If you’re looking for somewhere steeped in bohemian magic, then the Lost Music Hall is the venue for you. It’s a charming property, with real joy and beauty around every corner. The accommodation is beautifully decorated – you have the mid century style rooms above the Lost Music Hall which are spacious and airy, and you also have the English country house style rooms in the Manor House which feel cosy and inviting.
This property is primarily a family home so the walls exude joy and celebration. The reception space is in a beautiful wood panelled old music hall, home to an incredible old music hall organ and gorgeous acoustics. You can seat 100 people in the Lost Music Hall, higher numbers would need a marquee in the grounds. However the gardens are just enchanting – the house sits in a hidden Devon valley so whatever your guest numbers, the setting will be stunning. For your ceremony, a blessing outside the house is just gorgeous or there are several churches nearby.
The Lost Music Hall has a basement just waiting to be transformed into a party space – so you and your guests can party late into the night without having to worry about noise. For pre and post wedding events, you have the charming town of Totnes on your doorstep which is just brimming with independent cafes and shops. I’d suggest hosting a BBQ at the Lost Music Hall though, with the house as your backdrop and beautiful Devon countryside views in every direction, it’s a special place to stay for the best weekend of your life.
Pynes House, Devon (image by John Barwood)
If you’re looking for wow factor, in a stunning setting, with impeccable interiors but a welcoming feel, then Pynes House is the venue for you. The façade of this Georgian manor house is just beautiful and perfectly positioned at the end of the gorgeous tree-lined drive. Pynes can’t fail to make guests feel like they are in for a treat for the weekend, and a weekend long celebration here is a must!
You have accommodation on site for up to 28 guests and the option to have your rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, plus any other meals, catered in the house. However if you wanted to explore the local area, the city of Exeter is very close by where you’ll find multiple options for dining or you can cosy up in a gorgeous Devonshire pub.
For the wedding day, guest numbers of around 90 can be seated in the ballroom for dinner but for larger numbers a marquee is required. The grounds are beautiful, with a delightful rose garden that is particularly special in June. You can have a civil ceremony in the house, a celebrant led ceremony in the house or outside, or there are lots of churches nearby for a Church of England or Catholic service.
Earnshill is a new wedding venue for 2025, which is very exciting. The property is family owned, but managed by the fabulous team at Milkshed Catering, who are a dream to work with and provide excellent food and service.
The house has been beautifully designed, so that you have multiple bedrooms on two floors, all of which are accessed via the central communal rooms. This means you can separate the bridal and grooms party, or friends and family, really easily. There are currently 8 bedrooms, with plans for more to be renovated over the coming years and all of these have gorgeous en-suite bathrooms.
There is space inside the house for intimate wedding blessings and for rehearsal dinners, but for numbers over 50 you’ll need to hire a marquee. This is no hardship though, as the marquee lawn sits directly in front of the house and has incredible views of the Somerset countryside. Activities wise, country pursuits are abound here – from shooting to hiking. Or you can relax in the spa – there’s a sauna, hot tub and treatment room onsite at Earnshill.
North Cadbury Court, Somerset (image by Rebecca Goddard)
North Cadbury Court is a truly special option. The house is obviously beautiful – steeped in history and it really feels that way too. It’s not over done, there are no staid luxury hotel tropes here, the house really welcomes you to relax. There’s a huge amount of accommodation here – you can sleep 80 people across the estate. You’re also booking on a self catering basis which gives you a huge amount of freedom – however if you’d like meals to be catered this is also an option. There’s no corkage charge, so you can provide whatever drinks you’d like all weekend, for no additional charge.
The ballroom can seat 150 guests for dinner, there’s a secret nightclub and casino. There are spa facilities, a lake and yacht club, there’s even a golf tee on the roof. North Cadbury Court is a hidden gem, they have hosted many gorgeous weddings and events here over the years, but it still feels undiscovered. Every wedding here is unique and that’s a testament to how the house and team there make you feel.
If you decide to venture further afield, you have the town of Bruton close by, which is bursting with trendy places to eat and stay such as The Roth Bar & Grill, The Chapel Bruton and No. 1 Bruton.
Mapperton Estate, Dorset (image by Maryanne Weddings)
Mapperton is another hidden-gem wedding venue. With beautiful Italianate gardens, it gives the ever popular Euridge Manor a serious run for it’s money – plus the access is significantly easier! This is a marquee venue really – the grounds are just so beautiful, it feels mad not to use them and of course this gives you total flexibility with food and drink. The accommodation onsite is gorgeous – there are three charming cottages as well as the Manor House itself, sleeping around 25 people. If you need further accommodation, I can’t recommend the beautiful Mangerton House enough either, which is just short drive away and such a special place to host pre and post wedding events.
This is the best of coast and country, gorgeous grounds, dark skies, a stunning English country manor as the backdrop to your wedding day and with the coast just around the corner for sea swims, BBQs and general holiday vibes. This part of Dorset is very special and one your guests will adore having an excuse to come to.