Whether you’re a fan of the Romantic poets, a fantasy novel or even the Bard himself, there are plenty of wedding venues across the UK that are perfect for lovers of literature. From gorgeous country houses to city settings and grand castles, there are so many unique and wonderful places for you to say “I do” that have ties to famous authors, are set in locations that inspired literary works, or are just full of books!
So, here are some incredible venue suggestions for couples who love literature.
Castle Goring
Castle Goring has a unique presence in the Sussex countryside and an intriguing dual façade. The South side features a gorgeous Greco-Roman façade and the North side is Castellated Gothic. Previously owned by Romantic poet Percy Shelley and his wife Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, this venue has a wonderful connection to some of Britain’s most famous literary names.
Located in the South Downs National Park, this stunning 18th Century wedding venue is a luxurious and romantic haven for literature loving couples. Now owned by Lady Colin Campbell, everything about Castle Goring will provide a fabulous talking point for your guests and give you the most memorable wedding day.
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Clearwell Castle
Set in the Forest of Dean, which is said to have served as the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Clearwell Castle has a dominating presence. This enchanting venue provides the perfect setting for a wedding day straight out of a fantasy novel.
Embedded into the romantic canopies of the Forest, Clearwell Castle is elegant and grand. However, this Gloucestershire venue is also incredibly warm and welcoming. You’ll adore the stunning ballroom, roaring log fires, beautiful reception rooms, exceptional food and friendly service. What’s more, you and your partner can fully immerse yourselves into, and take those all important wedding photos, in the romantic setting that inspired many locations within Tolkien’s Middle Earth.
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The Bodleian Libraries
Whether you are something of a scholar or love a library setting, The Bodleian Libraries are an ideal setting for a literature lover to tie the knot! Set in the heart of Oxford, the Bodleian Libraries are world famous and renowned and as a wedding venue, the settings ooze elegance, charm and history. You can be married in some of their most famous rooms, including: Divinity School, Convocation House and Chancellor's Court.
Perfect for both small and grand events, The Bodleian Libraries will surely wow your guests when they join you to celebrate your wedding day. A bonus for couples hosting their wedding reception at The Bodleian Libraries is the ability to access the beautiful and romantic, Duke Humfreys Library. Hidden away at the very top of the Library, this gorgeous space is ideal for wedding photos that burst with colour and intimacy.
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Broadoaks Boutique Country House
William Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter and Samual Coleridge are just a few of the famous literary names that are associated with the Lake District. Broadoaks Boutique Country House is a romantic and welcoming wedding venue located on a stunning slice of Lakeland heaven. This venue sits atop a six-acre eerie, which overlooks the rolling hills of Windermere; perfect for those looking for a unique setting overlooking the landscape that inspired so many famous literary works.
At Broadoaks Boutique Country House, you can enjoy a memorable celebration with your friends and family surrounded by the wonderful Lake District countryside. So, your guests will have the most wonderful experience of your day in a truly breathtaking setting.
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Hotel Café Royal
There are countless locations in London that have connections to literature and one of the most famous is Hotel Café Royal. Located steps from Mayfair, Soho and St James, this elegant and luxurious hotel has been hosting weddings for over 150 years and is home to the ornate and intriguing Oscar Wilde Lounge.
Oscar Wilde was one of the hotel’s most famous patrons and it’s said to be where he fell in love with Lord Alfred Douglas. Once you have married in one of the venue's charming ceremony settings such as the Pompadour Ballroom, you can take a 10 minute stroll to Adelaide Street and have photos with "A Conversation with Oscar Wilde", the bust and bench dedicated to Wilde and his works, before heading back to enjoy your wedding reception celebrations.
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Kingston Maurward House
Image by Sadie Osborne Photography
Located just 2 miles from the birth place and home of Thomas Hardy where he wrote his early novels including Far From The Madding Crowd, Kingston Maurward House is a gorgeous stately home wedding venue. This stunning setting is embedded into the glorious Dorset countryside and has uninterrupted views of the beautiful, pastoral landscape that inspired Hardy’s novels.
The jewel in the crown of Kingston Maurward House is their gorgeous curated gardens. You and your guests will get full, exclusive access to these gardens. Plus, with a sparkling lake in the background and plenty of hidden nooks, there are so many picture-perfect locations for your wedding photos.
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The Reading Room
During Victorian times, reading rooms were seen as a desirable alternative to public houses, where villagers could visit and read books and newspapers. So, it seems fitting to include a venue which in a previous life was thought to be the village reading room. The Reading Room in Norfolk is a lovingly restored 17th century historic building located in the heart of the countryside.
A feature that’s not to be missed is their Walled Garden. Within, you’ll find an abundance of English flowers, including beautiful, fragrant roses and honeysuckle. Your guests can also enjoy a peaceful drinks reception on the lawns and be entertained by fabulous garden games in this gorgeous setting.
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Swynford Manor
Situated just 20 minutes from Cambridge, Swynford Manor is a gorgeous 18th Century manor house which has a rich history and literary connections. This charming setting was the home of Lord Byron’s sister, and the formidable Romantic poet was known to spend his summers here.
Now a stunning wedding venue, Swynford Manor is a hidden gem in the Cambridgeshire countryside. This luxurious setting is dripping in rural beauty, boasting immaculate gardens and beautiful ceremony and reception settings. It is perfect for intimate weddings of 20, up to larger celebrations for 150 people.
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Colwick Hall
If you are a lover of Lord Byron, his ancestral home in Nottingham, Colwick Hall, is also a beautiful wedding venue. This magnificent Palladian style Georgian mansion is breathtaking and nestled in over 60 acres of stunning countryside. It features a charming woodland and sparkling lake, the perfect locations for your wedding photos.
Whether you want to be married in the stunning 1776 Grand Ballroom, eat amazing food in Byron’s original dining room or dance the night away with your guests in the beautiful Lakeside Pavilion, there are so many amazing choices for your wedding at Colwick Hall. What’s more, this venue is perfect for weddings of all sizes, catering for guest lists of 12 to 500 people.
Interested in marrying at Colwick Hall?
Billesley Manor
Image by Steve Grogan Photography
Perfectly situated in the Warwickshire countryside, Billesley Manor is a gorgeous Elizabethan Manor House and stunning hotel wedding venue. Not only is this venue located in Shakespeare’s county, the Bard himself has ties to this charming setting. You can walk in William Shakespeare’s footsteps at Billesley Manor, as it is here that he wrote his comedy As You Like It in 1599.
This venue has everything you would expect from a gorgeous manor house. The luxurious interiors provide an exceptional wedding setting and stylish rooms for your guests to lay their heads after a night of partying. All of this, plus 11 acres of private grounds, an 11th century church and Victorian-era topiary garden, create the perfect, peaceful setting for your wedding day.
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Oxford Town Hall
Oxford is another location that is full to the brim with literary connections, from Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials to Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, as well as poets such as Shelley, Eliot and Auden, all of whom were educated at the city’s world famous university colleges. Oxford Town Hall is an ornate and central wedding venue, offering you the opportunity to marry in the heart of the City of Dreaming Spires.
Oxford Town Hall is steeped in the history and romance of this beautiful city. With 5 licensed wedding settings, you can hold both your wedding ceremony and reception at this wonderful venue with capacity for up to 500. Plus, by being in the centre of the action, you can have your photos with famous landmarks such as The Bodleian Library and the Bridge of Sighs.
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Howsham Hall
Image by Victoria Baker Weddings
Howsham Hall is a gorgeous Jacobean Manor and an ideal location for a wedding. Whether you are planning something intimate just for your closest friends and family, or a large, full weekend of sumptuous celebrations, Howsham Hall is the perfect location for your dream wedding day and is set within acres of gorgeous Yorkshire countryside.
Famously, the wild and unruly nature of the Yorkshire Moors provided Emily Brontë with endless inspiration for her novel, Wuthering Heights, and in particular the character of Heathcliff. At Howsham Hall you are just a stone’s throw away from this rugged wilderness, perfect for couples wanting to go straight from their wedding into a romantic mini-moon in the Yorkshire Moors.
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106 Pall Mall
Image courtesy of 106 Pall Mall
This is not just any library setting, but one that’s renowned to be one of the most beautiful rooms in London. The Library at 106 Pall Mall is famous for being one of the Queen Mother’s favourite rooms and is full to the brim with books. It truly is the ideal location for literature lovers to celebrate their big day.
Oozing in regal charm, this Grade I listed Georgian building is perfectly suited to weddings and steeped in centuries of history. With Venetian-inspired decor and facades, this city wedding venue in South West London has a variety of different function rooms that are ideal for weddings of all sizes. You can celebrate with your loved ones in this famous library room, which is ideal for lovers of reading and literature.
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