13 Of The Best Wedding Venues In The Cotswolds
Ah, the Cotswolds. Known for its beyond charming villages, beautiful countryside, cute little shops and tearooms, gorgeous Cotswold stone and so much more. It’s no surprise that so many couples choose to get married in this lovely pocket of the UK. With venues in abundance, it’s a great place to pop down to for a weekend and get a host of different venue options on your itinerary. To help get you inspired on what might feature on yours, we’ve listed below 13 of the best wedding venues in the Cotswolds.
An award-winning barn located in the heart of it’s own secret valley and surrounded by 400 acres of Cotswold Hills, Kingscote Barn is a beautifully private wedding location. On arrival you’ll sweep down the venues private driveway and arrive at the 17th century Cotswold stone barn. It is an exclusive hire venue that can host up to 150 guests for the ceremony and reception, and up to 200 guests in the evening. It’s South facing terrace has breathtaking views across the valley and once everyone has danced the night away, they can retire to the on-site accommodation that hosts up to 50 guests.
A breathtaking country house that was once the home of Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace is beautifully maintained and is steeped in history. Featuring 18th century baroque architecture, along with 200 acres of landscaped and award-winning formal gardens, there are unlimited opportunities for lovely locations in which to host your day. With the ability to cater for both large extravagant weddings or smaller more intimate ones, the palace has six different venue spaces in which to host the various elements of your day. Alternatively you can also place a marquee within the grounds too, which is typically done for very large weddings there. The venue can be exclusively hired and can cater for anywhere between 12 - 2000 guests.
Located on Moreton-in-Marsh high street alongside quaint Cotswold tea shops and boutiques you’ll find the lovely Manor House Hotel. Dating back to the 16th century, it is full of character from arched windows to roaring log fires and a 300 year old mulberry tree that stands in the garden. For the wedding you’ll have sole use of one of the wings of the hotel, along with the large manicured walled garden and beautiful thatched summer house. The gardens are also home to Apple Cottage, a romantic retreat for two with a private hot tub that is a lovely relaxing spot for after the wedding day. The venue can host up to 135 guests and can sleep guests across their 35 on-site bedrooms.
Nestled in the Cotswolds within walking distance of the historic market town of Tetbury, The Tythe Barn is a lovely self contained ‘wedding village’. In addition to the barn itself you’ll find a central courtyard featuring 10 self catering cottages, 12 bed and breakfast rooms and Tythe house, with the ability to sleep up to 90 of your guests. It’s a wonderful set up that ensures you can enjoy the full weekend with all your guests in one place. The barn is sympathetically restored and has many of its original features, from exposed stone walls to wooden oak beams. However, lots of modern comforts have also been introduced including underfloor heating, well-equipped washrooms, wooden flooring, atmospheric lighting and tall glass entrance doors to let lots of light in.
Situated in the well-loved, quintessentially English town of Burford, you’ll find The Bay Tree Hotel whose history dates back to 1565. Expect to see lots of historical charm such as flagstone floors, roaring fires and a galleried staircase with original tapestries whilst also an injection of contemporary style. It is an ideal location for smaller exclusive use weddings, with the ability to host ceremonies and receptions for up to 90 guests, along with 21 bedrooms in which the guests can stay. It also has a lovely secret walled garden that you can use during the wedding too.
A traditional Cotswold stone barn that has been lovingly restored, The Barn at Berkeley provides a wonderful neutrally decorated yet interesting venue that can serve as a great blank canvas for your wedding day ideas. It is an exclusive use venue that has two large function rooms, a licensed bar, a walled garden and fairy light lit courtyard in which you can spread out the different elements of your day. It can host ceremonies and receptions for up to 150 guests and up to 300 evening guests.
Situated proudly on the banks of the River Coln in the lovely village of Bibury, this well known hotel is charming and elegant, seamlessly blending in with the beautiful surroundings. The building dates back to the 18th century and is filled with open log fireplaces, cosy corners and gorgeous views. The romantic riverside garden complete with a gentle trickling stream and summer house is licensed for wedding ceremonies. The hotel can host ceremonies and receptions for up to 110 guests and guests can stay on site across their 22 bedrooms and private retreat for two in the gardens.
This breathtaking house was originally a home in the 13th century and has remained in the family until 2003 when luckily for us, the family owners decided to open it up in all its glory as a wedding venue. During your wedding you can enjoy views over the Cotswolds countryside and River Severn, along with all the lovely grounds the venue has to offer. It is well set up for a full on house party of a wedding, with the ability to exclusively hire the venue along with a soundproof rammed earth section of the venue in which you can carry on partying until the early hours.
A luxury gem in the countryside, Cowley Manor has grand Italianate exteriors and bold iconic interiors, along with a multi award-winning spa that includes both an indoor and outdoor heated pool, that is guaranteed to impress your guests. It is located by the regency town of Cheltenham and can cater for weddings both large and small. From a small intimate wedding for up to 40 in their Garden Room to a whole house takeover for up to 200 guests. It has 31 bedrooms on-site for which to host your guests and plenty of further accommodation for guests within nearby Cheltenham too.
A cool and modern feeling barn, The Barn at Upcote provides lots of spaces to make the wedding suit you best, with the option of indoor and outdoor weddings. They have a flexible approach with a relaxed and friendly yet professional team to help you bring your ideas to life, catering for weddings both intimate and large without a minimum number of guests required. For larger weddings, they can host up to 110 for the ceremony and reception, and over 150 guests in the evening.
Approached via a sweeping driveway, Ellenborough Park is a country manor with a classic British elegance. Tucked within 90 acres of rustic parkland beneath Sleeve Hill, the venue features attractive interiors that give a nod to the hotel’s past but still feel very much in touch with modern tastes. They are licensed to host ceremonies of up to 140 guests and have 61 bedrooms on site in which your guests can stay.
As described by the great poet Algernon Charles Swinburne, Owlpen Manor in its private valley is the ‘paradise incomparable on Earth’, which is quite the accolade! This lovely venue dates back to 1446 and is the oldest licensed wedding barn in Gloucestershire. They offer a fully personalised wedding experience within their exclusive use venue, that can host ceremonies for up to 100 and receptions for between 20 to 200 guests.
A lovingly restored barn with its original beams and exposed stone, Oxleaze Barn was originally a grain store and holds lots of lovely old features including a large stone fireplace. Created using traditional Cotswold stone, it has its own private courtyard and terraced lawn for your guests to enjoy. It can host ceremonies and receptions for up to 120 guests and can increase to up to 150 guests in the evening. It’s a friendly, family-run business so expect lots of well-appreciated attention to detail.
