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.
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.
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.
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.
The Priests House
The Priests House is a charming wedding venue in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. It's a historic setting with stunning views of Barden Tower and the Upper Wharfedale valley. True to its name, back in the 16th-century it was a chapel. The Priests House is perfect for small and intimate wedding ceremonies and wedding breakfasts.
Thanks to its medieval charm, the venue feels very romantic, especially with features like open fires, rustic log beams, and quaint dressers. Its intimacy shines, particularly during the darker months when the warmth of real fires and candlelight sets the mood. For lovers of literature, The Priests House is located around 17 miles from Haworth, which is famously the childhood home of literature legends, the Brontë sisters. Ideal for a post-wedding mini-moon exploring this historic little village.
The Morritt Hotel
The Morritt Hotel, a delightful hotel wedding venue near Barnard Castle, holds an extra treat for literature enthusiasts in their Dickens Bar. Named after Charles Dickens, who is rumoured to have stayed at the hotel while writing Nicholas Nickleby, the bar is famous for its Dickensian-themed mural, a masterpiece painted by the acclaimed artist John Gilroy in the 1940s.
The Morritt offers stunning settings for intimate or grand celebrations. The experienced wedding team collaborates closely with couples, providing flexibility with ready-made packages or customisable options. With access to beautiful function rooms and gardens, the team at the venue ensure that each wedding receives the attention it deserves, combining historical charm with scenic beauty.
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.
Winters Barn
Canterbury is synonymous with Geoffrey Chaucer, who some call "the father of English Literature". If you're a lover of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, it's only natural to want to find a wedding venue set in this iconic location. Winters Barn is an idyllic setting located less than 10 minutes from the centre of Canterbury.
The enchanting barn at the venue features vaulted ceilings and exquisite surroundings. The peaceful grounds help you to feel transported out of the day to day, perfect for couples looking to escape the hustle and bustle of contemporary life.
Kingston Maurward House
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.
Oakley Hall Hotel
Set just outside of Basingstoke, the stunning Oakley Hall Hotel is a Georgian mansion wedding venue surrounded by picturesque and peaceful Hampshire countryside. The venue is ideal for both small and large weddings, with numerous wedding spaces available including the Garden Pavillion which is suitable for up to 350 guests. Historically, the grand building played host to many parties and celebrations during the height of the Regency era and was known to be frequently visited by Jane Austen, who used to walk to Oakley Hall to see her friends.
As well as having a history of being a favoured haunt of a legendary writer, literature loving couples have the opportunity to get married within The Library at the hotel. This is a stunning space which can host 84 guests for your wedding ceremony. Featuring a Georgian fireplace, intricate chandeliers, and mahogany bookshelves adorned with classic romantic novels, it feels private and intimate, perfect for book lovers to tie the knot.
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.
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.
Billesley Manor
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.
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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