20 Best Christmas Wedding Venues in the UK
Welcome to our seasonal edit of the best Christmas wedding venues; our round-up of 20 winter warmers that include everything from country pads to chic London hotels. Bridebook, the UK’s #1 wedding planning platform used by over 2.8 million couples, has pulled together the very best festive settings so you can find yours.
Whether you’re looking for barns surrounded by snow-dusted woodlands, dramatic castle venues for a glittering winter wonderland wedding, or a Georgian manor where you can ramp up the glam factor against a backdrop of open fires, twinkling chandeliers, and wood panelling, we’ve got them all right here.
Disclaimer: Venue and supplier availability, pricing, and offerings are subject to change. Always confirm details directly with the venue or supplier before booking.
What Makes a Venue Right for a Christmas Wedding?
Castle or church? Barn or banquet hall? Remember, some venues look dreamy on a sunny day but dreary when it’s overcast, so be sure to factor that in when you visit. Ahead, we’ve listed some of the key things to look out for when choosing a Christmas wedding venue:
- Working fireplaces and cosy corners. A roaring fire not only adds to the ambience but makes a beautiful focal point for photos.
- Festive décor already in place (or permitted). Remember, if the venue puts up its own tree and decorations, ask about the colour scheme to find out if it works with your wedding style as it’s unlikely to be able to be changed.
- Indoor ceremony space. Even if getting married outdoors is an option, this is key. You’ll also want to understand the layout of the venue to ensure a smooth transition throughout the day – the last thing you want is for guests to be in and out on a particularly wet, windy, or cold day.
- Open flame policy. Candles and sparklers can really add to the festive atmosphere, but some venues don’t permit them. Find out what your options are.
- Exclusive hire over the festive period. Many venues such as hotels, restaurants, pubs, and other spaces may be booked up with other festive bookings, such as corporate parties and Christmas dining events, so may not be able to offer exclusivity for your wedding party during this time. Always check if that’s something that’s important to you.
- Confirmed availability. Similarly, this may seem like an obvious one but always check the venue’s opening hours and availability around the festive period before you visit (and fall in love).
Can You Get Married on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve in the UK?
There are no legal restrictions when it comes to being able to marry on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve in the UK, but the truth is, finding a venue, registrar, or church willing and available to host a Christmas Day wedding will be very difficult and many couples who have their heart set on this date will have to agree and secure the date very far – sometimes years – in advance.
Register offices are closed on public holidays in the UK – including Christmas Day – so it’s practically impossible to have a civil ceremony in a register office on this date. This may also be the case for a Christmas Eve wedding.
You should also consider other logistics that might make getting married over these two days difficult for you and your guests; there are few suppliers and staff who will work Christmas Day in this sector (and if they are willing to, you should expect to pay significantly higher fees).
There is also little-to-no public transport running across the UK on Christmas Day, making it difficult for travelling guests to attend.
Best Barn & Rustic Venues for a Christmas Wedding
If you thought farms, barns and woodlands were just for summer, think again. These are some of our favourite Christmas barn wedding ideas…
1. South Farm, Hertfordshire
This enchanting working farm on the Hertfordshire-Cambridgeshire border, with its Grade II listed farmhouse, romantic Tudor barn and various outbuildings, looks exceptionally jolly during the festive season (think flickering candles, fairy lights and sprigs of mistletoe).
Only one event per weekend means the entire place is yours, so you can drift from drinks in the Drawing Room to the Old Dairy for the ceremony, and on to the Tudor Barn for the reception.
👉 See South Farm’s Bridebook Profile2. Coton House Farm, Staffordshire
With a cosy collection of barns and fairy-lit courtyards filled with log burners to make your own, Coton House Farm in Lichfield is as romantic as they come.
Marry in the rustic Oak Barn or the more intimate 17th century Dairy Barn, with traditional beams covered in mistletoe, while the spacious covered patio areas will give guests a chance to enjoy their reception drinks and canapés, and have a rest from the dance floor in the evening.
There’s even a modern bridal preparation suite on site.
👉 See Coton House Farm’s Bridebook Profile3. The Granary Estates, Suffolk
Tucked away on the borders of Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Norfolk, this enchanting estate features two beautifully restored barns, linked by a contemporary glass walkway and centred around a private courtyard.
There’s also plenty of luxe lodge accommodation for 26 of the wedding party to sleep on site. Whether you choose the intimate Flint Barn or the spacious and adaptable Main Barn, both spaces are photo-shoot ready and come alive with festive décor in the winter months.
👉 See The Granary Estates’ Bridebook Profile4. Hidden River Cabins, Cumbria
With a breathtaking riverside location, surrounded by ancient woodland, lies Hidden River Cabins – an estate that can cater for everything from intimate Christmas elopements to three-day festive extravaganzas.
The Hidden River Barn is incredibly versatile and looks spectacular when filled with fairy lights and fabulous floral installations; say your vows on the mezzanine for unrivalled views of the snow-dusted landscape in the winter.
For more intimate celebrations, the on-site cabins are also licensed for ceremonies and make the dreamiest accommodation for guests and your first night as newlyweds.
👉 See Hidden River Cabins’ Bridebook Profile5. Wold View Farm, Yorkshire
Looking for Christmas wedding venues in Yorkshire? This family-run venue offers pretty-as-a-postcard renovated barns and lodges in the rolling countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds, as well as on-site digs that can be yours for three whole days.
Tie the knot and celebrate beneath a canopy of fairy lights and take advantage of the venue’s inspired themed bars for a festive drinks reception your guests won’t forget in a hurry. Gin fizz, anyone?
👉 See Wold View Farm’s Bridebook ProfileBest Country House & Manor Venues for a Christmas Wedding
Dreaming of a quintessentially English Christmas wedding? You need to know about these rural hotspots. Snowball fights optional…
6. Gosfield Hall, Essex
This Georgian manor, set in more than 10 acres of parkland, looks magical with a dusting of snow – and for 24 hours, it’s all yours. Greet guests by the crackling log fire in the Grand Salon (the ornate hand-painted ceiling and baby grand piano only adds to the wow factor) and then say ‘I do’ in the cosy, oak-panelled gallery.
Finally, we defy you to find anywhere more opulent to get ready and spend your first night married than the gold and cream Rococo honeymoon suite, with its traditional four-poster bed and marble pillars.
👉 See Gosfield Hall’s Bridebook Profile7. Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa, Suffolk
If you’re on the hunt for a Christmas wedding venue in acres of space with all the details taken care of, then look no further. Stoke By Nayland Resort has two beautiful banqueting spaces plus the use of fairy-lit tipis within its 300 acres of ground.
The venue’s dedicated Winter Wonderland Wedding Package includes use of the interconnecting Constable Rooms – an exquisite setting for a festive bash with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the grounds – as well as all the essentials, light-up letters and use of a photo booth. Plus, with 80 hotel rooms and self-catered lodge apartments that sleep up to six, there’ll be no need for carriages at midnight.
👉 See Stoke by Nayland’s Bridebook Profile8. Ramster Hall, Surrey
This 17th century oak-beamed country house, surrounded by romantic private gardens, is bursting with rustic English charm.
Host your Christmas-themed banquet-style wedding breakfast in the converted barn, the Long Hall, which also connects to the Drawing Room for your ceremony and a pretty, light-filled courtyard. The vast inglenook fireplace looks wonderful decorated with seasonal flowers and will be lit in the colder months.
👉 See Ramster Hall’s Bridebook Profile9. Northbrook Park, Hampshire
Set within 120 acres of peaceful countryside, Northbrook Park is one of the chicest party pads in the UK – and looks no less striking in the winter months.
Each room is enchanting in its own way; for civil ceremonies, say your vows in front of the fireplace in the light-filled Vine Room before moving into the (heated) Orangery for dinner and dancing under a canopy of twinkling lights and mistletoe. The nearby Walled Gardens are perfect for evening strolls and capturing the most magical photos to conclude your night.
👉 See Northbrook Park’s Bridebook Profile10. Charlton Hall, Northumberland
In true Alice in Wonderland fashion, the owners of this unassuming 18th century house set over three floors has gone to town on the interiors: think House of Hackney wallpaper, animal busts, and witty neon signs paired with grandfather clocks and baroque fireplaces.
If you want something completely untraditional, this place is filled with cosy nooks for a festive celebration like no other. Spend your first night in the stable cottage and assign the six quirky guest suites to your guests.
👉 See Charlton Hall’s Bridebook ProfileBest Castle & Historic Estate Venues for a Christmas Wedding
With their wood-panelled interiors and ornate turrets, these grand settings are every inch the festive royal fantasy
11. Clearwell Castle, Gloucestershire
For a Christmas wedding venue that would fit perfectly in the pages of an Austen or Brontë novel, Clearwell Castle is the setting for you.
You’ll have the magnificent building and exquisite grounds all to yourself; to truly tick the period heroine box, exchange your vows in front of the ornate leaded windows of the Ballroom and pose for photos on the outdoor staircase overlooking the Forest of Dean countryside. Fairytale perfection.
👉 See Clearwell Castle’s Bridebook Profile12. Lympne Castle, Kent
Surrounded by lush greenery, with unrivalled views of the English Channel, lies one of England’s oldest and most enchanting castles, boasting a historic Great Hall and the West Wing Drawing Room just waiting to play backdrop to your jaw-dropping festive celebration.
You can say ‘I do’ surrounded by stunning architectural details, wood panelling, and grand leaded windows, or choose to say your vows in the beautifully restored on-site chapel.
👉 See Lympne Castle’s Bridebook Profile13. Achnagairn Castle, Scottish Highlands
A brilliant mix of glamour and seclusion, this castle hotel – despite being just 30 minutes from Inverness airport – feels a world away (in winter, when it’s covered in snow, you could be in Narnia).
The vaulted ballroom holds up to 160 people (or 260 for dancing), and there’s space for more than 100 to stay overnight in the hotel and the luxury lodges scattered across the estate.
👉 See Achnagairn Castle’s Bridebook Profile14. Dundas Castle, Edinburgh
Boasting a variety of indoor spaces for Christmas weddings alongside its beautiful, serene gardens, this incredible castle is equal parts amour and intrigue.
The Great Hall inside the medieval Auld Keep, with its vaulted ceiling and original stonework, is a breathtaking spot for a candle-lit ceremony, before a cosy champagne reception in front of the open fire in the Armoury. There’s a plethora of castle rooms for dinner and dancing too; the heated Pavilion holds 200, while the more intimate Stag Chamber inside the Auld Keep can seat 26.
👉 See Dundas Castle’s Bridebook Profile15. Hensol Castle, Cardiff
This Welsh castle, in 650 acres of rolling countryside, is every inch the Cinderella fantasy, with elegant arched windows, marble fireplaces, original wood panelling, and a magical 15-acre Serpentine lake that glistens come rain, snow or shine.
When it comes to nightfall, there’s 23 rooms to accommodate your guests, and the contemporary bridal suite has a king-size bed and separate lounge.
👉 See Hensol Castle’s Bridebook ProfileBest City & Hotel Venues for a Christmas Wedding
Whether a grand gathering or an intimate occasion, these are our picks for a festive celebration in the city
16. Claridge’s, London
The most romantic way to arrive at this iconic hotel is by horse and carriage, and you’ll be greeted by top hat-wearing doorman via your own private entrance. The art deco Ballroom is the largest of the spaces, with glittering handcrafted chandeliers and gilded columns, while for smaller dos, consider hiring the French Salon for martinis at candlelit tables and restored murals on the walls.
Plus, of course, at Christmas, the impressive tree is one of the most photographed in the capital and is always designed by a top-name artist.
👉 See Claridge’s Bridebook Profile17. The Grand Hotel Birmingham, West Midlands
Top of our list for festive buzz is the Grand Hotel Birmingham; an iconic building located right in the city centre. Sip bespoke Christmas cocktails, dine and dance in the Louis XIV-style Grand Ballroom with up to 300 guests, surrounded by double-height windows and original art deco chandeliers, while the semi-private balcony is the perfect spot for photos.
What’s more, the nearby Birmingham Cathedral, which looks truly spectacular at Christmastime, is available for ceremonies.
👉 See The Grand Hotel Birmingham’s Bridebook Profile18. The Randolph Hotel, Oxford
All the entertaining spaces at this hotel in the centre of Oxford are beautifully decorated in their own way. The Ballroom features not one but three glittering chandeliers and a black and white dance floor for a glitzy Christmas wedding, while the charming Lancaster Room is the perfect spot for a cosy civil ceremony with up to 80 guests.
Tip: Book the Royal Suite for your first night – it has a romantic living area with fireplace and a king-size bed.
👉 See The Randolph Hotel’s Bridebook Profile19. The County Hotel, Newcastle Upon Tyne
With a convenient location in the heart of the city, this Grade II listed property has a winning combo of heritage and modern features.
Choose from the rich oak-wood panelled Mozart Suite, which has stunning views of the Newcastle skyline, or the County Suite with its high ceilings and romantic stained-glass windows. Both are incredibly atmospheric in the colder months, especially when filled with flickering candlelight.
👉 See The County Hotel’s Bridebook Profile20. RSA House, London
This corner of calm in London’s West End has everything you could want for a dreamy festive celebration in the capital. The Georgian townhouse is a spot filled with history; step into the same corridors walked by Charles Dickens and marvel at the incredible masterpieces of famous artists, including James Barry and Mary Moser, as you drink and dine by candlelight.
Tie the knot in front of the open fireplace in the Benjamin Franklin Room – a large space flooded with daylight– before rounding things off nicely in the Great Room with its imposing domed glass ceiling, or the more intimate, candle-lit Vaults.
👉 See RSA House’s Bridebook ProfileReady to find your dream wedding venue?
Search wedding venues on Bridebook, browse by location and budget, and read real couple reviews.
Christmas Wedding Venues UK: FAQ
How much does it cost to hire a wedding venue at Christmas?
According to Bridebook’s UK Wedding Report, the average UK wedding venue costs £6,040 to hire (excluding catering), with most couples spending between £3,000 and £10,000 depending on venue type and package.
While the late autumn and winter months are generally considered off peak, couples may see a rise in prices in the weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The main competition comes from corporate Christmas parties and festive dining, which is why venues tend to raise their prices for weddings around this time.
Working out your wedding budget can help you decide the right time of year to get married.
How far in advance should I book a venue for a December wedding?
Generally, couples should look to book their wedding venue a year in advance, whatever season they’re getting married in, however, you may need to book a December wedding even earlier, around 12-24 months before the date, depending on how close to Christmas you’d like your wedding day.
For early December dates, it may be possible to get a late availability booking around 6-12 months ahead of the wedding.
Do wedding venues charge more for a Christmas wedding?
Yes, wedding venues will charge more for weddings close to Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Expect a ‘mini peak’ in prices from early to mid-December until after the first week of January.
What size of venue is best for a small winter wedding?
Lots of winter wedding venues will cater to small weddings and offer dedicated intimate wedding packages.
Look for a venue that has several spaces which can cater to weddings of different sizes, such as private dining rooms or drawing rooms. Or, if you want exclusivity, look for a venue that has a maximum capacity close to your guest count, such as a restaurant or bar.
Is it cheaper to get married in December than in summer?
December weddings are generally cheaper than summer weddings, however, this very much depends on the individual venue and how popular it is in the winter months. Couples will get the best savings on early December dates – dates closer to Christmas and New Year’s Eve tend to rise.
Why Trust Bridebook
Bridebook is the world’s #1 wedding planning platform, used by over 2.8 million couples. Our content is informed by real data from the Bridebook UK Wedding Report, which draws on responses from thousands of couples planning their weddings each year. Where expert input is included, contributors are named and their credentials verified. We update our articles regularly to ensure prices, statistics, and advice reflect current market conditions.
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