Wedding venue inspiration - Historic venues

Alexandra Hotel and Restaurant, Dorset

This charming venue offers bags of old world charm with a healthy dose of stylish coastal chic thrown in – the perfect recipe for a big day to remember, The Georgian dower house was originally built in 1735 for the Countess Dowager Poulett as her seaside home. Set in a prime hillside position with breathtaking sea views, it boasts expansive lawns and a cobbled courtyard. It even has its own private 18th-century chapel, perfect for romantic 'I dos' with up to 60 loved ones. With an impressive barrel ceiling and original features it looks magical with flickering candlelight. Set in the popular seaside town of Lyme Regis there's a path that leads straight to the beach, a favourite with couples looking to steal away for photos on the famous Cobb harbour wall while their guests enjoy champagne and canapés on the lawn. The hotel offers a choice of licensed indoor wedding spaces too, including The Orangery with wide sea-facing doors leading down to the lawns. For larger celebrations, the Alexandra Dining Room offers an elegant ballroom experience and can seat up to 70 family and friends for the reception or 100 for a finger buffet.

Audleys Wood Hotel, Hampshire

Nestled in the Hampshire countryside, surrounded by woodland, this former hunting lodge oozes character and charm. The Victorian country mansion is warm and inviting, furnished with antiques and fine paintings to complement the elaborate carvings, ornate stonework and beautiful stained glass windows. There's a choice of licensed spaces inside and out for weddings large or small. The church-like Conservatory provides a wow-factor setting for your 'I dos'. With high vaulted ceilings and large windows overlooking the private grounds, it can host up to 100 ceremony guests. Celebrate afterwards in the elegant Garden Pavilion, only a stone's throw away in the hotel gardens, the light and airy space makes the most of the tranquil countryside views. With its own bar and a dreamy fairylight canopy you can host your wedding breakfast and reception here with up to 200 family and friends.

HMS Warrior, Hampshire

For a wedding day to remember HMS Warrior stands out from the crowd. Steeped in history, the magnificent ship is sure to wow your loved ones, with its original charm, character and Victorian workmanship. Guests can walk the decks at leisure, soaking up the atmosphere. Britain's first iron-hulled battleship, it offers an array of fascinating wedding spaces and standout photo opportunities. Licensed for ceremonies it can cater for weddings large or small. The Captain's Cabin provides a romantic setting for an intimate service with up to 20 loved ones, while the Officer's Half Deck can accommodate up to 95 for your 'I dos' and 60 for a formal reception. For larger celebrations, the main Gun Deck can seat up to 240 friends and family.

Royal Naval Club & Royal Albert Yacht Club, Hampshire

With views across Governors Green and the Garrison Church to the Solent and Isle of Wight, this prestigious venue provides a unique historic setting and a tailored service to suit a range of big-day needs. With six function rooms it can cater for everything from an intimate gathering for half a dozen loved ones to a formal dinner for more than 100 guests. The club prides itself on providing great food and offers a bespoke service tailored to suit you. So if there's a special dish you want on the big-day menu, you only have to ask. Licensed for civil ceremonies in the Trafalgar or Albert Rooms, you can host your whole day here or there's an evening-only party package available including sole use of the Spinnaker Bar, Osborne Ballroom and Trafalgar Dining Room for a private celebration.

Kingston Country Courtyard, Corfe Castle, Dorset

Picture your day in a stunning 16th-century Purbeck stone barn, with a canopy of twinkly lights? Then this stunning venue is sure to tick the box. Set across two courtyards, it offers a wealth of charms and can cater for 130 guests and up to 175 for the evening reception. Licensed for weddings indoors and out, it's a year-round winner. Great in the summer, with a choice of amazing outdoor spaces for romantic al fresco ceremonies, the versatile venue is just as magical for winter weddings. The barn offers the perfect mix of grandeur and intimacy and the Sawmill Restaurant is also available for exclusive use; ideal for the drinks reception when the weather's bad. You can spill out from the barn on to the upper courtyard, snuggle around a firepit and toast marshmallows and enjoy mulled local cider, wine or steaming mugs of chocolate from hot drink stations. There's a team of chefs onsite as well to cater to all your foodie needs. You can even hire the venue's snow machine to be sure of the perfect magical winter scene.

Osborne, Isle of Wight

Follow in the footsteps of a royal romance and marry at this romantic hotspot. Built as a family home by the sea for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the palatial venue was designed in the Italianate style to complement the island's mild climate and panoramic views over the Solent which reminded Prince Albert of the Bay of Naples. The venue echoes with the enduring love story of the royal couple and provides the perfect backdrop for a big-day with a difference. Catering for everything from intimate weddings to grand lavish celebrations, the possibilities are almost endless! Marry at Osborne and raise a toast surrounded by priceless exquisite artwork You can tie the knot in one of the opulent and lavishly decorated rooms – the largest being the Indian-themed Durbar room which can host up to 100 guests. Truly fit for a queen, it was built for state functions and decorated in an elaborate intricate style. The grounds and setting are equally impressive with spectacular terraces, ornate Victorian fountains, a stunning walled garden and even its own secluded private beach; providing a wealth of opportunities for weddings of all sizes indoors and out.

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Dorset

Escape to an exotic location surrounded by lush plants for a big-day with a difference. A nature-lovers dream, Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens is right on the Dorset coast too. Established more than 250 years ago, the magnificent 30-acre site is filled with rare and unusual plants from around the world. You can say 'I do' in the purpose-built wooden gazebo just across the lawn from the permanent luxury pavilion. Nestled in the heart of the gardens, the pavilion has been carefully designed to blend with the beautiful surroundings. Your very own oasis, it opens out into a private space accessed by its own entrance gate. With seating for 150 guests, it's hung with floor-length awnings and the wide doorways open out so you can make the most of the glorious setting.

St Giles House, Dorset

If you're on the hunt for a one-of-a-kind backdrop for your big day, this ancestral home in the Dorset countryside is hard to beat. A labour of love, the historic landmark has been sensitively restored, breathing new life into the historic building. Be prepared for plenty of stop-stare moments from the instant you arrive and catch your first glimpse of the place. Set in beautiful private parkland, surrounded by an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the award-winning venue sits in perfect harmony with the natural landscape. Grand, yet intimate and inviting, think sumptuous interiors, marble fireplaces and ancient leather-bound books. The house has been in the same family since the 15th century and has evolved over the generations to the treasure it is today. Licensed for ceremonies for up to 120 guests, you can take your pick from a number of fabulous rooms, all beautifully decorated or Wimborne St.Giles Church is just next door.

Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire

Celebrate your big day at Winchester Cathedral and you can be sure of a wealth of album-worthy photos. The cathedral's historic buildings and beautiful gardens offer a fabulous setting for your post-vows celebrations. Take your pick from two standout reception spaces; the secluded garden marquee and refectory or the stunning Wessex Centre in the cathedral's Inner Close. Enjoy the best of the old and the new and combine elegant heritage with your own modern twist. The lined ivory marquee, complete with carpet and chandeliers, provides a blank canvas to make your own and can host up to 120 guests. Set in the walled garden, overlooked by the cathedral, it's an idyllic spot for a drinks reception. The Wessex Centre can accommodate up to 72 people and is a striking modern building with its own private walled garden. Built from sustainable materials and locally sourced timber, the floor-to-ceiling windows add to the light and airy atmosphere and provide spectacular views of the cathedral too.

Gilbert White & The Oates Collections, Hampshire

Celebrate your wedding in an idyllic setting in the South Downs National Park. Gilbert White & The Oates Collections offers a distinctive English country backdrop with a range of romantic spaces. Set in 30 acres of heritage parkland and gardens; it's a breathtaking venue with endless photo opportunities and picturesque spots to wander through and enjoy. Inside the house the Great Parlour is a historic room for intimate ceremonies with up to 35 people or you can marry in the 16th-century Hampshire Barn with 100 loved ones or 150 with guests seated outside. The bandstand at the side is also licensed for outdoor ceremonies and offers wonderful views over the meadows. The barn boasts a magnificent oak beamed roof and period features with large double doors opening out to the parkland beyond. Festooned with fairylights and with nooks and crannies throughout, you can add your own personal touch with decorative details to suit your style. With space in front for outdoor games and seating, the bandstand makes a great chill-out area too and with a firepit to gather around in the evening, you can relax and watch the sun go down.

Stansted Park, Rowlands Castle, Hampshire

Set in more than 1,000 acres of the South Downs National Park, with far-reaching views across open countryside and ancient woodland, this former home of the Earls of Bessborough is ideal for those wanting a distinctive backdrop for their big day. The lavishly furnished Music Room is the ideal setting to say 'I do' and the private chapel within the grounds, with its blue vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows, is a magical place to have your marriage blessed. The historic grandeur of the Blue Drawing Room lends itself perfectly to a formal wedding breakfast while the south-facing lawns provide a quintessentially English setting for a marquee reception; great for larger parties so you can dine and dance into the night. Every wedding is different and couples have the freedom to have their day their way with anything from fabulous canapés to fish and chips, summer drinks on the portico to mulled wine by firelight. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or more extravagant affair, the flexible venue caters for weddings large or small.

Leweston, Dorset

Live the fairytale and host your wedding at this stunning venue. Steeped in history, Leweston Manor oozes character and style with Art Deco interiors and a wealth of wow factor wedding spaces. The variety of versatile, light and airy rooms boast their own unique charm and can be adapted to suit your big-day theme or style. The elegant Georgian styled building is sure to impress and with 46 acres of sweeping grounds, including the Nuns, walkway, Italian garden and the secret Belvedere, there's no shortage of great photo opportunities. You can tie the knot indoors or out. There are three ceremony spaces including the Belvedere, an idyllic setting flanked by woodlands.

Harry Warren House, Dorset

If you're looking for a picture postcard big-day setting, this coastal venue is hard to beat. Perfect for an intimate wedding the charming 19th-century country house is set in four acres of stunning grounds. Your guests are sure to be impressed as they round the bend in the drive to catch their first glimpse of the sweeping views over the bay – a real pinch-me moment! Weddings here are a bespoke experience, so you can celebrate your day, your way. The lawn overlooks the sea and with steps leading directly down to the sandy beach, perfect for stunning photos. You can exchange vows in the Sunken Garden looking out to sea or if you're planning a church service, the Norman Church of St Nicholas is only a five-minute walk away and can hold up to 120 people. Guests can park in the National Trust car park for the whole day and take a leisurely stroll to arrive at the house on foot for maximum impact from the panoramic views. Marquee receptions are held in the grounds, providing a blank canvas to create your own look and style with the historic house and beautiful bay as your backdrop.