Chiddingstone Castle

Chiddingstone Castle is one of Kent’s best-hidden gems.

With 35 acres of informal gardens, sweeping lawns, wild woodland and breathtaking views of the Kent countryside, it’s exclusively yours for the most personal of castle weddings.

Set in the idyllic village of Chiddingstone and surrounded by rolling countryside, yet still within easy reach of London and the M25, Chiddingstone Castle is one of Kent’s finest historic houses and a much sought-after wedding venue.

Chiddingstone Castle’s friendly, knowledgeable and experienced team are on hand throughout, whether you’re planning a full day and night of celebrations or a simple toast after your vows. They welcome all couples, offer a setting for multicultural weddings, and ensure the castle is both accessible and dog-friendly, so everyone you love can be part of your day.

The Castle is fully licensed to conduct indoor and outdoor ceremonies, offering various location options for your ceremony.

Outside in the stunning Grade II* listed Victorian Orangery, your guests are seated on the lawn with rolling fields behind. Inside The Great Hall, in front of the delicate stained glass windows, with the dramatic wood panelled walls. For smaller weddings, The White Rose Room in all its grandeur. For those looking for a village church celebration, just a few minutes walk through the picturesque Castle grounds over the beautiful lake bridge, you will find St Mary’s in the Tudor Village of Chiddingstone.

Their in-house catering team can prepare a brunch platter for your bridal party and settle in for the morning. Watch your guests arrive for the wedding from a secluded vantage point. They can walk through the grounds to the Orangery, or cross the bridge over the lake to the Castle Inn for a pre-wedding tipple, or to the church ceremony at St Mary’s.

With the flexibility to suit all needs, the castle wedding coordinator teams up with couples to create a day as intimate, fun, glamorous, quirky or big and bold as you can imagine. They offer a no corkage charge policy and pride themselves on being open to ideas so that you can tailor and personalise the venue. The grounds have seen everything from Ferris wheels and carousels to horse parades, ring-bearing dogs, mini golf, magic acts, fireworks and birds of prey! There are plenty of photogenic spots around the castle and on the grounds for a picture-perfect wedding, including the beautiful lake bridge, long meadow grass, woodland trails and, of course, the Castle itself. Whether you want a social media blackout or are ready to embrace a live drone stream, your photographer, videographer, and guests will be wowed by the stunning backdrops.

Chiddingstone Castle can accommodate a range of guest numbers, from micro weddings to larger groups up to 80 for a wedding breakfast in the Great Hall, followed by an evening reception of up to 150. Plus, it features a selection of marquees that can be erected on The South Lawn, including a tipi, sail tent, or traditional marquee, giving you the freedom to invite up to 400 guests for the full day, from the ceremony through to the evening reception.

There is no on-site accommodation, but plenty within walking distance in the local area. The team can make arrangements for you as part of the all-inclusive package or provide a recommended list to share with your guests.

Evening catering options are as broad as your imagination at Chiddingstone Castle. The in-house catering team can discuss your creative inspiration. Travel the globe for original street-food options, gorgeous grazing stations, kebab stalls, cheese and charcuterie boards, bowl food, late-night munchies or enjoy watching the chef produce pizzas from their own ovens at the party.

External food vans for your evening reception can be a delicious, fun and cost-effective way to feed a large party. They’re happy to discuss options, though this is subject to approval, as they’re committed to maintaining excellent standards of hygiene. There is a supplementary facility fee of £250 plus VAT.

There are endless options for arriving at your ceremony in style. Some prefer to step out of the stunning South Door and simply gather their thoughts on the walk alongside the castle wall, while others treat themselves to a special car. This venue has even seen entrances with horses and helicopters! The driveway is suitable for any kind of wedding car, and the castle often hosts car events with classic cars and sports cars, so the route is well-tested.

For your guests, Chiddingstone Castle is around 25 minutes from the M25. Public transport is best served by train and taxi from the neighbouring stations of Hildenborough, Edenbridge and Tonbridge.