The Setting
Welcome to Kent’s best-hidden gem!
Tucked away down country lanes, the journey to the venue feels magical and quintessentially British. Yet the location is within easy reach of London, sitting just south of the M25, between Sevenoaks and Royal Tunbridge Wells.
Chiddingstone Castle is a beautiful historic country home set in 25 acres of informal grounds, including sweeping lawns, wild woodlands, a romantic courtyard rose garden, and breathtaking views of the Kent countryside. Although it is an impressive formal building, it has quaint charm and a rustic nature, and it is one of the most unique venues in Kent for an al fresco civil ceremony.
The Vibe
Ceremonies
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.
Getting Ready
The Four Poster Room is available all day as your personal space on the first floor. The vintage four-poster bed makes a beautiful hanging rail and photography backdrop; there are comfy chairs to relax in and furniture for hair and make-up to set up. The recently refurbished bathroom, with a roll-top bath, completes the suite. You can invite hair and make-up professionals to help you get ready on-site and watch your guests arrive for the wedding from a secluded vantage point. The room is yours for the day, a place to keep your belongings and an invaluable space to freshen up or step away from the spotlight for a moment to yourselves.
Tailor Your Day
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 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.
The Team
Chiddingstone Castle’s friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced team will support you throughout, from a full day and night of festivities to a small ceremony followed by a simple toast; whatever your wedding dream is, they will do their best to help make it happen—welcoming all couples, available for multicultural ceremonies, and accessible and dog-friendly means that everyone you love can be included on your special day.
Arrive in Style
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.
Local Accommodation
There is no on-site accommodation but plenty within walking distance in the local area, and the team can make recommendations.