Cowdray House

Cowdray House is located at the heart of the 16,000-acre Cowdray Estate in West Sussex. It is surrounded by beautiful, manicured gardens and the rolling hills of the South Downs. At Cowdray House, timeless elegance blends with the gentle warmth of a former family home to create a peaceful, romantic wedding setting unlike any other.

Whether you’re looking to host an intimate gathering for 15 guests or a larger reception for up to 150, their 22 luxurious bedrooms and opulent reception rooms will ensure that your wedding day, weekend, or week-long stay will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

For the ceremony, whether an intimate outdoor gathering in the beautiful gardens or a grand event inside the house’s opulent interiors, Cowdray House offers a variety of options.

Couples can choose Buck Hall, located at the heart of the house, featuring a vaulted ceiling, an arched minstrels’ gallery, and a striking central fireplace. Other options include the elegant, wood-panelled Dining Room or the outdoor Summer Pavilion, which overlooks the manicured lawns and is ideal for warmer months. All these locations are licensed for civil ceremonies.

Cowdray House’s dedicated team, along with their esteemed suppliers, is experienced in planning and managing bespoke, prestigious events and will work closely with couples to bring their ceremony vision to life.

Cowdray House is an exclusive-use wedding venue, allowing all rooms and spaces to be transformed to suit your perfect day.

For the ceremony, whether it takes place in Buck Hall beneath the stunning vaulted ceiling or in the Summer Pavilion, the drinks reception can follow either outside on the manicured croquet lawn or inside two of the elegant reception rooms-the Library and Drawing Room-which open onto the front terrace. Here, guests can enjoy a glass of fizz while taking in the views of the gardens and the South Downs in the distance.

After the reception, drinks, and photos in the gardens, guests can move into Buck Hall for the wedding breakfast. Situated at the heart of the house, Buck Hall provides a magnificent setting for dinner and speeches, accommodating up to 150 guests and offering a beautiful backdrop for celebrating with loved ones. Alternatively, a marquee can be set up in the grounds for those preferring an outdoor space.

As night falls, live music and dancing take place in the Dining Room, where guests can celebrate and dance the night away until the early hours.

Cowdray House has 22 lavish bedrooms, each individually designed with opulent bathrooms, perfect for the wedding party to stay in during the festivities. The Diamond Suite, with its far-reaching views, large balcony, stunning bathroom and dressing room, is the perfect place for the bride and bridesmaids to get ready.

Guests can enjoy the amazing facilities when staying at Cowdray House, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a bowling alley, and a tennis court. There is also the opportunity to make use of the activities on the wider Estate, from a round of golf on the 18-hole championship course to fly fishing for brown trout on the River Rother, wildlife tours, and clay pigeon shooting.

Additional accommodation is also available across the Estate, including the newly refurbished luxury holiday cottages complete with hot tubs and far-reaching views, perfect for a mini-moon after the wedding or for guests considering a longer stay. There are also four self-catered cottages at Benbow Pond, private, secluded luxury treehouses easily accessible from The Walled Garden, and nearby Bed and Breakfast Accommodation at the Lodge.

The in-house catering team, The Yellow Kitchen, serves the best local and Estate-sourced produce where possible, making the most of Cowdray’s offerings.

You can also consider a selection of carefully chosen external caterers. Their events team will work closely with you to ensure your day unfolds exactly as you envisage it.

Sustainability means a lot to the Cowdray House team and the wider Cowdray Estate. They’re always looking for ways to improve their impact, from ensuring that all florals are sustainably sourced to their in-house caterers, The Yellow Kitchen, using locally sourced produce from the Estate.

The wider Cowdray Estate, nestled amongst the rolling hills of the beautiful South Downs National Park, has plenty to offer the wedding party and guests. This includes the award-winning Farm Shop, Café, and Lifestyle shop, exhilarating polo matches in the summer months on nearby Lawns, rounds of golf at the Cowdray Golf Club, and many enjoyable scenic walks across the Estate.

There is also plenty to do further afield, such as mountain biking in the South Downs, visiting West Wittering Beach, taking a stroll through the lovely village of Petworth, or stopping by one of the picturesque countryside pubs located nearby.

For those driving, entering the venue’s address into Google Maps will direct you along the A272 and to the gates of Cowdray House. After turning onto the drive, continue to the front of the house, where signage will guide you to the parking area.

Haslemere is the closest station for guests travelling by train, offering direct services to and from London. From the station, it is a quick 20-minute drive to the Cowdray Estate, and plenty of taxis are available.