Gilbert's White House and Gardens

Gilbert White’s sits in the Hampshire village of Selborne, with views across its meadow to Selborne Hanger, the wooded hillside rising beyond. Its trees create a different backdrop each season: fresh green in spring, dense woodland in summer, and rich colour in autumn.

The venue centres on Gilbert White’s House and Gardens, once home to the pioneering naturalist who spent decades studying the plants and wildlife around Selborne. Weddings can take place in the 16th-century barn, the historic house or the gardens, where couples can arrange a marquee or tipi. The grounds give guests room to step outside during the celebrations, while the wider South Downs countryside begins just beyond the village.

Gilbert White’s is licensed for ceremonies indoors and outdoors, with settings that suit different sizes and styles of weddings. The Barn and historic house offer indoor options, while the grounds include a wildflower meadow, formal gardens and a woodland copse.

In the meadow, couples can exchange vows with flowers and grasses around them and Selborne Hanger in view. The formal gardens offer a more traditional setting; the copse brings the ceremony beneath the trees. Each space changes through the year, from spring blossom to summer wildflowers and the colours of autumn. Couples can choose the spot that suits their plans, whether that means a small gathering in the house or an outdoor ceremony followed by a barn reception.

The 16th-century Barn hosts up to 100 seated guests or 150 standing. It has room for a wedding breakfast and an evening party, with views towards the meadow and access to 25 acres of gardens and grounds for drinks, photographs and time outdoors.

Barn hire runs across three days, including the afternoon before the wedding for setup and the following morning for takedown. Tables, chairs, fairy and festoon lighting, outdoor furniture, and games are included, along with a sound system, projector, kitchen facilities, toilets, and on-site parking. A dedicated event manager helps organise the day, and a staffed horsebox bar serves guests. Smaller receptions can take place in the historic house for up to 25 people; couples planning a larger or more individual layout can arrange a marquee in the grounds.

Stable Yard Cottage provides self-catering accommodation within Gilbert White’s historic house and grounds. It sleeps up to six people across three bedrooms and two bathrooms, giving a couple and their closest family or friends somewhere to stay beside the gardens and Barn.

For guests who would like to stay nearby, the surrounding area has self-catering cottages, country B&Bs, hotels and farm stays. Options are available in Selborne, Alton, Petersfield, and neighbouring villages, so guests can choose a stay that suits their plans for the wedding weekend.

Couples can choose from Gilbert White’s preferred catering partners or bring in another caterer. Lemon Stone Events, Wild Garlic Catering, Little Kitchen Co. and Long Do Catering all know the venue, while street food and food vans are welcome too. That flexibility allows anything from a seated wedding breakfast to a more informal meal later in the day.

The Barn has a fully stocked, staffed bar for drinks throughout the celebration. There are no corkage charges, so couples can also bring their own wine or champagne. Kitchen facilities are included with the hire, giving the chosen catering team a place to work from on the day.

Selborne is a village to explore on foot. Guests can visit its historic church, stop at the village pub, or follow the Zig Zag Path up Selborne Hanger for countryside views. Footpaths also lead through the surrounding woodland, meadows and the Lythes.

Further afield, the South Downs National Park offers walking and cycling routes, villages and historic houses. Guests staying for longer could visit Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, Hinton Ampner, Uppark or Queen Elizabeth Country Park, or spend time in nearby Alton and Petersfield. There is plenty to see without asking everyone to follow the same weekend plan.

Gilbert White’s is in the countryside near Selborne, so guests are best advised to travel by car or taxi. On-site parking is included with wedding hire, with space for a large number of cars.

Alton is the nearest railway station. Daytime buses run between Alton and Petersfield from Monday to Friday, so guests travelling by train may need to arrange a taxi for the final part of the journey.