Best Wedding Venues in the Lake District and Cumbria
Newly updated for 2022 - with tips for the best wedding photography spots..
So you're asking yourself - "where are the best places to get married in the Lake District and Cumbria?" Have a look below for a little inspiration with my own personal shortlist. This isn't a 'top 10' list and the venues are not ranked in any order - it's subjective, based on my experiences as a Lake District Wedding Photographer...
Best Hotel Wedding Venue in the Lake District and Cumbria
The English Lake District has a huge number and range of hotels. Many have the advantage of providing everything you need for a beautiful Lake District wedding in one location - from wedding preparations, ceremony, reception and provide accommodation for your guests. A Lake District Hotel wedding with all your family has scope to be made into a long weekend with some rare quality time with the special people in your lives. Here are some of the best, with my comments for wedding photography highlights:
Abbey House Hotel - Furness Abbey, Armathwaite Hall Hotel - Bassenthwaite, The Belsfield Hotel - Windermere, Briery Wood Country House Hotel - Windermere, Broadoaks Country House Hotel - Windermere, Cragwood Country House Hotel - Windermere, Daffodil Hotel & Spa - Grasmere, Ennerdale Country House Hotel - Cleator, Forest Side Hotel - Grasmere, The Gilpin Hotel & Lake House - Windermere, Greenhill Hotel - Wigton, The Halston Hotel - Carlisle, Inn on the Lake - Glenridding Ullswater, Langdale Chase - Windermere, Leeming House - Ullswater, Low Wood Bay - Windermere, Ryebeck Country House - Windermere, The Samling Hotel - Windermere, Scafell Hotel - Borrowdale, Storrs Hall - Windermere, The Villa Levens - Kendal
Highlight - Armathwaite Hall Hotel
With sweeping views toward Bassenthwaite Lake, set in spacious grounds Armathwaite Hall Hotel is an amazing venue - the Hotel’s exterior is as beautiful as the characterful interior and there’s limitless scope for indoor and outdoor wedding day photography.
The grounds provide plenty of hidden corners for quiet photographs among the bluebells or rhododendron and outdoor ceremonies under the hotel’s gazebo make this a hugely versatile location. Those grand, mature trees give shelter if the weather turns and there’s wonderful indoor space if it rains and you need to focus on indoor photography.
The gazebo is a gift for any wedding photographer - so picturesque, you just cannot take a bad photograph - and at twilight with the sky turning a deepening blue it’s a breathtaking setting.
Best place for photographs - the Gazebo at twilight!
Best Boutique Wedding Venue in the Lake District and Cumbria
Perfect for an intimate family celebration or elopement - Cumbria and the Lake District is blessed with amazing small, boutique, boho elopement wedding venues. These gems range in size - some are scaleable with the addition of a marquee - all of them will melt you with the possibilities:
Blaithwaite House - Wigton, Briery Wood Country House Hotel - Windermere, Broadoaks Country House - Troutbeck, Casterton Grange - Kirkby Lonsdale, Cote How - Rydal, Eden Barn - Kirkby Stephen, Endenhall Estate - Penrith, The Gilpin - Windermere, Hiddenriver Cabins - Longtown, Leeming House - Ullswater, Low Hall The Lakes - Cockermouth, Low House - Armathwaite, Merewood Country House Hotel - Windermere, Roundthorn Country House - Penrith, Sawrey House Hotel - Hawkshead, Skitby House - Carlisle, The Swan - Newby Bridge, Three Hills Barn - Wigton Town Head Estate - Windermere, The Wild Boar - Windermere, Wasdale Head Inn - Wasdale
Highlight - Cragwood Country House Hotel
Cragwood Country House Hotel is a real hidden gem of the Lake District - it’s tucked away on the edge of Lake Windermere - as you approach and the twenty-acres of Cragwood’s estate opens out to welcome you - it’s easy to see why this is very special secret.
The Edwardian house itself is warm and charming - set among mature conifers with epic views over Lake Windermere with almost fairytale character - there are gorgeous art-deco details to the architecture and interior design.
For wedding photography - this is one of my favourite venues in the Lake District - the estate feels compact and in no time at all you can capture the feel of formal gardens, leafy woodland glades, majestic conifers and the Lake shoreline. Add this to your venue shortlist and on your first visit you’ll be convinced!
Best place for photographs - the secluded shoreline boathouse.
Highlight - Askham Hall
Askham Hall near Penrith takes my breath away every time I visit.. Photographing a wedding here is like being in a dream - I daren’t pinch myself, in case I wake up!
From bridal preparations amidst the beautiful character of the Hall to the gardens which balance country-garden charm with formal design and sculpted topiary - Askham Hall warms you from the inside - a perfect setting! The fairy-light illumination of the barn with it’s rustic textures of stone and oak beams transports a reception into a glowing night-time party as evening draws in.
For photographs - the gardens inspire all year round - from Spring when the lawn of fritillaries bursts to life, followed by the first daffodils and blossom of the year, then the garden erupts into Summer colour with amazing magnolias and alliums, then giving way to the burning amber of Autumn and even in Winter the conifers and Yew topiary provides a lush verdant background - love, so much love!
Best place for photographs: through mists of blossom in the orchard in Spring or through clouds of Cow parsley in mid-Summer
Best Castle Wedding Venue in the Lake District and Cumbria
Who wouldn’t be wowed by a castle on their wedding day - and thanks to that fabulous driver of ancient architecture - history.. the Lake District has some shining examples.
Appleby Castle - Appleby-in-Westmorland, Augill Castle - Kirkby Stephen, Greystoke Castle - Penrith, Muncaster Castle - Ravenglass
Highlight - Inn on the Lake - Glenridding, Ullswater
As I drive along the winding road toward the Inn on the Lake - Ullswater passing by, I’m always reminded of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ as I see the red sails of the sailboats come into view.. Arriving at the hotel feels like slipping back in time to a more gentile pace of life. The spacious grounds around Inn on the Lake allow a wonderful appreciation of the lakeland landscape and the views of the hills over Ullswater are always breathtaking.
There’s beautiful scope for wedding photography throughout the grounds, including one of the most picturesque piers in the Lake District.
Along the road a short distance is the gorgeous Church of Saint Patrick, if you’re searching for a Lake District church wedding and with the scope for a trip on the Ullswater Steamers to end the afternoon there’s no finer way to capture the spirit of the Lakes!
Best place for photographs - on the pier overlooking Ullswater.. any time of day!
Highlight - The Waterhead Hotel
The Waterhead Hotel at the southern end of Ambleside looks out onto perfect views over Windermere and the piers that lead from the shore transport you out over the water with amazing reflections.
The nearby Borrans Park offers delightful scope for photographs in outdoor space and beyond the park lies open countryside with views of the distant hills and even the remains of a 2nd century Roman fort!
Allow a little time to walk from the hotel to Borrans Park if you’re planning on visiting here for some photographs during your day - but you’ll be rewarded with wonderful hidden bays and rocky outcrops for some imaginative compositions.
And be ready to run outside at sunset when the light hits the water and the pier calls to your wedding photographer!
Best place for photographs: the pier, clearly! And rocky knolls in Borrans Park in late afternoon.
Best Gazebo Wedding Venue in the Lake District and Cumbria
Perfect for taking your celebrations outdoors - there are some amazing Gazebo wedding locations among the venues listed above - here are a few of the highlights:
Wedding Gazebo at Inn on the Lake, Wedding Gazebo at Armathwaite Hall, Wedding Gazebo at Lodor Falls Hotel
Best Eco-friendly Wedding Venue in the Lake District and Cumbria
If you’re conscious of finding an Eco-friendly venue for your Lake District wedding - here are some beautiful options who’s environmental ethos will complement the beauty of the Cumbrian landscape around you.. after-all, it’s the reason you’re there!
Silverholme Manor - Windermere, Hidden River Barn Cabins - Longtown, Castletown Woodland Weddings - Carlisle
Alternative Wedding Venues in the Lake District and Cumbria
There are some amazing alternative Lake District wedding venues set among the lofty peaks of Cumbria... here are the highlights worthy of considering for your wedding day:
Castletown Woodland Weddings - Rockcliffe Carlisle, Hidden River Cabbins - Longtown, Tullie House - Carlisle, Drybeck Farm - Armathwaite
Cruising..
And - wherever you choose your Lake District Wedding - don’t forget the scope for a steamer cruse on the Lake
Ullswater Steamers - Ullswater, Windermere Lake Cruises - Windermere, Steam Yacht Gondola - Coniston Water, Keswick Launch Co - Derwent Water
Best places to stay..
Either for your guests, while visiting the Lake District for planning your wedding or for a mini-moon afterwards - here’s the pick of Lake District wedding accommodation:
Bumble Choo Air BNB - Windermere, Townfoot Cottage Air BNB - Elterwater, Ambleside, Chaucer Retreat Apartment Air BNB - Keswick
Bonus Feature - Duncan’s tips for Pier / Jetty Photographs
If you long for an idyllic wedding photograph on a pier or jetty (who knows the difference anyway) - the Lake District is the place to come - here are my tips for the perfect pier photograph..
1. Watch your heels - barefoot, or wedges is the way to go. Those gaps between the boards on a pier are serious heel-grabbers.
2. Watch your veil - if you’re rocking a Cathedral-length veil.. these have an almost magnetic attraction to sneaking into the water!
3. Check the access - some piers might look like they’re in the perfect position, but can be for private use only - so a little homework beforehand pays off.
4. Piers are made for mooring - so don’t be surprised if your carefully chosen location has boats moored along it - a back up option might be a good idea.
5. Time of day can have a big impact - consider when you’ll be able to access the pier and where the sun will be. The best time is sunset - with epic reflections.
6. Stop! And take it in - yes, it’s an epic photograph, but it’s also a beautiful, tranquil moment to savour - so pause, turn, take it all in and make memories..
And yes - I’m serious about those heels!
Thank you for visiting and I hope this guide was useful - if you’ve enjoyed the photography here - and you’re currently searching for your wedding photographer - perhaps I can help with that too - come and have a chat with me. And to check out some of my other work - pop over and have a look through my blog here.
Duncan xx