Hedingham Castle rated most popular Castle Wedding Venue in UK

Image courtesy of Alex Buckland.

Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Essex, Hedingham Castle secures its position as the highest rated castle for weddings across the UK.

Following extensive research conducted by online business, StoryBoards, Hedingham Castle emerged as the nation's top-rated wedding venue. The comprehensive study, drawing data from popular wedding planning website, Hitched.co.uk, meticulously evaluated over 70 castle venues on the site.

With an impressive tally of 370 five-star reviews, Hedingham Castle topped the list, securing a perfect score of '10'. Demetra Lindsay, who owns the Hedingham estate with her husband Jason, expressed profound delight at this recognition, attributing the achievement to the unwavering dedication of the castle's exceptional team.

Demetra remarked, "We are completely over the moon to have been named the UK’s highest rated castle to get married in.

"To have nearly 400 five-star reviews on Hitched is both incredible and a true testament to the amazing team we have here at Hedingham.

"They go above and beyond every single day to ensure that the couples who get married at the castle really do have the best experience of their lives.

"So a huge thank you to the team and also a huge thank you to the couples who have taken the time to write those hundreds of reviews - we genuinely miss them when their weddings are over."

A summer wedding reception on the lawns of the Georgian House. Image courtesy of Alex Buckland.

The accolade places Hedingham Castle well ahead of renowned counterparts such as Cooling Castle Barn (with 260 5-star reviews), Hever Castle (with 130 5-star reviews), and Leeds Castle (with 80 5-star reviews) in Kent, which trailed behind in second, third, and fourth positions respectively. 

Additionally, Hedingham Castle outshone other esteemed landmarks including Highcliffe Castle in Dorset, Clearwell Castle in Cardiff and Chiddingstone Castle in Kent.

Owned by Jason and Demetra Lindsay, Hedingham Castle boasts a rich legacy intertwined with the illustrious history of the de Vere family, also known as the Earls of Oxford, of which Jason is a direct descendant. The couple inherited the estate in the late 1990s from Jason’s father, and moved there in 2004, working tirelessly to renovate the then-dilapidated Georgian House and Norman keep into what is now a thriving weddings and events business.

Couples choosing to marry at Hedingham say their vows under a vastly impressive double height Norman arch - one of the best preserved of its kind in Western Europe - and can then either hold their reception celebrations in the Castle or head over the Tudor bridge to the elegant Georgian Mansion and its adjoining ballroom marquee.

The 900-year-old Norman Keep. Image courtesy by Broadhouse Media.

Built in the 12th century, the 900-year-old iconic Norman keep not only serves as an impressive wedding location but also welcomes visitors with exciting events such as jousting and archery, outdoor theatre and cinema, alongside educational school visits. Last year, Jason and Demetra completed a 2-year project to install a bedroom, the Royal Chamber, at the very top of the castle - the only modern bedroom in the Norman Keep in the country. The Royal Chamber is available to hire on a Bed & Breakfast or Dinner Bed & Breakfast basis and is also available for couples to spend their wedding night. 

The estate in its entirety is available to hire exclusively for private use on selected dates in the year including Christmas and New Year.

The Royal Chamber. Image courtesy of Andy Griffin.