Weddings fit for a royal: the fairytale castles in the UK where you can marry
With the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just around the corner, there is a touch of wedding fever in the air.
So if you're planning your own special day, or simply daydreaming about your future nuptials, here are a few stunning castle venues around the UK where you too can feel like royalty.
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Hide AdBlenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
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Enjoy a taste of royalty at this most spectacular of venues in Oxfordshire where you'll have a choice of venues to host the occasion, including The Great Hall, The Saloon and The Long Library, along with the beauty of more than 90 acres of formal gardens to capture some magical moments from the day.
Visit: Woodstock, OX20 1PP - blenheimpalace.com
Carlowrie Castle, West Lothian
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Nestled in the 32 acres of grounds, this glorious venue is perfect if you want a historic castle setting combined with modern luxury.
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Hide AdBoasting beautiful interiors, an Orangery which can accommodate up to 110 guests and a wonderfully secluded setting, it has all of the ingredients to make your nuptials unforgettable.
Visit: Boathouse Bridge Road, Kirkliston, EH29 9ES - carlowriecastle.co.uk
Walton Castle, Somerset
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Bring a bit of grandeur to your big day at this 17th century castle in Somerset, where luxury and historic elegance combine and panoramic countryside views are aplenty.
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Hide AdThe private venue boasts two large turrets which can accommodate up to 150 guests, or a marquee can be erected in the lawns for larger parties in excess of 400, so you can make the event as intimate or as lavish as you like.
Visit: Castle Road, Clevedon, BS21 7AA - waltoncastle.com
Swinton Park, Yorkshire
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Residing in an idyllic seculded setting amid 200 acres of parkland in the Yorkshire Dales, this castle hotel can be booked as a non-exclusive event for more intimate affair or hired exclusively, allowing you to take over the entire castle and its 32 bedrooms.
But if the lavish setting of the castle doesn't take your fancy, you can opt for a woodland wedding on the Swinton Bivouac estate and host your special day in the beauty of the great outdoors.
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Hide AdVisit: Swinton Estate, Swinton, Ripon, HG4 4JH - swintonestate.com
Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire
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If you want your wedding to be a grand affair, you'd be hard pushed to find a more magnificent venue than the hill-top setting of Belvoir Castle and it offers an array of locations for you to tie the knot.
From a traditional affair in the castle's chapel to the lakeside setting of Frog Hollow, you can enjoy feeling like royalty for the day at this enchanting castle.
Visit: Grantham, NG32 1PE - belvoircastle.com
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Hide AdCastle Goring, Sussex
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Owned by Lady Colin Campbell, the stunning castle in the Sussex and Worthing countryside sits surrounded by ancient woodland offering the feeling of peaceful seclusion, ideal for celebrating your special day with your nearest and dearest.
Visit: Arundel Road, Angmering, Worthing, BN13 3UN - castlegoring.com
Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
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Hide AdFamiliar to many from its starring appearance in the Harry Potter films, Alnwick Castle is sure to bring a bit of movie magic to your wedding day.
With three beautiful venues to choose from, from the splendour of the Guest Hall to the atmospheric 13th century Hulne Abbey, there's a setting to suit every couple.
Visit: Alnwick, NE66 1NQ - alnwickcastle.com
Hodsock Priory, Nottinghamshire
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Hide AdOccupying a fairytale setting amid 800 acres of countryside on the border of Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire, Hodsock Priory is steeped in history and once entertained Henry VIII, so it is sure to make you feel like royalty.
The venue also offers exclusivity allowing you to make it entirely your own for the day.
Visit: Blyth, Worksop, S81 0TY - hodsockpriory.com
Lumley Castle, County Durham
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Standing proud for more than 600 years, Lumley Castle boasts plenty of historic charm and sits surrounded by nine acres of sprawling parkland overlooking the River Wear, providing the most picture-perfect backdrop for your big day.
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Hide AdHere you can hold your ceremony, reception and evening celebrations, with lavish state rooms, elegant dining and outstanding service to ensure the event is a memorable one.
Visit: Chester le Street, DH3 4NX - lumleycastle.com
Belle Isle Castle, Northern Ireland
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Want the ultimate fairytale experience?
Escape to Northern Ireland's enchanting private island where you can soak up the old-worldly charm of the castle and bask in the most romantic of settings, surrounded by 470 acres of rolling hills and flowering meadows.
Visit: Lisbellaw, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, BT94 5HG - belle-isle.com