Auckland Castle
About Auckland Castle
A restored 900-year bishop's palace in County Durham, the seat of the Prince Bishops of Durham, for grand historic weddings.
Auckland Castle is a historic bishop's palace in Bishop Auckland, for nearly 900 years the seat of the Prince Bishops of Durham, now restored by The Auckland Project as a heritage wedding venue. It offers grand Gothic State Rooms, the panelled Long Dining Room hung with Zurbaran's twelve patriarchs, the pink Throne Room with its Gothic canopy and St Peter's Chapel, one of Europe's largest private chapels, with restored walled gardens and a historic deer park for a grand, regal County Durham wedding.
Auckland Castle is one of the most extraordinary wedding venues in the North of England, a bishop's palace that was, for nearly nine hundred years, the seat of the Prince Bishops of Durham, prince-rulers who held their own court, minted their own coin and governed the border country between England and Scotland. Restored by The Auckland Project, it opens today as a heritage attraction and a wedding venue, a working piece of English history handed whole to a single celebration.
The grand State Rooms are the heart of it. The panelled Long Dining Room is hung with Francisco de Zurbaran's Jacob and his Twelve Sons, a rare seventeenth-century Spanish cycle that has looked down on banquets here for nearly three centuries, and the pink Throne Room, beneath its white Gothic canopy, is the most theatrical room in the palace. Alongside them stands St Peter's Chapel, one of the largest private chapels in Europe, its Gothic nave rising to a painted ceiling and lit through tall lancet windows.
Couples marry in the State Rooms or beneath the chapel's soaring arches, dine in the Long Dining Room beneath the Zurbaran patriarchs, and celebrate across the palace, with the restored walled gardens and the historic deer park for drinks, photographs and quiet moments. It is an events venue rather than a hotel, so accommodation is at hotels and inns nearby in Bishop Auckland and across County Durham, and catering is by approved caterers, which makes the palace a grand, regal, deeply historic canvas for a wedding of real consequence.
Gallery
14 curated photographs
Films
Real weddings, estate tours and highlights from Auckland Castle
Auckland Castle
Exclusive Use
Auckland Castle is a historic bishop's palace, for nearly 900 years the seat of the Prince Bishops of Durham, now a restored heritage venue in Bishop Auckland. Couples marry in the grand State Rooms or in St Peter's Chapel, dine in the panelled Long Dining Room beneath Zurbaran's twelve patriarchs, and celebrate across the palace, with the walled gardens and deer park for photographs and approved caterers for the feast.
Venue Spaces
The State Rooms, the Long Dining Room, the Throne Room, St Peter's Chapel, walled gardens and a deer park.
The panelled Long Dining Room, hung with Zurbaran's Jacob and his Twelve Sons, the great banqueting room of the palace, set for a candlelit wedding breakfast beneath the patriarchs.
The pink Throne Room, beneath its white Gothic canopy, the most theatrical of the State Rooms, for a dramatic ceremony or reception.
The grand Gothic State Rooms, deep-walled and hung with paintings, a suite of historic rooms for the ceremony, drinks and reception.
St Peter's Chapel, one of the largest private chapels in Europe, a soaring Gothic nave rising to a painted ceiling, for the ceremony.
The restored walled gardens and the historic deer park, for outdoor drinks, photographs and quiet moments in the grounds.
Rooms & Accommodation
A heritage events venue; the grand State Rooms and chapel are yours, with accommodation at hotels nearby.
Auckland Castle is a heritage events venue rather than a hotel, so the grand rooms of the palace are the couple's for the celebration: the State Rooms, the panelled Long Dining Room, the pink Throne Room and St Peter's Chapel, moving from ceremony to dinner to dancing through nearly nine hundred years of history. Overnight accommodation is at hotels and inns nearby in Bishop Auckland and across County Durham, so guests stay minutes from the palace.
Dining
Approved caterers and full cultural catering, a candlelit feast in the Long Dining Room beneath Zurbaran.
Menu Style
Dietary
Drinks
Catering at Auckland Castle is by a list of approved caterers, which makes the food as flexible as the palace, from a formal seated wedding breakfast in the Long Dining Room to a lavish banquet, with full dietary and cultural catering possible. The wedding breakfast is served beneath Zurbaran's twelve patriarchs, candlelit along the panelled hall, drinks flow in the State Rooms and the walled gardens, and the celebration carries on across the grand rooms of the palace.
Contact & Location
Find us and plan your journey
What Couples Say
Rated 5 by 1 verified couple
Had a wonderful day visiting Auckland Castle. On entering the castle we were given a warm welcome, and every room was well presented, with lots to see, read and be inspired by. The shop and cafe were lovely, and all the staff were friendly, informative and very warm. I would definitely recommend visiting.
Guest Reviews
A wonderful day out
Had a wonderful day visiting Auckland Castle. On entering the castle we were given a warm welcome, and every room was well presented, with lots to see, read and be inspired by. The shop and cafe were lovely, and all the staff were friendly, informative and very warm. I would definitely recommend visiting.
FAQs
In the market place of Bishop Auckland, in the heart of County Durham. It is about twelve miles from Durham and around thirty minutes from Newcastle, near the East Coast Main Line and Newcastle Airport.
Yes. The grand rooms of the palace are hired for a wedding, giving you the State Rooms, the Long Dining Room, the Throne Room and St Peter's Chapel, with the walled gardens and deer park.
Up to around 150 in St Peter's Chapel and the State Rooms for a ceremony, and around 120 seated in the Long Dining Room for a wedding breakfast, with more standing for a reception.
In the grand State Rooms, beneath the Throne Room's Gothic canopy, or in St Peter's Chapel, one of the largest private chapels in Europe, a soaring Gothic nave.
Catering is by a list of approved caterers, so the food is flexible, from a formal seated wedding breakfast to a lavish banquet, with full dietary and cultural catering possible.
Auckland Castle is a heritage events venue rather than a hotel, so accommodation is at hotels and inns nearby in Bishop Auckland and across County Durham.
Yes, restored walled gardens and a historic deer park in the grounds, for outdoor drinks, photographs and quiet moments.
Auckland Castle is hired on a bespoke basis; pricing is quoted on enquiry around the date and plans. The LWD team makes the introduction.
Featured in The LWD Edit
Continue Exploring
Recently Viewed
"Auckland Castle is a historic bishop's palace in Bishop Auckland, for nearly 900 years the seat of the Prince Bishops of Durham, now restored by The Auckland Project as a heritage attraction and wedding venue. Its grand Gothic State Rooms, the Long Dining Room hung with Zurbaran's twelve patriarchs, the pink Throne Room and St Peter's Chapel host grand historic weddings, with walled gardens and a deer park in the grounds."
Auckland Castle
We use essential cookies to make our site work, and optional cookies to personalise your experience. By clicking Accept All, you agree to our use of cookies.
We use essential cookies to make our site work, and optional cookies to personalise content and improve your experience. By clicking Accept All, you agree to our use of cookies. · Cookie Policy
