Auckland Castle

A 900-year palace, exclusively yours.

At a Glance

Venue Intelligence

Bishop Auckland, County Durham

A bishop's palace of nearly 900 years.

Auckland Castle is a historic bishop's palace in Bishop Auckland, for nearly nine hundred years the seat of the Prince Bishops of Durham, now restored by The Auckland Project as a heritage wedding venue. Couples marry in the grand State Rooms or in St Peter's Chapel, dine in the Long Dining Room beneath Zurbaran's twelve patriarchs, and celebrate across a working piece of English history.

Vows Beneath a Gothic Canopy.

Couples marry in the grand State Rooms, beneath the pink Throne Room's white Gothic canopy, or in St Peter's Chapel, its soaring nave rising to a painted ceiling and lit through tall lancet windows. Then a candlelit wedding breakfast in the Long Dining Room beneath Zurbaran's twelve patriarchs, drinks in the walled gardens, and a celebration across the palace, grand and regal at every turn.

Auckland Castle

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Images courtesy of Auckland Castle / The Auckland Project

Approved Caterers, a Palace Feast.

Catering is by a list of approved caterers, so the food is 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. The wedding breakfast is served beneath Zurbaran's twelve patriarchs, candlelit along the panelled hall, with drinks in the State Rooms and the walled gardens.

A Bishop's Palace

For nearly 900 years the seat of the Prince Bishops of Durham, now a restored heritage wedding venue.

The State Rooms

Grand Gothic rooms, the Long Dining Room hung with Zurbaran and the pink Throne Room, for the ceremony and feast.

St Peter's Chapel

One of the largest private chapels in Europe, a soaring Gothic nave for the ceremony.

Gardens & Deer Park

Restored walled gardens and a historic deer park in the grounds, for drinks and photographs.

Nearly Nine Hundred Years of History.

For most of a millennium, Auckland Castle was the seat of the Prince Bishops of Durham, prince-rulers who governed the border country with near-royal power. Restored by The Auckland Project, the palace opens today as a heritage attraction and wedding venue, its Gothic State Rooms, the Zurbaran cycle and St Peter's Chapel intact. Few venues in England let a couple marry inside history of quite this depth.

Accommodation

The Grand Rooms of the Palace, Yours for the Day.

Luxury Wedding Directory

Editorial

Location

Bishop Auckland, County Durham

Auckland Castle stands in the market place of Bishop Auckland, in the heart of County Durham, a restored bishop's palace with walled gardens and a deer park behind it. It is about twelve miles from the cathedral city of Durham and around thirty minutes from Newcastle, within easy reach of the East Coast Main Line and Newcastle Airport, so guests reach one of the North's most historic venues with ease, with hotels and inns nearby.

Pricing and What to Expect

A 900-year bishop's palace for a County Durham wedding.

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. Pricing is quoted on enquiry; the LWD team makes the introduction.

All pricing is indicative. Final investment varies by date, guest count, menu, and bespoke requirements. Contact the venue directly for a tailored proposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Auckland Castle