The Luxury Travel Directory

Ham House and Gardens is now owned by the National Trust, who describe the property as "unique in Europe as the most complete survival of 17th century fashion and power" Ham House overlooks the River Thames, in Ham in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Marble Hill House on the opposite bank of the river in Twickenham.

As you approach the property you are greeted rather appropriately by a statue of Father Thames crafted in Coade stone by John Bacon the younger. Meander around the beautiful Stuart gardens you will find the famous Cherry Garden, featuring lavender parterres flanked by two vaulted trellises of pleached hornbeam with a statue of Bacchus as a centre piece.

It was built in 1610 for Sir Thomas Vavasour. In 1626 it became the property of William Murray the "whipping boy" of Charles I. Murray remodelled the house, before it passed into the hands of perhaps it’s most infamous owner, his daughter Elizabeth, Lady Dysart, who through marriage became The Duchess of Lauderdale. Her legacy continues to this day not only with the extravagant work she had carried out to the house, but it is said that her spirit and that of her dog are still roaming the corridors of this mansion. Making it one of Britain’s most haunted buildings.

Weddings and Filming

Along as being a great place to visit, Ham House is often used as a filming location as well as a stylish wedding venue.

Ham House Resources

• Ham House Chauffeur Service
• Ham Wedding Car Hire
• Ham House Wikipedia entry

The Richmond Register office is located at 1, Spring Terrace, close to the centre of Richmond Upon Thames, Surrey. Featuring an elegant ceremony room which can accommodate 40 people. Fresh flowers, a comfortable waiting room, with French doors leading to a spacious garden, and a very private “secret garden”. There is a paved front area which is perfect for “confetti shots”, beneath the highest tree in Richmond. The venue also offers an exclusive Richmond certificate to commemorate your ceremony.

The registry office is located near to a large public car park, and well placed for wedding photographs beside Richmond Bridge and Richmond’s signature cobbled streets and alleyways.

Richmond Register Office
1, Spring Terrace
(corner of Mount Ararat/Paradise Roads)
Richmond Upon Thames
Surrey
TW9 1LW

Telephone: 020 8940 2853 or 020 8940 2651
Fax: 020 8940 8226
Official Website

Richmond Registry Office Resources

• Richmond Wedding Cars
• Surrey Wedding Cars

Woodlands Park Hotel is a stylish retreat in Cobham, Surrey. Oak panelled rooms and antiques take visitors back to it’s Victorian roots.

The hotel has a reputation for good cuisine and fine wines. The Oak Room holds an AA rosette. The Brasserie offers contemporary food in a more laid back fashion.

With 52 ensuite suites, the Hotel also hosts events and is used as a wedding venue.

Woodlands Park History

Woodlands Park House was built for Mr F.C. Bryant and designed by Rowland Plumbe in 1885. Bryant was the son of the founder of the match company, Bryant and May. Plumbe was commissioned to design a Gothic Style mansion, “with a free hand, unfettered in the slightest degree by economical considerations”. Woodlands Park became one of the first country houses with electric light, and was renowned for the grandeur of its oak panelled Grand Hall.

The Bryant family held regular weekend house parties and lavish dinners at Woodlands Park. The house soon became a centre for Edwardian Society in Surrey. Regular visitors included, the Prince of Wales (later, King Edward VII), Lillie Langtry and Oscar Wilde.

Over the years the house changed hands several times. Following extensive alterations, the house was re-opened as a hotel in 1981.

Woodlands Park Hotel
Woodlands Lane
Stoke D’Abernon
Cobham
Surrey
KT11 3QB

Tel: 0845 072 7581
Website

Kew Gardens was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. Over 250 years earlier, in 1752 Princess Augusta instructed her head gardener, to “compleat all that part of the Garden at Kew that is not yet finished in the manner proposed by the Plan and to keep all that is now finished”.

Over the years, and especially under the “superintendence” of Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820), Kew Gardens evolved into a world class centre of botany. Banks paid for his own passage and those of 8 companions on several collecting expeditions including, Captain James Cook’s round the world expedition in the Endeavour.

Today Kew Gardens is a popular tourist destination and is also available to hire for events and as a wedding venue.

Weddings at Kew Gardens

Cambridge Cottage, is Kew Garden’s only licensed premises for civil ceremonies and civil partnerships. A former royal residence that is ideal for wedding receptions of up to 80 guests.

The Orangery is one of Kew’s most striking venues and is ideal for evening wedding receptions of up to 200. During the summer, the Palace Pavilion Marquee is built next to Kew Palace and overlooks one of Kew’s lakes. It can seat up to 400 guests and is available for both day and evening hire.

Kew Gardens Resources

• Kew Gardens Chauffeur Travel

Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 3AB
Tel: 020 8332 5655
Website

Langshott Manor is a beautifully restored 16th century manor house set in a secluded country lane only eight minutes from London Gatwick Airport.

With elegant interiors featuring exposed beams, polished oak panelling and log fires, the Manor and surrounded by three acres of stunning gardens and an ancient moat. Sumptuous bedrooms and suites are decorated with individual artwork, featuring solid wood furniture, stylish fabrics and spacious, marble bathrooms plus the award winning Mulberry restaurant. It is easy to see why Langshott Manor is one of Surrey’s highest rated hotels.

Langshott Manor is also available to hire as a wedding venue for an exclusive use wedding celebration.

Langshott Manor,
Langshott
Horley,
Surrey,
RH6 9LN
01293 786680

Langshott Manor

Wonderfully located in Bagshot between Ascot, Sunningdale and Wentworth, the Pennyhill Park Hotel is only 45 minutes from the centre of London.
Featuring the award winning Latymer Restaurant and Michelin rated Michael Wignall, the hotel offers excellent dining along with an ‘Al Fresco’ area overlooking the Victorian herb and rose gardens

Set within 123 acres of rolling Surrey parkland, the hotel makes a secluded country house retreat. It has it’s own world class rugby and football pitch, a 9-hole golf course, jogging tracks and walking trails along with an award winning Spa.

It’s location and facilities have made it the hotel of choice for the England Rugby team, who used it under Sir Clive Woodward, and who have recently signed up again with the hotel until 2012. Mercedes-Benz used it for the location of their advertisment featuring Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso as they raced around it’s grounds. It has also appealed to other famous faces including; Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman, Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake.

Weddings at Pennyhill Park

The Pennyhill Park makes a wonderful wedding venue, from intimate ceremonies right up to lavish 160 guest affairs, the Pennyhill Park is an excellent wedding venue.

Pennyhill Park Hotel & The Spa,
London Road,
Bagshot,
Surrey
GU19 5EU
Tel: +44 (0) 1276 471774
Fax: +44 (0) 1276 473217

Website

Epsom Downs Racecourse is home to one of the most iconic events in the British sporting and social calendar – The Derby Festival. The two day festival of horse racing dates back to 1780 and is definitely a Great British Event.

The Derby

The Derby Stakes more often known as The Derby or the Epsom Derby, is acknowledged as being one of the most prestigious flat thoroughbred horse races in the world. The race takes place each year on the first weekend in June. The Derby is one of the five British Classic Races and is the second leg of the English Triple Crown, preceded by the 2,000 Guineas and followed by the St. Leger.

Epsom Downs houses the third largest racehorse training facility in the country.

Events at Epsom

The main building is the modern Queen’s Stand, which has breathtaking views over the famous racecourse and the beautiful Downs and London. There are seven main suites which stylishly accommodate between 10-400 guests. All rooms have balconies with views over the Epsom Downs and the City of London.

The Epsom Downs Wedding Venue

Epsom Downs was rated at no. 7 in the Independent’s 50 best wedding venues. There are five rooms licensed for civil ceremonies. The Queen’s Stand can host up to 250 guests for a civil or partnership ceremony and up to 400 for a reception. A fantastic wedding venue for anybody that enjoys a flutter.

Epsom Downs Racecourse,
Epsom Downs,
Surrey,
KT18 5LQ.

Tel: 01372 726311

Website

Epsom Derby Resources

• Epsom Derby Luxury Travel

Warren House is one of the finest, dedicated conference, training and meeting venues in the United Kingdom. This majestic country house is situated within the M25, which makes it well suited for travel from London. From it’s commanding position on the exclusive Coombe Estate close to Richmond Park, Warren House makes a great base for team building, conferences and much more.

Warren House was built in 1884, and in the early 1900s it was often visited by royalty. Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, George V and Queen Mary, often stayed at Warren House on private visits. King Edward’s bedroom is still there, along with a magnificent ballroom, modelled on the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.

Completely restored to it’s former glory, the house has also been brought right up to date with internet and WiFi throughout, along with a slew of other features. Warren House has 3 conference rooms, 6 meeting rooms, 45 bedrooms and a host of leisure facilities including an indoor swimming pool. The main dining room seats 80 people comfortably in the informal but elegant atmosphere of the former Persian Room.

The house is also available to hire as an exclusive wedding venue. Warren House have only a limited number of wedding dates available each year. Which is not too surprising since wedding parties have the exclusive use of this beautiful Victorian mansion and grounds.

Warren House
Warren Road,
Kingston-upon-Thames
Surrey
KT2 7HY

Tel: +44 (0)20 8547 1777
Fax: +44 (0)20 8547 1175

Website: Warren House

• Kingston Wedding Cars

Situated in the beautiful Virginia Waters, The Wentworth Club is the perfect setting for your wedding, surrounded by 700 acres of countryside.
Catering for smaller parties of 30 guests to larger parties of 220 guests, choose from a traditional, unique or themed menu with their renound Executive Head Chef, Stephen Tonkin.
The Wentworth Club holds a licence for civil marriages. They have several rooms for your reception which include The Ballroom, The Masters and Haliburton Rooms, The Club Lounge and The Ryder Cup and Curtis Cup Rooms.
You could even visit the Spa for the perfect pre-wedding relaxation.

Wentworth Club
Wentworth Drive
Virginia Water
Surrey
GU25 4LS

Tel: 01344 842201
Fax: 01344 842804

Wentworth Club Official Site