Limited-Time Offers & Deals (2)
Description
Historic exclusive-use hideaway
Notley Abbey is an exclusive-use historic wedding venue set on the Buckinghamshire–Oxfordshire border. Reached via a sweeping, tree-lined drive, this striking 13th-century abbey reveals itself amid countryside views and secluded riverside gardens. Steeped in history and once home to Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, Notley Abbey blends centuries of history with modern elegance. From elegant, intimate weddings to spectacular celebrations for up to 250 guests, Notley Abbey offers a truly unforgettable backdrop for your day. The entire house and grounds are exclusively yours for the day and night of your wedding. With licensed ceremony spaces both inside and out, you choose the setting that feels right for you.
The Ceremony
If walls could talk, the Abbott's Hall would have great tales to tell. Once Sir Laurence Olivier's drawing room, it features a hidden staircase leading to a 15th-century turret. Intimate and romantic, it's perfect for ceremonies of up to 110. For grand weddings, the Monks’ Refectory hosts up to 164 guests for ceremonies or wedding breakfasts and up to 250 for evening celebrations. Featuring historic stone walls and glass doors that flood the room with daylight, and elegant chandeliers, it effortlessly blends historic character with contemporary style. Dreaming of an outdoor ceremony? The Walled Garden provides a classic English backdrop, framed by ancient stone walls, abundant greenery, and a naturally romantic atmosphere.
Accommodation
As the music fades, retire to the Notley Suite – complete with a romantic four-poster bed and free standing bathtub – while your nearest and dearest retreat to one of nine beautifully appointed bedrooms, each named after the famous faces who've partied here over the years (Marilyn Monroe included). The following morning, gather for a relaxed breakfast together – the perfect chance to relive the highlights from your special day.
Harper Kitchens
Exceptional food is at the heart of celebrations at Notley Abbey. Harper Kitchens is led by Executive Chef Lionel Jouanet, who previously worked at The Dorchester, creating menus with a focus on flavour and seasonality. We work with trusted suppliers who share our focus on quality and provenance – local family butchers, artisan smokehouses, seasonal produce – to create generous, flavourful dishes that people remember long after the day.
Your wedding includes the Harper Tasting Experience: a chef's selection of starters, mains and desserts, alongside a range of drinks, so you can make the perfect choices for your day.
Your Day, Your Way
We believe your wedding should feel wonderfully personal – so we give you the tools and support to make it truly yours. You'll have your own online wedding planner, where you can manage details, track decisions, and keep everything in one place. You'll also have dedicated support from our in-house planning team, with meetings included throughout your journey from booking to the big day.
The Harper Weddings Collection
Notley Abbey is part of Harper Weddings, a family-owned company that also runs Botleys Mansion in Surrey and Cain Manor on the Surrey-Hampshire border. After more than 25 years of hosting weddings, we know how to create celebrations that reflect who you are as a couple - and that's what we'd love to help you create.
Visit Notley Abbey
Download our brochure and pricing from our website, or — better still — come and see Notley Abbey for yourself.
Message from the team
Experience
Overview of Notley Abbey
Wedding Ceremony & Reception
Wedding Venue Details
Wedding Catering
Cultural Specialists
Pricing for Notley Abbey
Reviews (71)
- HHannah & Luca16/12/2025Better than we could have ever dreamedBetter than we could have ever dreamedWe had the most wonderful day and it was better than we could have ever dreamed of. Everyone there on the day was amazing. Ellie was super organised and we were amazed how much she knew about the wedding since she had not been involved in the pre wedding planning process. On the day her energy was exactly what we needed super calm efficient and everything she did was perfect and meant me and Hannah could relax. The day went perfectly, the room space was gorgeous, and the food was impeccable. We had the most wonderful day and it was better than we could have ever dreamed of. Everyone there on the day was amazing. Ellie was super organised and we were amazed how much she knew about the wedding since she had not been involved in the pre wedding planning process. On the day her energy was exactly what we needed super calm efficient and everything she did was perfect and meant me and Hannah could relax. The day went perfectly, the room space was gorgeous, and the food was impeccable.
- HHelena & David08/12/2025Couldn't have asked for meCouldn't have asked for meWe had an absolutely incredible wedding day and were blown away not only by how beautiful Notley Abbey looked, but also how brilliant the team were and the way they helped the day run so smoothly. We couldn't have asked for anything more!We had an absolutely incredible wedding day and were blown away not only by how beautiful Notley Abbey looked, but also how brilliant the team were and the way they helped the day run so smoothly. We couldn't have asked for anything more!
- JJessica & Luke28/11/2025Out of this worldOut of this worldFrom the second we arrived at Notley back in 2021 we fell in love with the place and knew that was where we had to get married. Fast forward to November 7th 2025 and we had the most incredible day. Nothing was too much trouble for any of the team and the day was super relaxed, the drinks were constantly flowing, the food was out of this world incredible and they made our vision come to life. Thank you for making our dreams come true.From the second we arrived at Notley back in 2021 we fell in love with the place and knew that was where we had to get married. Fast forward to November 7th 2025 and we had the most incredible day. Nothing was too much trouble for any of the team and the day was super relaxed, the drinks were constantly flowing, the food was out of this world incredible and they made our vision come to life. Thank you for making our dreams come true.
- KKale & Matt27/11/2025SeamlessSeamlessAs soon as we drove down the impressive drive way we knew this was were we wanted to get married! Through planning I knew I could call at any time and ask questions and they helped make my anxiety less for the big day! Massive thank you to Maisie! She was amazing! Nothing was to much. From the moment we arrived we were looked after! The day was seamless I have never felt such a relaxed atmosphere! The team were attentive and made sure we didn’t need anything because it was already there!As soon as we drove down the impressive drive way we knew this was were we wanted to get married! Through planning I knew I could call at any time and ask questions and they helped make my anxiety less for the big day! Massive thank you to Maisie! She was amazing! Nothing was to much. From the moment we arrived we were looked after! The day was seamless I have never felt such a relaxed atmosphere! The team were attentive and made sure we didn’t need anything because it was already there!
- MMolly & George14/11/2025More than we could have ever imaginedMore than we could have ever imaginedThank you for all of your help, guidance and support throughout our whole wedding process and wedding day. Maisie was so helpful with the whole planning process and on the day Ellie and Natalie were incredible. We couldn’t have done it without them. We are so glad we chose to have our special day with you and it will always hold such a special place in our hearts. Thank you so so much for making our day more than we could have ever imagined. Thank you for all of your help, guidance and support throughout our whole wedding process and wedding day. Maisie was so helpful with the whole planning process and on the day Ellie and Natalie were incredible. We couldn’t have done it without them. We are so glad we chose to have our special day with you and it will always hold such a special place in our hearts. Thank you so so much for making our day more than we could have ever imagined.
- LLorraine & Andrew31/10/2025Dream wedding brought to lifeDream wedding brought to lifeAll the staff went above and beyond and were incredibly helpful. So many of our guests have since commented on how kind and attentive the staff were and how stunning the venue was, which speaks volumes. Some of our guests even told us this was the best wedding they had ever been to. Our wedding was everything we had dreamed of and more. Notley Abbey gave us not just a wedding venue, but the wedding we had imagined, brought to life in the most seamless and beautiful way.All the staff went above and beyond and were incredibly helpful. So many of our guests have since commented on how kind and attentive the staff were and how stunning the venue was, which speaks volumes. Some of our guests even told us this was the best wedding they had ever been to. Our wedding was everything we had dreamed of and more. Notley Abbey gave us not just a wedding venue, but the wedding we had imagined, brought to life in the most seamless and beautiful way.
- EEmily & Roman07/10/2025Beyond what we had dreamed ofBeyond what we had dreamed ofOur wedding day was beyond what we had dreamed of. The venue was stunning. The staff, especially Ellie and Maura, were incredibly helpful and really did minimise our stress. They were incredibly attentive and took good care of each of us, our families and the rest of guests. The service throughout the day and night was impeccable. To top it all off, the food was tasty.Our wedding day was beyond what we had dreamed of. The venue was stunning. The staff, especially Ellie and Maura, were incredibly helpful and really did minimise our stress. They were incredibly attentive and took good care of each of us, our families and the rest of guests. The service throughout the day and night was impeccable. To top it all off, the food was tasty.
- GGeraldin & David07/10/2025SeamlessSeamlessWords can’t fully capture how perfect the experience was. We truly felt taken care of, supported, and stress-free throughout the entire day. A special shoutout to Natalie and Ellie, who were absolutely wonderful - calm, kind, and so on top of every detail, as well as Maisie who helped us in the lead up to it. Notley Abbey gave us not just a venue, but the wedding we had imagined, brought to life in the most seamless and beautiful way.Words can’t fully capture how perfect the experience was. We truly felt taken care of, supported, and stress-free throughout the entire day. A special shoutout to Natalie and Ellie, who were absolutely wonderful - calm, kind, and so on top of every detail, as well as Maisie who helped us in the lead up to it. Notley Abbey gave us not just a venue, but the wedding we had imagined, brought to life in the most seamless and beautiful way.
- RRebecca & Dom24/09/2025No ask was too bigNo ask was too bigWe wanted to say a huge, huge thank you to you, and to everyone who was involved in helping our planning come to life, and especially to the team who were there on the day itself. From the second we arrived at Notley on the morning of our wedding we were taken care of extremely well, everything was incredibly smooth, the team were all so helpful and no ask was too big (we especially appreciated having a couple of canapés held back for us!). We can’t get over what an amazing day it was.We wanted to say a huge, huge thank you to you, and to everyone who was involved in helping our planning come to life, and especially to the team who were there on the day itself. From the second we arrived at Notley on the morning of our wedding we were taken care of extremely well, everything was incredibly smooth, the team were all so helpful and no ask was too big (we especially appreciated having a couple of canapés held back for us!). We can’t get over what an amazing day it was.
- VVictoria & Nicholas19/09/2025Looked after and cared forLooked after and cared forI cannot thank the team enough at Notley Abbey for their help with the wedding. Everything was easy from the planning and the day itself. The care and dedication they show to putting on the best day possible for you and your family is incredible. We had the most perfect day and felt so looked after and cared for - to the point we felt like guests at our own day! The biggest thank you to all the team and a special shoutout to Daisy, Maisie, Gemma and Natalie who went above and beyond for us.I cannot thank the team enough at Notley Abbey for their help with the wedding. Everything was easy from the planning and the day itself. The care and dedication they show to putting on the best day possible for you and your family is incredible. We had the most perfect day and felt so looked after and cared for - to the point we felt like guests at our own day! The biggest thank you to all the team and a special shoutout to Daisy, Maisie, Gemma and Natalie who went above and beyond for us.
Location & Contact Details for Notley Abbey
Describe the best wedding that happened at your venue?
Weddings at Notley are so much fun - the couples that get married there certainly know how to host a great party.
What is your No.1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Think outside the box. Do you want to choose a wedding venue like everyone else? We believe that there's more to choosing a venue than just falling in love with the bricks and mortar. Fall in love with the team, the grounds, the vibe and the menus too.
What’s your favourite personal touch you’ve seen at a wedding?
Flowers enhance a wedding, we know that, but when we see them hanging from beams over the top table in the Monks' Refectory, they do look rather special.
Describe your venue in 5 adjectives.
Elegant - Historic - Romantic - Glamorous - Unique
Where’s the best photo spot at your venue?
There are too many to share; from our magnificent tree-lined approach to the Walled Garden, the path leading up to the house and not forgetting our historic Monks' Refectory. Notley Abbey is full of wedding photography hot-spots. Bring your camera when you come to visit us.
Have you had any celebrity guest or wedding at your venue?
We're lucky enough to welcome celebrity guests to Notley Abbey on a frequent basis. As the venue was once owned by Sir Laurence Oliver and Vivien Leigh, you can imagine the celebrity guest lists who used to party in the house back in the day.
What’s your favourite canapé?
Do we have to choose just one? We like to indulge, and our Wagyu sliders with tomato relish & smoked cheddar are pretty morish.
What’s your favourite midnight treat?
We wouldn't say no to a strawberry dipped in indulgent chocolate from our chocolate fountain!
What is your venue's most unique feature?
Driving through the gates of any wedding venue is exciting, but at Notley Abbey, your dreams may instantly turn in to a reality because the tree-lined approach is truly spectacular and we expect you to arrive to your visit late, as our couples always want to stop and take a photo of the driveway before they reach the house.
What part of your business are you most proud of?
The Harper team help everything fall in to place; from the moment you request a brochure with us, to the morning you leave Notley Abbey as a married couple. We'll ensure you are fully supported during the throes of wedding planning and that the venue looks immaculate for your arrival, both inside and out.
