Turning off the Aylesbury Road and heading up the tree-lined driveway, you watch the blur of fields pass you by on either side until you reach the opening. The building is striking, yet tranquil and you will feel an instant sense of calm. Set amongst private riverside grounds, you watch the sun bounce off the honey stone walls, and you realise that you have stumbled across something special.

Once the home of lovebirds Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, this secluded country retreat is the epitome of romance and now hosts luxury weddings for up to 250 guests.

Facilities and Capacity

Lavender leads you up to the rustic stone doorway, where you will explore the immeasurable character that Notley Abbey holds. Your journey starts in the Abbott's Hall, once Sir Laurence Olivier’s drawing room and host to a secret staircase that leads to the enchanting turret dating back to the 15th century. A perfectly intimate space for up to 110.

Continuing into the barn-like Monks’ Refectory. Here, floor-to-ceiling glass casts light onto eight hundred years of history, while glittering chandeliers add a dash of modern glamour. This captivating space can seat up to 164 guests for a ceremony or wedding breakfast, and host up to 250 guests for an evening reception.

The abbey’s grounds are a gift for summer weddings, complete with a walled garden for al fresco ceremonies and gardens stretching around the house, creating a number of backdrops for your wedding photos, too many to choose from, in fact. Mystery surrounds the venue, inside and out and you’re itching to see what else it has to offer.

As an exclusive-use venue, Notley Abbey becomes your home for the day (and night). As soon as your date is set, our wedding planning team will be at your service seven days a week, for guidance, support, and advice. Ask us anything!

This has been a place to celebrate since Laurence and Vivien invited the A-list of their day to party here (if walls could talk)... Now it’s your turn.

Thinking about making the most of it with a weekend wedding? Our wedding planning team can make it work for you! Get in touch and we will put all our knowledge and planning skills to make your weekding wedding a truly memorable occasion.

Accommodation

At the end of an eventful day, it’s good to know your beautiful Bridal Suite, complete with four poster bed, is just a few short steps away. 8 further bedrooms await your guests, meaning that your nearest and dearest can join you for breakfast the following morning to share their happy memories of your day.

Visiting Notley Abbey

Websites and brochures are all very well, but we all know that nothing beats meeting in real life to know whether you’ve found the one. We host several weekend Open Houses at each venue, each month, so that couples who are yet to decide on their wedding venue can visit for a tour, a chat, and a glass of something celebratory.

Please email us at yourday@harperweddings.co.uk or call us on 0345 130 9966 to book your appointment.