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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2020

Last update: October 2025

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve

Where untamed beauty meets timeless romance — exchange your vows in the grandeur of Port Lympne, where five-star luxury, sweeping views, and rare wildlife create a wedding experience like no other

Facilities

Licensed for civil ceremonies, this extraordinary estate boasts a selection of breathtaking indoor and outdoor venues. Exchange vows in the romantic garden pergola, nestled within the ancient walled garden, or host a glamorous reception in the elegant glass Orangery and its Gatsby-style terrace, flooded with natural light and timeless charm. The historic Mansion Hotel offers further refined spaces with period detail and sweeping views.

After your meal, treat your guests to a private safari through the reserve, home to some of the world’s most endangered animals — an unforgettable experience that sets your celebration apart.

However you imagine your wedding, Port Lympne promises a celebration that’s wild at heart, effortlessly luxurious, and utterly unforgettable

For an unforgettable first night as newlyweds, Port Lympne offers a range of extraordinary overnight stays. Retreat to the historic Mansion Hotel, where you can unwind in a beautifully restored bedroom with period charm and sweeping views. Alternatively, cozy up in a charming shepherd’s hut or experience the thrill of being just a whisker away from lions and tigers in a luxury lodge. Whichever you choose, your first night together will be nothing short of magical.

Services Offered

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve offers weddings designed to be as unique as the couples who celebrate here. Choose from a range of thoughtfully curated packages — including bespoke and last-minute options — all supported by a passionate, experienced events team dedicated to bringing your vision to life.

From the first enquiry to the final toast, the team will guide you through every step of your journey. Whether it's arranging a personalised menu tasting, uncovering exclusive experiences within the reserve, or helping you add those unforgettable touches, they're here to make the planning process seamless and exciting.

Ready to start your adventure? Get in touch today to secure your date and discover why Port Lympne is one of the most extraordinary wedding destinations in the country.

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Frequently asked questions

Venue type:

In the country
Small hotel
Unusual weddings
Stately home
Historic
Large hotel
Outdoor license
Unique weddings

Ceremony options:

Civil ceremony licence

Dining options:

Seated meal facilities
Corkage option
Alcohol licence
Buffet meal facilities
In-house catering

Evening entertainment:

Entertainment licence
Live band facilities
Evening reception facilities
DJ facilities

Overnight accommodation:

Overnight accommodation for wedding couple
Overnight accommodation for guests

Venue staff assistance:

Master of ceremonies/toastmaster
Wedding coordinator

Venue leisure facilities:

Fitness centre

Other features:

Exclusive use
Accessible facilities
Car parking
Helipad
Confetti permitted
Changing room for wedding guests
Orangery on site
illustration notebook

Do you have any questions?

Reviews for Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve

L
Louise Sent on 02/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Best wedding ever!

We went with the elopement package that Port Lympne offers and we really couldn’t have asked for a better day! We could have a maximum of 12 guests which was a lovely amount for an intimate wedding.

We had a gorgeous ceremony in the Moroccan Courtyard which was followed by reception drinks and a private ranger safari!

The staff at Port Lympne really couldn’t have been more attentive if they tried! The day was completely stress free for us as the staff just handled everything for us to ensure we could just enjoy the day. A special shoutout to Olivia Hughes who was attentive and responsive for us the whole way through the process from planning to the actual day!
A
Alex Sent on 08/10/2025
3.4 out of 5 rating

A lovely venue but disappointing professionalism for the high price

Overall we really enjoyed our wedding day at Port Lympne. It is an absolutely stunning venue, with a variety of different settings on the same site which really makes for a beautiful and fun day for guests. The safari option in particular really made the day stand out and made for some great memories!

The quality of the food and the drinks was really high, as were the facilities more broadly. The direct staff on the day (eg Charlotte) were very attentive and helpful, including assisting with guests who fell ill with heatstroke. The team were clearly working very hard in the background to help everything run smoothly.

However, there were a number of areas which were disappointing for us - both in the run up to the wedding and on the day itself. For the premium price paid for the event, we were a little surprised at these.

1) We and our guests found correspondence with the venue over email to be really challenging. In person all of the team were excellent and really friendly but over email we had challenges. In the lead-up to the wedding, we found the venue’s communication to be rather rigid and transactional. Email responses were often abrupt, focused more on enforcing policies than on helping us find solutions, which at times made the planning process unnecessarily painful.

2) Different teams at the venue were quite disjointed. Notably the event team and room bookings. The burden of this disjointedness fell on us as the couple and our guests - which led to some guests “wanting to scream” at how difficult the booking process was, and others giving up on the venue entirely and looking elsewhere for accommodation. Relatedly, on the day itself the accommodation team were requesting the bride and groom to sign check in forms in the middle of the day rather than resolving any requirements in advance.

3) The accommodation provided in the mansion itself was not equivalent to the quality of the venue more broadly. The rooms were dated both aesthetically and functionally (eg no aircon, decades old showers). Our guests who paid for these felt ripped off and as the couple we would rather have stayed elsewhere and not had the price of the room included in our overall package.

4) Perhaps most significantly for the wedding day. The accommodation team made some very basic errors in moving our luggage between different sites and mixing up items between guests. This was despite an extensive labelling exercise which we had to lead ourselves on the morning of the day. This resulted in i) the wrong luggage being delivered to certain rooms; and ii) some luggage not being delivered at all. This meant that when the bride needed to change outfits in the evening before the first dance, she couldn’t do so, and we lost about an hour of our day trying to chase down and resolve this issue. We and our guests ultimately had to track all of these items down ourselves as the staff had no urgency to help. Losing an hour and stressing over this was extremely disappointing given how basic moving luggage between rooms should be for a hotel.
C
Chloe Sent on 08/10/2025
4.8 out of 5 rating

Incredible day and venue!!

We can’t thank port lympne enough for the most incredible wedding day. The venue is absolutely stunning and a real wow factor for your guests with so many photo spots and the pergola/ orangery are already well decorated. The food is an amazing standard for a wedding venue we had so many compliments. The safari is a special experience and perfect way to keep your guests engaged. The staff are so wonderful - Stephanie, Olivia, Charlotte and their teams really know what they’re doing. If you want something a bit different and luxurious book port lympne!!
Tina
Tina Sent on 27/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Our dream wedding

Port Lympne was the first and only venue we looked at as we fell in love with the wonderful Mansion House straight away. We had an immediate rapport with Olivia who met us for our viewing and our minds were made up there and then.

Over the next few months, Olivia and her team were so helpful and were very kind & patient with our various emails and questions.

We had a wonderful, intimate wedding of just 20 guests - it was the perfect number to use the Long Room for the ceremony and the Spencer Roberts room for our wedding breakfast. Luckily the sun shone for us to have canapés on the terrace which was just perfect.

All staff were fantastic on the day and made us feel very special.

Thank you all x
R
Rachael Sent on 31/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating

A Truly Unforgettable Wedding Experience


We couldn’t have chosen a more stunning and unique venue for our wedding. From start to finish, our experience was absolutely incredible and exceeded every expectation we had. Getting married in the middle of a wildlife park made the day feel magical and unlike anything else we’d seen before. The setting itself is breathtaking — surrounded by incredible animals, beautiful scenery, and a venue that’s full of character and charm.

One of the highlights for both us and our guests was the private Safari tour, which was worth every penny. It added such a memorable touch to the day, giving everyone a chance to see the animals up close and capture some amazing photos. Speaking of photos, the opportunities around the park are endless — we now have the most spectacular wedding pictures with giraffes, zebras, and other wildlife in the background, which is something truly special.

The staff made the entire process seamless from beginning to end. Having one point of contact throughout the planning stages and on the day itself made everything so much easier and less stressful. Every question we had, no matter how big or small, was answered quickly and clearly. On the day, the whole team was warm, friendly, and more than happy to help with anything we needed. We’d like to give a special thank you to Olivia and Stephanie, who went above and beyond to make sure everything was exactly as we envisioned — we couldn’t have asked for better support.

Another lovely touch was the golf buggies provided for hotel guests, which allowed us to explore the park freely before and after the wedding day. Our guests loved the experience, and it made the stay even more enjoyable.

In terms of improvements, there were only a couple of very minor points worth mentioning — and they certainly didn’t take away from the overall experience. There was a small amount of work being carried out at the venue, but this stopped entirely during the ceremony, so there was no disruption or noise at all. It would also be helpful to have a trolley available to transport supplies from the car to the mansion house to save making multiple trips. Finally, there was a slight mix-up around agreed check-out times on the wedding day, but the staff resolved it quickly and efficiently.

Overall, this venue gave us the most perfect day we could have hoped for. The combination of a stunning location, incredible wildlife, excellent service, and truly unforgettable experiences made it a day we’ll cherish forever. If you’re looking for a wedding venue that’s unique, picturesque, and full of charm, we couldn’t recommend it highly enough
Lily
Lily Sent on 29/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful venue, amazing experience

This was the first (and last) venue we toured, we knew it was perfect. Ceyda and her team were very knowledgeable and welcoming and we knew we had to get married at Port Lympne.

The lead up to the day was well organised (though their spreadsheet organisation could be tightened up - but that's a very small complaint for what was a perfect day!). We had multiple meetings, video calls and email correspondence in the lead up and they never made us feel like they were busy with anyone else's wedding.

The catering was phenomenal - my husband has been trying to recreate the chicken and mash (it was more sophisticated than this!) since we first tried and and hasn't come close.

The day was brilliant, we chose to get married under the arches rather than in the Moroccan Courtyard and I'm glad we did this! They made sure the groom didn't see me beforehand and the walk round was beautiful. They blocked it off to members of the public couldn't interfere while the park was still open. However, it is always lovely being told you're a fairy princess by a toddler!

All the vendors said that the venue staff were polite, kind and friendly, and very responsive. It was brilliant to be able to let them get on with their jobs and not to have to micromanage each part of the wedding planning.

The safari was a roaring (!) success and the guests LOVED it! It was possibly the highlight of the day. We got incredible photographs and a unique memory of the day.

The evening was also smooth and well planned, handed over to someone else who ran the show really well. My bridesmaid needed a charger, and one of the staff members brought out his mega camping charger for her to borrow. Every single person went above and beyond to make our day special and I'm so grateful.

Lastly!! We expected the venue to be extortionate, but it was actually reasonably priced considering they do all the catering and the venue and it was less than half our overall budget (it's still expensive but we got higher quotes from venues with no catering or safaris!)
S
Sam Sent on 18/07/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful, unique and memorable venue!

We had our dream wedding at Port Lympne on 6 June and we could not have wished for a more beautiful and unique venue, with such lovely and accommodating staff!

It's difficult to put into words how thankful and impressed we are with everything they did. They were brilliant, meticulous and lovely to work with from start to finish.

The whole team was brilliant, but in particular Stephanie, who helped us plan and supported us on the day too (including fluffing up my wife's dress on the way to the ceremony!) We also wanted to thank Charlotte and Chris for running a very smooth operation on the day, which meant we could relax and soak up every moment without having to worry.

There were so many really nice touches we weren't expecting, such as how they moved some of our table centre decorations to our cake table ahead of the evening reception, which looked great!

If only we could re-live it all again!

All of our guests have said how fantastic, organised and lovely they all were. And that applies to everyone, including the gardeners who we chatted to as they were mowing the lawn the day before, and the bartenders and front of house staff - we loved that they were dancing and singing along to our band in the evening!

The food was also delicious and plentiful - no one went hungry!

The safari was also amazing and added a unique touch. We love animals so it was a perfect match to our personalities. It was great to have a South African driver/guide too, who made it feel even more authentic!

We could not have wished for a more magical and beautiful day. We plan to come back regularly, including on our future anniversaries, to celebrate and reminisce.
T Clark
T Clark Sent on 16/07/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Venue!

We had the most amazing wedding day here! Everyone was so helpful, the space was absolutely beautiful, and the food was amazing. We haven't heard a single comment from any guest that was anything less than hugely positive and we got to just enjoy such a magical day. Thank you!
Bethany
Bethany Sent on 11/07/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful wedding venue

We chose Port Lympne for our June 2025 wedding this year. The wedding coordinators Olivia and Charlotte were absolutely brilliant, they held regular meetings throughout the year and ensured we had the exact wedding we wanted. The day ran smoothly and guest experiance was of the most importance, though for me, the day went super quickly, I was still able to recognise all the hard work and effort the team were putting in.

I dont think anyone would regret chosing this venue, its truly magical, the food was perfection and the safari experiance adds a unique touch.
Isabelle
Isabelle Sent on 17/06/2025
4.8 out of 5 rating

Unique and a lot of fun

The safari was amazing and so unique. The venue itself is beautiful and everything is close together. The staff are so helpful and accommodating. The food is also amazing. The venue helped make the day stress-free and super fun!
Ollie
Ollie Sent on 17/06/2025
4.8 out of 5 rating

A worry-free and perfect day.

It was the wedding we dreamed of, and was very memorable. We've had nothing but compliments from everyone who attended. It's a stunning location with very accommodating staff. The safari addition was also unique, and everything was placed close together for our guests. Everything was also very well organised, which made planning seamless for us.

If you book Port Lympne (and we strongly advise that you do!), let your wedding coordinator guide you, and work as closely as you can with the venue leading up to the day - you will undoubtedly get the most perfect and worry-free wedding this way.
Charlotte
Charlotte Sent on 14/05/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The best day of our lives!

I honestly can't think of a better wedding venue than Port Lympne. It is unique, truly beautiful and has absolutely stunning views.

We were blown away by the beauty of the venue from the moment we saw it. It is decorated to such a high standard and just so beautiful. Every part is different, but equally as stunning. We loved the fact that the ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast were all hosted in different parts of the venue, and the best part is, it is so beautifully decorated you barely need to add much more to it. All of our guests commented on how stunning the venue was and some even said it was the best wedding venue they had been to.

Port Lympne is also unique as you are surrounded by animals, which our younger guests loved. Where else can you take your guests on a safari on your wedding day?! After having it as part of our day, I honestly can't imagine having a wedding without it. It is a lovely experience to share with our closest family and friends and it also meant that there were no awkward period where guests are just standing around, as the room is changed round ready for the evening reception while you are out.

The team at Port Lympne were so so good, both in the lead up to the wedding and on the day. They will go above and beyond to ensure you have a special day. From the moment you book, you feel like everything is under control, which is so important when you are a bride to be. Queries were always answered promptly, and I appreciated having a few different meetings before the day to run through everything. We went through in such detail it really help to reassure me.

On the day, the team work so hard behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly. We asked for ribbons tied around the napkins as place names, which took quite a bit of time, but the team set it all up with no hesitation the day before the wedding. Everything we asked for was set up and ready, meaning we didn't have to do any of it ourselves. They managed to pull together my vision perfectly, without me even being there. The food was delicious and there was plenty of it. We didn't need to worry that guests were going hungry! All vegans, vegetarians and one guest who had a food intolerance were catered for.

Having the accomodation on site is a great bonus, and meant that we could make a whole weekend of it with family and friends. Driving round in our golf buggies together the day before the wedding was so special.

Overall, choosing Port Lympne as our venue was the best decision we made in our wedding process. We would do it all over again if we could. I couldn't imagine having got married anywhere else, and we look forward to coming back to visit again in years to come.

Chris
Chris Sent on 29/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Dream wedding experience!

The team at Port Lympne were absolutely phenomenal. Months of planning and working with us to ensure our big day would go off without any issues, and it led to a really stress-free day for the both of us, allowing us to fully enjoy our wedding day.

There are far too many things to mention, it’s simply impossible to fully cover the scope of everything they have done for us as part of our wedding.

Guests were raving about pretty much every aspect of the day, and many said it was the best wedding they’d ever been to and probably will ever go to. Quite a few of the vendors made a point of communicating a similar sentiment to us as well!

Comminication is unparalleled, they will do everything they possible can to accommodate any request you may have, and worked tirelessly to provide us with an amazing experience.

We really did get to have a dream wedding, far beyond anything we could have ever imagined.

An immense thank you to everyone, the staff on-site, logistics team, event coordinators, etc… everyone came together to put us first and make the day the most amazing day of our lives.
Rachel & Dillon
Rachel Sent on 29/01/2025
3.4 out of 5 rating

Incredible Venue with amazing potential, need for experienced staff

Port Lympne is an incredible venue, such a unique and special location for your special day. We had spent our first weekend away as a couple there so it was great to go back 6 years later to get married.
All of our guests loved the venue and the day, and they still talk about the safari and how incredible it was.
Sadly for us, we were let down by the operations team on the day which caused unnecessary stress. The event team were great in the build up, with a few minor issues due to limited flexibility on their end. We also had about 3 different main points of contact due to staff turnover and therefore the package we agreed to and had changed and led to tense discussions. The issues for us arose on the day where the event team handed over the wedding to the operations team who we hadn't met and it seemed to be the first time they had heard of our wedding. Despite handing them a detailed folder explaining how the tables should be laid out, seating plans and all the other essentials, they made numerous mistakes resulting in the wedding party having to fix many of these just before the bride arrived! A few of our suppliers commented how it felt like the venue mustn't have had many weddings due to some of the issues on the day.

However, despite all of these challenges, everything else was magical. The venue spaces are incredible and the food was exceptional. The safari was a real highlight for us and all the guests.
E
Edmund Sent on 21/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Honestly, the best day of our lives.

We couldn’t have chosen a more magical venue for our wedding than Port Lympne. The setting was absolutely breathtaking—our guests were in awe of the views and the atmosphere - and that was before the wedding started!

The team at Port Lympne went above and beyond to make sure every detail was perfect, allowing us to enjoy every moment without a worry. The pergola and the orangery looked phenomenal in sun!

provided such a charming space for our reception. The food was exceptional, tailored to our tastes, and so many of our guests commented on how delicious it was.

One of the highlights was incorporating the wildlife reserve into our day. After the meal all of our guests got on trucks for a guided safari, which they absolutely loved—it added such a unique and memorable touch to the whole experience.

We couldn’t recommend Port Lympne enough. It was truly the perfect venue, and we’ll cherish the memories of our special day forever.
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Did the reviews win you over?

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve Real Weddings

Vicky & Matt
15 photos · 25/01/2025
Louise & Matt
18 photos · 25/09/2024
Cecile & Ash
53 photos · 15/09/2024
Stacey & Marcus
36 photos · 30/05/2024
Paige & Max
20 photos · 29/07/2023
Leane & Dan
71 photos · 01/06/2019

Deals

Your events

15 Nov
Open Door

If you got engaged recently and you're dreaming of your big day in 2026 or 2027, but need some help getting started, we'd love to see you at our wedding open day on Sunday 6th July 2025!

What’s in store during the day:

  • Relaxed tours of the venues and grounds, including the Pergola & Orangery
  • A warm welcome by our Resident Toastmaster and plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

The Orangery will be set for a wedding styled by MimiFleur.

Get in touch to confirm your place - reservations are required!

Date: From 15/11/2025 to 15/11/2025 Schedule 10:00 - 15:00
Place: Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, Lympne, Kent

Preferred suppliers

Blue Lily Weddings
5.0 out of 5 rating , 25 reviews
· Photographers
Blue Lion Band
5.0 out of 5 rating , 89 reviews
· Music and DJs
Carousel Creche Company
5.0 out of 5 rating , 11 reviews
· Childcare and Creche
By Emma Olivia Photography
5.0 out of 5 rating , 19 reviews
· Photographers
Chic Weddings & Events
5.0 out of 5 rating , 10 reviews
· Planners
Fairy Dust Bakery
5.0 out of 5 rating , 5 reviews
· Cakes

Map

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve CT21 4PD Lympne (Kent)
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