Marry like an Austen Heroine: The Real Houses Behind the New Sense and Sensibility
With the release of the new Sense and Sensibility, we couldn't help but delve into the locations that brought Austen's text to life. Some, incredibly, also feature in earlier adaptations, from the 1995 film to Pride and Prejudice, and many are wedding venues. What better way to say I do to your own Colonel Brandon or Mr Darcy than in a historic setting with links to the books and films you so greatly adore?
So sit back, dear reader, and enjoy our curation of historic houses, from the screen and from Austen's own life, and imagine your own love story coming to life.
Much of the new film was shot in the West Country, with its rolling countryside and grand historic houses providing the perfect backdrop to Austen's world. Norland, the Dashwoods' lost family home, was filmed at Kingston Russell House in Dorset, a private manor that had never appeared on screen before. Sadly, this particular house cannot be booked for weddings, but happily, several of the film's other locations offer couples the opportunity to step into a little cinematic romance of their own.
Cleveland, the Palmers' grand country house and the setting for Marianne's fever, was filmed at Knebworth House in Hertfordshire, both inside and out. With its striking Gothic architecture, richly characterful interiors and sweeping gardens, Knebworth brings a particular sense of grandeur to the film, offering a setting that feels every bit as enchanting in person as it does on screen. For couples dreaming of a wedding with the romance of a period drama, it is a wonderfully compelling choice.
The house's historic rooms offer an elegant backdrop for celebrations, while the extensive gardens and surrounding parkland lend themselves beautifully to outdoor photographs, leisurely drinks receptions and those lingering moments that make a wedding day feel truly your own. There is a lovely sense of occasion to Knebworth, where centuries of history meet the possibility of a thoroughly personal celebration. And for Austen devotees, the chance to marry at the very location that brought Cleveland to life in the new Sense and Sensibility adds another layer of meaning to an already memorable setting. A wedding here promises not simply a beautiful country-house backdrop, but a connection to the world of literary romance that continues to capture our imaginations.
Elsewhere, the lake at Norland, where Elinor and Edward skip stones in one of the film's quietest and most tender scenes, is found at Parnham Park in Dorset. There is something wonderfully understated about a waterside setting, particularly one with such a gentle cinematic association. With ceremonies held beside the water and drinks served on the formal lawns, it would be difficult to imagine a more appropriately romantic setting for an Austen-inspired celebration. Think soft summer light, a glass of champagne in hand and a landscape that needs little embellishment to feel straight from the pages of a novel.
But you don't need to visit a film location to find yourself in Austen's world. At Goodnestone Park in Kent, the connection is altogether more personal. Austen's brother Edward married into the Bridges family of Goodnestone, and Jane was a regular visitor. A room in the house still carries her name, making this a particularly lovely choice for couples who feel a connection not only to Austen's novels but to the woman behind them. For weddings, the estate offers all the romance of a country-house setting: historic interiors, secluded gardens, a beautiful Orangery and a wonderfully private atmosphere. It is easy to imagine a celebration here that feels intimate, timeless and entirely removed from the everyday.
Austen also stayed at Stoneleigh Abbey in Warwickshire in 1806 with her mother and sister. Its grand interiors, sweeping staircase and atmospheric historic spaces offer a glimpse into the world that shaped her imagination. Readers have long traced elements of that visit through the Gothic atmosphere associated with Northanger Abbey and the chapel in Mansfield Park. Today, the Abbey hosts a small programme of weddings throughout the year, offering couples the chance to exchange vows in a setting where literary history and architectural splendour sit side by side. For those who favour a more intimate celebration steeped in heritage, Stoneleigh is a quietly captivating choice.
For an even more direct connection to Austen's life, Chawton House in Hampshire is hard to beat. The Elizabethan manor was the home of Austen's brother Edward and stands close to the cottage where Jane wrote and revised her novels during the final years of her life. There is something especially poignant about celebrating a wedding in a place so closely connected to the rhythms of Austen's own life and work. With its historic character and peaceful surroundings, Chawton House is a beautiful option for couples who would like their day to carry a little literary significance alongside its romance. For the true Austen devotees, it is a setting that feels less like a backdrop and more like a meaningful part of the story.
And if your heart still belongs to Mr Darcy over Colonel Brandon, then we dare you to name a more iconic Pride and Prejudice location than the Temple of Apollo at Stourhead, the setting for one of the 2005 film's most memorable moments. Framed by classical architecture, reflective water and beautifully composed gardens, the temple has become something of a pilgrimage site for lovers of the film. It is the sort of place where even die-hard fans might not mind the rain.
The interiors of Pemberley were filmed for the 2005 Pride and Prejudice at Wilton House, which had already lent its ballroom to Ang Lee's 1995 Sense and Sensibility. With its magnificent state rooms and centuries of aristocratic history, Wilton House has the sort of interiors that make a period drama feel wonderfully transportive. Meanwhile, the imposing exterior was filmed at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire — a particularly fitting choice given that Chatsworth is widely associated with Pemberley in the story itself. With its grand façade, landscaped grounds and unmistakable sense of scale, Chatsworth remains an irresistible destination for anyone who has ever imagined themselves stepping into Elizabeth Bennet's world.
For an Austen-loving couple, these places offer something rather more enduring than a beautiful backdrop. They are pieces of literary and cinematic history: grand houses, gardens, lakes and ancient rooms that have helped generations of readers imagine Austen's world. And whether you are dreaming of a wedding worthy of Elinor and Edward, Marianne and Colonel Brandon, or simply waiting for your own Mr Darcy to appear, there is perhaps no shortage of inspiration to be found.
All images via venues listed. photographers credited where information provided.
.jpeg)
