Queen Mary’s School is a fine Grade 1 listed Palladian Revival House set in over 40 acres of landscaped private parkland on the lower reaches of the River Swale near Topcliffe, North Yorkshire. A truly unique setting.
The beautiful building and grounds provide a breath-taking location for events including weddings, christenings, business conferences, language schools, sports camps and company away days. The school can cater for every detail of your event including dining, accommodation, and can even organise activities such as clay-pigeon shooting and climbing. We’ve even been used as a film setting for Amy Telford’s production of ‘The Night Witch’ and featured in the BBC TV series, Railways: The Making of a Nation.
Created in 1721 and designed by Scottish Architect Colen Campbell, Queen Mary’s School was the first villa to be built in England in the Palladian style. Colen Campbell is also associated with nearby Studley Park and Stourhead in Wiltshire. One of the houses many owners was ‘Railway King’, George Hudson, who lived here between1845 until 1854.
Available to hire during school holidays, the house and grounds are easily accessible from the A1 and A19 and offers substantial parking for guests.
To begin planning your event at Queen Mary’s School, please contact Carrie Phillips, Operatations Administrator on c.phillips@queenmarys.org or 01845 575071 / 07808 523918 to arrange a visit and to discuss your requirements.
Celebrating with Us
Weddings
We pride ourselves on the quality and warmth of the service we offer, and we personally work tirelessly to ensure your wedding is perfect in every way for you, your family and your guests.
The school grounds are bordered by a lake, a circular temple and two obelisks, West Lawn with Ha-ha and Front Lawn making an extra special backdrop for your wedding photographs.
For Queen Mary’s School ‘old girls’, we can provide an Anglican marriage service either in the Chapel or the Great Hall. For all other couples we offer an Anglican prayer and dedication service.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for a bespoke package based on your requirements.
The School is not registered for Civil Wedding Ceremonies.
Parties
Queen Mary’s School provides an impressive yet uniquely intimate setting for any event. Perfect for birthday, engagement or anniversary parties, a summer ball, concerts, recitals or any special occasion, you will have exclusive use throughout your event.
Whatever the occasion we can offer a complete hospitality service with full catering and drinks.
Holding your Event with Us
Organising a business or corporate event, or need a place for your Christian or music group to practise in North Yorkshire? Whether it’s a conference, a business meeting, corporate training, a team building day, art exhibition, charity event, sports camp or a banquet, we can help.
Queen Mary’s School has a range of facilities to make your visit a truly special and quirky experience. We offer a friendly customised service and will do our utmost to guide you through planning your visit to make your visit a happy and memorable one.
Staying with Us
Queen Mary’s School is available to hire during the school holidays for residential courses and offers dormitory style accommodation for up to 96 people, with access to all of the school’s amenities including the swimming pool, tennis courts with catering by Holroyd Howe.
Eating with Us
Holroyd Howe, our in house professional catering company can create fabulous food for all occasions from small intimate gatherings to large events. We take pride in ensuring every dish is thoughtfully designed, freshly prepared and beautifully presented.
Ranging from succulent hog roasts to fine dining, canapés and drinks, choose between designing your own menu with us or we can suggest a package for you.
Our panelled dining room with a marble plaque above the fireplace seats up to 90 guests.
No corkage!
Alternatively, you are free to use your own chef using an outside kitchen.
Testimonials
Cosy feel, everything close together, staff going above and beyond and beautiful surroundings. LDS.
Fantastic hall for our concerts; generally gorgeous building and setting. SST.
Lovely setting, the area, its quiet with facilities for outdoor activity and a warm feel. CFH.
It is a beautiful building which we, as a business, felt very welcomed to. Great open space for registration/play, clean FT kitchen, easy access to toilets. SKK.
Very easy venue for us to hold the party, both for the organisers and parents to attend. The children have a couple of hours of great fun and Queen Mary’s School ticks many boxes for us. RC.