London is stuffed with quirky theatres, contemporary arts spaces and staggeringly beautiful structures. With so many notable buildings, churches and suppliers in the city, it’s the perfect place to get married or celebrate a civil partnership. But the sheer volume of choice means finding a fun wedding spot can be a daunting task. Here are 10 gems to get you started, in no particular order. Please leave your own tips in the comments and we’ll add them to each section as we go along, to hopefully build up a useful resource.
CENTRAL
Home House, 20 Portman Square, W1H 6LW
Via StreetView.
Home House lies behind unassuming doors on Portman Square. It’s a private members’ club with buckets of character. You don’t have to be a member to have your wedding here and there is space for you to say your vows, have an outdoor drinks reception and have your wedding breakfast in its great drawing room. There are plenty of dreamy backdrops for photographs and you can even stay the night.
Wedding licence? Yes.
Can we stay the night? It has 20 bedrooms furnished in 18th Century style.
Typical hire cost: The civil ceremony room is £950 + VAT, the Parlour Room and the Eating Room are £1,925 + VAT and, for an additional £250 + VAT, the patio can be reserved.
The Century Club, 61-63 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 6LG
Another members’ club in London. Its most beautiful feature is the lantern-lit rooftop terrace. Being toasted with the backdrop of the central London skyline has a special sort of significance for city newlyweds. The venue can accommodate 80 guests for the service, 85 for a sit-down meal and 250 for drinks and dancing.
Wedding licence? Yes.
Can we stay the night? No, but the beautiful Dean Street Townhouse is close by.
Typical hire cost: Room hire: £2,000, minimum spend: £6,000 plus service and VAT (which works out to be about £120 per head).
Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, W1J 5ED
This Mayfair venue was built in the 16th Century and was converted into a townhouse in the 19th Century by Lord Revelstoke. The beautiful courtyard is perfect for a drinks reception, and the drawing rooms upstairs make an elegant backdrop for a wedding breakfast.
Wedding licence? Yes.
Can we stay the night? No.
Typical hire cost: You get exclusive use of the house and hire on weekends is £3,950 and £2,200 on weekdays.
Reader suggestions
- 30 Euston Square, licensed for ceremonies. (via commenter Jeane Trend-Hill)
- 116 Pall Mall (Institute of Directors), licensed for ceremonies. (via @kathrynchoi)
- Altitude 360, Millbank Tower, receptions only. (via @beckyportsmouth and commenter LivingCanvas)
- Chandos House, Marylebone, licensed for ceremonies. (via @beckyportsmouth)
- Gray’s Inn, Holborn, licensed for ceremonies. (via @Lillibrook)
- Guildhall, City, receptions only. (via @SketchesByBoz)
- Honourable Artillery Company HQ, licensed for ceremonies. (via @sargenobull)
- Ice Bar, Mayfair, receptions only. (via @Icebar_events)
- Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) on the mall, receptions only. (via @marmadukegrim)
- Lord’s Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood, licensed for ceremonies. (via commenter Cookie)
- Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), licensed for ceremonies, 66 Portland Place. (via @villain71)
- Searcys (top of the Gherkin), licensed for ceremonies. (via @PappillonPhoto)
- Trinity House, City, licensed for ceremonies. (via @cre8livecapture)
- Two Temple Place, receptions only. (via @TwoTemplePlace)
- University Women’s Club, Mayfair, licensed for ceremonies. (via commenter Andrea Grau)
NORTH
Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath
Kenwood House by Laura Nolte in the Londonist Flickr pool.
Currently closed until Autumn 2013 for refurbishment, but those planning their wedding long in advance should consider this beautiful Hamsptead Heath landmark. Kenwood House was built to impress the cream of British society in the 18th Century, and contains stunning portraits throughout its grand rooms. In the summer months, you can put up a marquee and have your drinks reception outside on the Heath, too.
Wedding licence? No.
Can we stay the night? No.
Typical hire cost: The Old Kitchen starts from £1,000, The Orangery £2,500 and the Library and Dining Room £3,500.
6 St Chad’s Place, King’s Cross
This bar and restaurant in King’s Cross is housed in an old Victorian warehouse with exposed brick walls. It’s a bar and restaurant during the week and is open at weekends for private hire – so food, drink and parties are what they do.
Wedding licence? No.
Can we stay the night? No.
Typical hire cost: There’s no hire cost, just a minimum food and drinks spend of £2,800.
SOUTH
The Painted Hall at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Image by friendlydrag0n in the Londonist Flickr pool.
James Thornhill, the artist responsible for the Painted Hall’s beauty, was directed to include as many references as possible to how important the navy was to Britain’s fortunes, but when it was completed, it was deemed to be too grand for its purpose. Today, this dramatic room is used for formal dinners and events, such as weddings. Check out this video by Reel Love Films to see for yourself.
Wedding licence? Yes – there is a chapel onsite, but Church of England wedding rules dictate whether or not you are eligible to use it.
Can we stay the night? No.
Typical hire cost: Room hire at the College starts at £1,200 for one of its smaller rooms.
Reader suggestions
- Beuberry House, Dulwich, licensed for ceremonies (via @MmeNostradamus)
- Dulwich Picture Gallery, licensed for ceremonies. (via commenter Dickybladder).
- The Swan, Southwark, licensed for ceremonies (via @HotHospitality)
EAST
Wilton’s Music Hall, 1 Graces Alley, E1 8JB
In its early days in the 1700s, Wilton’s was an alehouse and concert room. It became a music hall in 1850. Now run by Wilton’s Music Hall Trust, the building is quite magical. There is no daylight, but fairy lights and candles provide a pretty glow.
Wedding licence? No.
Can we stay the night? No.
Typical hire cost: Venue hire is £7,000+VAT.
Sutton House, 2-4 Homerton High Street, Hackney, E9 6JQ
Image by M@
This atmospheric National Trust property was built in 1535 and is the oldest residential building in Hackney. Your guests will have fun exploring all of its nooks and crannies. Upstairs, there’s a room explaining the history of Hackney so, if you’re local to the area, this would be a gorgeous place to get wed.
Wedding licence? Yes.
Can we stay the night? No.
Typical hire cost: Civil ceremony room hire starts at £205 and ceremony and drinks reception room hire starts at £335.
Morrell House, 98 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, EC2A 3AF
Wedding licence? Yes.
Can we stay the night? No but its Shoreditch location means you’re not short of hotel and B&B choices.
Typical hire cost: Cost is dependent on what services you require, to find out more contact Cathy on 0207 729 4141.
WEST
Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HS
Want a garden wedding in London? This place is perfect. Its original purpose was for training apprentices in identifying plants and it has over 5,000 species today. You can hire the garden and lawn for a summer wedding and there are events rooms in the back, too.
Wedding licence? No.
Can we stay the night? No.
Typical hire cost: Hiring the garden typically costs £5,775.
Reader suggestions
- The Amadeus, Little Venice, receptions only. (via @tomstorr)
- Lexi Cinema, Kensal Rise, licensed for ceremonies. (via @splendorcinema)
- The London Sketch Club, Chelsea, receptions only. (via commenter Marius Brill)
- Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park, receptions only. (via @FarmerJennie)
This isn’t an exhaustive list – many pubs and restaurants put on a great wedding party — so if you love your local, why not ask if you can have your reception there? And if you think a great venue has been missed off this list, add it to the comments box below and we’ll append it to the article.
By Sonali Hindmarch
Images: Sutton House by M@, Kenwood by Laura Nolte, Painted Hall by Friendlydrag0n.
