This article is sponsored by Easy Weddings. If you can't spot your dream location here, check out their website, with over 100 of London's loveliest wedding venues, for more inspiration.
Last updated 10 May 2018.
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 London
For more central London venues, explore the Easy Weddings collection here.
Home House, 20 Portman Square, W1H 6LW
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 23 bedrooms three of which are suites, all furnished in 18th century style.
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 90 guests for the service, and up to 150 for drinks and dancing.
Wedding licence?: Yes.
Can we stay the night?: No, but the beautiful Dean Street Townhouse is close by.
Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, W1J 5ED
This Mayfair venue was built in the 16th Century and 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.
Reader suggestions
- 116 Pall Mall (Institute of Directors), licensed for ceremonies (via @kathrynchoi)
- Altitude London, 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)
- Honourable Artillery Company HQ, City, 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)
- Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Marylebone, licensed for ceremonies (via @villain71)
- Searcys (top of the Gherkin), licensed for ceremonies (via @PappillonPhoto)
- Trinity House, City, licensed for ceremonies (via @cre8livecapture)
- Two Temple Place, licensed for ceremonies (via @TwoTemplePlace)
- University Women's Club, Mayfair, licensed for ceremonies (via commenter Andrea Grau)
- Cinnamon Kitchen, City, licensed for ceremonies (via commenters Reese and genie)
- City of London Club, receptions only (via commenter Jordan.R.Wood)
- Barbican Conservatory, City, licensed for ceremonies (via Ruth Hargreaves)
- The Yacht London, Embankment, licensed for ceremonies (via sponsor Easy Weddings)
- Grand Connaught Rooms, Holborn, receptions only (via sponsor Easy Weddings)
North London
For more north London venues, explore the Easy Weddings collection here.
Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath
A 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. Choose between the intimate Orangery or Music Room for your ceremony, before decamping to the Flower Garden - covered in rhododendrons in spring - for dinner and dancing with wonderful views.
Wedding licence?: Yes.
Can we stay the night?: No.
Reader suggestions
- Regent's College in Regent's Park, licensed for ceremonies (via commenter Louise)
- Royal College of Physicians, Regent's Park, licensed for ceremonies (via commenter Dan Barrowclough)
- 30 Euston Square, licensed for ceremonies (via commenter Jeane Trend-Hill)
- Lord's Cricket Ground, St John's Wood, licensed for ceremonies (via commenter Cookie)
South London
For more south London venues, explore the Easy Weddings collection here.
The Painted Hall at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich
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. The Painted Hall is currently closed for renovation and due to reopen late 2018/early 2019.
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.
The Swan at Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1 9DT
Literary and history lovers are perfectly matched with a wedding at The Swan. Official partner to Shakespeare's Globe theatre, guests can choose between a high-up spot in the Balcony Room that fits up to 70 seated guests and offers views over the Thames, or the larger Underglobe which - as the name suggests - is directly beneath the theatre itself. It even has a mezzanine balcony for recreating your very own Romeo and Juliet moment.
Wedding licence?: Yes.
Can we stay the night?: No.
Reader suggestions
- Belair House, Dulwich, licensed for ceremonies (via @MmeNostradamus)
- Dulwich Picture Gallery, licensed for ceremonies (via commenter Dickybladder)
- Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich, receptions only (via commenter Helena Handbasket)
- Charlton House, Greenwich, licensed for ceremonies (via commenter Maynard12)
East London
For more east London venues, explore the Easy Weddings collection here.
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?: Yes.
Can we stay the night?: No.
Sutton House, 2-4 Homerton High Street, Hackney, E9 6JQ
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.
Morrell House, 98 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, EC2A 3AF
Create your own signature cocktail and serve your guests “cock-teas” (cocktails served in tea-cups) as a celebration drink after your ceremony. This beautiful house was built in the 1800s and is said to be on the site of a medieval well, considered to be lucky for generations.
Wedding licence?: Yes.
Can we stay the night?: No but its Shoreditch location means you’re not short of hotel and B&B choices.
Reader suggestions
- North Tower Lounge at Tower Bridge, licensed for ceremonies (via commenter Matt Keen)
- Hoxton Community Garden, receptions only (via commenter Katie)
- Trinity Buoy Wharf, licensed for ceremonies (via Lydia Manch)
- Shoreditch Town Hall, licensed for ceremonies (via Ruth Hargreaves)
West London
For more west London venues, explore the Easy Weddings collection here.
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.
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)
- Royal Hospital Chelsea, licensed for ceremonies in the Chapel (via commenter Ljm05)
- VUK Banqueting Suite, Chiswick, receptions only (via sponsor Easy Weddings)
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
This article is sponsored by Easy Weddings.