London’s most beautiful wedding venues
There's nothing chicer than a city wedding and London is home to some seriously special places to say 'I do'
You only get one wedding day (we hope) so choosing the perfect location is imperative. The choices, however, are seemingly endless so to help you out we’ve picked London’s top luxury wedding venues, from Richmond to Covent Garden, Holborn to Marylebone and South Kensington to Greenwich. Whether you want a big showstopper wedding in one of the capital’s most glamorous hotels, a laid-back bohemian setting to say ‘I do’, a ballroom fit for royalty, or nuptials in the great outdoors; we’ve got you covered from north to south, east to west, and everything in between. Meet me at the altar…
The Orangery at Kensington Palace, Kensington
Planning a seriously regal affair? After an extensive period of restoration, the beautiful Orangery at Kensington Palace has reopened and is available to host weddings and events from spring 2024. And, as venues go, they don’t much more iconic.
Commissioned by Queen Anne as both a greenhouse and party venue, and built in 1704 by Nicholas Hawksmoor, the Orangery is an archetypal example of the English Baroque style and abounds in gorgeous period features. Soaring ceilings and elegant sash windows flood the space, which can accommodate up to 160, with natural light while the Orangery’s manicured lawns can also be decked out with tipi-style tents for daytime drinks receptions. Come evening, the Orangery is easily transformed into a dance floor with the restorations seeing modern AV equipment installed to keep the party going.
Kensington Gardens, W8 4PX, hrp.org.uk
The Standard, King’s Cross
If, on the other hand, your bridal style falls squarely into the ‘alternative’ category, North London’s hippest hotel – The Standard – should be your go to. There are five spaces on offer here, capable of hosting parties from 20 to 150 guests, with the added benefit of 266 rooms for guests to stumble back to after the main event.
For a full-day affair, choose Decimo, The Standard’s 10th floor restaurant which boasts incredible views across London and can be arranged to host your ceremony, wedding breakfast and reception. Downstairs, Double Standard is perfect for more casual parties, while Isla Terrace promises seriously romantic fairly-lit vibes and Townhouse 8 is ideal for those planning a more intimate affair. Wedding packages at The Standard start from £30k, including private space hire, a three-course wedding breakfast, party drinks, a wedding night suite and discounts on all bedrooms.
10 Argyle Street, WC1H 8EG, standardhotels.com
Pan Pacific London, The City
If you're looking to create a wedding that encapsulates the best of the capital, you could do worse than booking Pan Pacific London. Located in the heart of the City, just moments from Liverpool Street station, it boasts proximity to some of the capital's most famous landmarks, best restaurants and bars, modern architecture and its historic centre. Ideal if you'll be welcoming out-of-towners making their first visit to London.
The wedding offering at Pan Pacific London is also all-encompassing, with private hire spaces accommodating anything from an intimate 50-person ceremony to a lavish 250-person party. All weddings are bespoke but Pan Pacific London offers three core packages – Fern, Lotus and Moongate – which include everything from your venue, food and drink, wedding night accommodation and even a one-year anniversary stay, so you can focus on more important things (i.e. the dress). The hotel also boasts its own Event Emporium allowing you to curate your perfect day while someone else takes care of the details.
80 Bishopsgate, EC2A 7AB, panpacific.com
The Savoy, Covent Garden
When it comes to grace and glamour, nothing whispers wealth quite like the ballroom at The Savoy. As Bridgerton-chic as it comes, the Lancaster ballroom is the duck-egg blue of dreams and primed for couples going the whole hog (accommodating up to 400 people seated, or nearly double that standing). But The Savoy’s event spaces allow for any style and size of ceremony. With three grand event rooms for large celebrations, and four private dining rooms for more intimate get-togethers, the team at the hotel will cater to your every whim.
Allow executive chef Gerald Quadros and his brigade of banquet chefs to bring their expertise to your big day (we’d choose scallop ceviche, Welsh lamb cannon and cherry delice, if you’re asking), while there is also an in-house florist, luxury car hire service, and concierge. British fine jeweller Boodles also has an exclusive showroom and boutique at the hotel, where you’re invited to enjoy a glass of champagne on the house while browsing the magnificent jewellery collection. About those matching earrings…
Strand, WC2R 0EZ, thesavoylondon.com
NoMad London, Covent Garden
The super-stylish NoMad London is the hotel brand’s first outpost this side of the pond and has all the cool, laid-back vibes of its New York and LA sister haunts. An original place to tie the knot in central London, it takes residence in the heart of Covent Garden inside a historic, Grade II-listed building where much of the original architecture has been preserved and woven into the design. Located directly across from the famed Royal Opera House, (perfect for pre- or post-wedding photoshoots), the property offers over 800 sqm of elegant and adaptable space for weddings.
The building’s original Magistrates’ Courtroom, now the Magistrates’ Ballroom, has been reimagined as a formal space with two adjacent private dining rooms, a separate bar, and a dedicated entrance from the street using the original courtroom entrance. An immersive mural by painter Claire Basler decorates the space, providing the backdrop for seated dinners and cocktail parties. The room is complete with an in-built stage and adjoins a stunning private bar with prime London views. The Fielding Room, on the other hand, offers a more private and intimate setting for a pared-back approach, while there ar also an additional five private event spaces for all kinds of ceremonies and celebrations.
28 Bow Street, WC2E 7AW, thenomadhotel.com
The Hari, Belgravia
This outdoor wedding venue in the heart of Knightsbridge is a real hidden gem. Bordering the neighbourhoods of Chelsea and Kensington, the garden terrace at The Hari is a beautiful spot for a private and intimate wedding reception for up to 25 people. Adorned with living walls, this modern and stylish spot is not only effortlessly enchanting, but also extremely practical – courtesy of a retractable roof – which should at least diffuse most concerns over the wet British weather.
The hotel is on hand to create bespoke wedding packages for its lucky couples, including a five-star drinks reception and wedding breakfast, flowers, a personalised wedding cake created in-house, and of course, some of the best rooms in London. If you’re looking to start outside, and then make your way indoors (or the other way around), The Snug, The Muse and The Hari Bar all offer intimate event hire spaces, too. Hip hip Hari…
20 Chesham Place, SW1X 8HQ, thehari.com
Natural History Museum, South Kensington
One of London’s most iconic buildings both inside and out, the Natural History Museum in South Kensington screams statement wedding from its bones. The property has 12 galleries licensed for wedding ceremonies and its unique spaces can be hired for exclusive-use ceremonies, reception-only celebrations, or both. Choose the largest venue, Hintze Hall, for a spectacular backdrop amid the iconic Victorian architecture and soaring arches or dine and dance the night away in the celestial Earth Hall, raising a toast next to the museum’s resident stegosaurus fossil, the most complete ever found.
There are also a number of smaller galleries available for couples looking for a more intimate space to tie the knot, without the pre-historic party crashers. The dedicated in-house venue hire team has a wealth of experience, running over 150 events a year, and is on hand to assist with every detail. Can you do it? You bet Jurrassican.
Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD, nhm.ac.uk
Old Billingsgate, London Bridge
If you’ve been searching for an edgy wedding venue, then the bait is finally over. Because there’s nothing fishy at all about this famed former market hall, which now hosts a range of iconic events and nuptials. Set in the heart of the City, on the north bank of the River Thames, Old Billingsgate represents a remarkable part of London’s heritage. With three versatile spaces and a beautiful terrace with unrivalled views of Tower Bridge, City Hall, the Shard and London Bridge, the industrial interiors really come to life when draped with fresh flowers and lit just so.
The Grand Hall is the largest space, boasting a stunning triple-height, ornate sky-lit ceiling and a feature mezzanine (and comfortably seats from 300 up to 1,200 for a dinner dance). Alternatively, the Vault is Old Billingsgate’s hidden gem. Concealed beneath the banks of the Thames, this edgy, exposed brick and vaulted ceilinged space once housed the icy cold store below Billingsgate Fish Market, but now offers a cool and contemporary backdrop for an after-party.
1 Old Billingsgate Walk, EC3R 6DX, oldbillingsgate.co.uk
The Ned, Bank
If you’ve ever sampled the Sunday brunch buffet at The Ned (and if you haven’t, why not?) then imagine what it could conjure up for a wedding. And it really can take care of everything you need, from the ceremony and menu to the flowers and music. Nuptials at The Ned take place on the historic sixth floor, which has six rooms and two outdoor terraces with views across the City to choose from. There’s space for weddings of all sizes, whether you want an intimate affair for 50, or a large-scale knees-up for 200 of your nearest and dearest.
We recommend taking over the entire sixth-floor space for the day and, along with hosting your ceremony, drinks reception and dinner, you’ll also have space for any extras you might want, like a photobooth, a dedicated present area, a green room for the band or somewhere for the children to have a rest from the action. The team of chefs will work closely with you to create your perfect wedding menu – from canapés and light bites, to a formal sit-down dinner and late-night snacks to keep your guests going until the early hours. What’s more, Ned’s Club Spa is just a lift ride away, to ensure getting ready on the big day is as seamless as possible, from manicures, pedicures and facials to Ned’s Barbershop and Parlour for hair services, too.
27 Poultry, EC2R 8AJ, thened.com
One Marylebone, Marylebone
One Marylebone, a recently refurbished former church, still boasts all its original Grade I-listed architectural features and sets the scene to tie the knot in style. Housing not one but two unique hireable spaces and a landscaped garden, the sublime grandeur of One Marylebone has attracted many from the fashion, beauty and art industries, including Vogue, Mac and Gordon's Gin, as well as setting the scene for McFly's Tom Fletcher, who sung his famous heart-melting wedding speech within its stunning walls. Choose between Soane Hall and the Galleries (with capacities of 400 and 150 respectively) or go for both to combine a separate reception and party space for your guests. It's all about you…
One Marylebone Road, NW1 4AQ, one-events.co.uk
Rosewood London, Holborn
Mixing English heritage with contemporary sophistication – we can’t get enough of the Art Deco interiors – Rosewood London radiates a true sense of grand Belle Époque romance. There are four wedding venue rooms here, from the expansive (and expensive) Grand Ballroom for a seated banquet and party, The Foyer as a perfect spot for an intimate ceremony, and the Sir George and Living Room for something a little more low-key.
The in-house wedding concierge service can set up meetings with the hotel’s executive chef to create a tailored menu, arrange floral designers, decorators, book photographers and liaise with the hotel’s event studio to provide a visual showcase of exclusive event accessories that couples can personalise for their special day. Bridal spa and beauty treatments are also offered at Sense, A Rosewood Spa, which has a couple’s suite for signature treatments and a hair salon to help brides and grooms get ready. No rose-tinted glasses needed here.
252 High Holborn, WC1V 7EN, rosewoodhotels.com
Kew Gardens, Kew
One of the most famous botanical gardens in the country, nothing says whimsical, fairy-tale wedding quite like the enchanting Kew Gardens. Begin your day with a civil ceremony hosted within the iconic 19th Century Nash Conservatory. A venue formerly part of Buckingham Palace, it is filled with natural sunlight and boasts sublime views of the garden beyond. After the ceremony, your drinks and canapé reception can be held towards the back of the beautiful conservatory and spill out onto the surrounding lawns. The evening dinner dance, meanwhile, could take place within the exquisite Temperate House, a space that is home to some of the rarest plants and trees on the planet – providing a naturally foliage-full backdrop to your photos. Far better than a flower wall, no?
Kew, TW9 3AE, kew.org
Queen’s House, Greenwich
Forget being treated like a princess on your big day. Aim for the top and tie the knot at the Queen’s House, the first classical building in England created as a palace of pleasure and celebration. Steeped in history and Palladian romance, it makes all the right noises in terms of elegance and romance. Weddings tend to start in the Great Hall on the north side of the house, set against the iconic black and white marble floor and soaring gold-leafed ceiling (with room for up to 120 guests), the perfect place to exchange your vows, before it transforms into a warm and open banquet hall to eat.
If you’re after an outdoor reception, choose the stunning parkside setting of the south terrace, south lawn, or under the Colonnade while taking in the view of Greenwich Park. Exclusive hire of the Queen’s House also includes the Undercroft, a series of three vaulted rooms below the Great Hall. With inbuilt staging, arched white walls, and room for 150 guests, it's a party waiting to happen. The royal treatment indeed.
Romney Road, SE10 9NF, rmg.co.uk
Bingham Riverhouse, Richmond
Idyllically located on the scenic Richmond Riverside, Bingham Riverhouse is a stunning venue for weddings and civil ceremonies and houses 15 luxurious bedrooms for guests to crash after the madness. For low-key, bohemian wedding vibes, couples can tie the knot in the garden rooms, opening onto the riverside terrace, domes and garden, all with elevated views of the Thames. The Riverhouse can host ceremonies for up to 90 guests while the head chef prepares an assortment of mouth-watering seasonal food. From seated wedding breakfasts, to sharing platters, barbecues to nibbles, this is your ideal, thinking-outside-the-box wedding venue, offering a little taste of relaxed country charm right in the heart of London. Just remember: don’t drink and paddleboard…
61-63 Petersham Road, TW10 6UT, binghamriverhouse.com