Top 5 Retro Wedding Venues in the UK
A touch of retro glamour can be the perfect way to elevate weddings of any scale. I’ve put together a roundup of my current top 5 retro UK wedding venues to help couples make the perfect choice. Spanning minimal mid-century modern, all the way to a repurposed Manchester swimming pool that looks like a snapshot in time. So mix yourself an old fashioned & pull up a seat!
Limekiln
Sussex
Seats up to 200 guests
Venue hire price from £4,000 + VAT
This Jacobean estate was built in 1615, & has seen many eclectic iterations, with Baroque elements still in place throughout the property. Detailed cornicing meets sweeping staircases, &…what’s that? A stuffed giraffe?
One of the key features of this venue is that it is home to owner James Perkins’ abundant collection of art, taxidermy, & cultural relics - a maximalist’s fever dream. It is an absolute wonderland, with so many details your guests will never struggle for a conversation piece.
Nestled in the sprawling Oxfordshire hills, the private landscaped gardens & parkland offer incredible versatility for outdoor receptions & couples portrait backdrops.
Image credits: Aynhoe Park
Royal Institute of British Architects
London
Seats up to 250 guests
Venue hire price from £90 + VAT per person
This Grade-I listed house & gardens is a truly eclectic gem of the south coast. Overlooking the River Tiddy with breathtaking views of the viaduct, the gardens & Orangery offer perfect opportunities for outdoor dining. Closed for renovations between 2025-2027, it will again be available for hire from 2028.
The House at Port Eliot is believed to be the oldest continually inhabited dwelling in the UK, having served as a home for more than 1000 years. Over this time the house has accumulated a wealth of artefacts & objects of interest from its many guests.
Having visited the home, I was captivated by the intricate Riddle Mural that covers the walls of the Round Room. Painted over several years by Robert Lenkiewicz, this mural includes vignettes of art history & anecdotes from the history of the family of the house.
Image credits: Port Eliot Estate
Victoria Baths
Manchester
Seats up to 500 guests
Venue hire price from £500 + VAT
An 18th century neo-gothic icon, designed & built by politician & writer Horace Walpole. Natural light pours into the Gallery through enormous windows, catching the light in the gilding that decorates the vaulted ceiling. The vibrant red walls make it a striking venue, with lots of opportunity for bright colours & rich jewel tones.
Steeped in history, Strawberry Hill House is a fine example of the Gothic Revival, with its own fairytale library & gardens; ideal for couples with a love of literature & nature.
Stained glass windows provide opportune backdrops for couples’ portraits.
Image credits: Maddie Farris Photography
Hedsor House
Buckinghamshire
Seats up to 250 guests
Venue hire price from £7,250 + VAT
More than 800 years of history awaits at Rose Castle, which has seen many guests from royalty to poet William Wordsworth in its time.
This venue has its own chapel, as well as a number of unique reception rooms to choose from for your ceremony. The 19th century Chinoiserie wallpaper is the perfect backdrop for portraits & cocktail hour shots.
For outdoor weddings, Pettinger’s Garden can seat up to 50 guests, with breathtaking views.
Image credits: Rose Castle
The Ned
Shoreditch, London
Seats up to 140 guests
Venue hire price from £2,750 + VAT
A vibrant boutique hotel situated in the bustling heart of the city, L’Oscar is the ideal venue for intimate maximalist weddings. The Library can seat up to 70 for dinner, & features striking peacock murals in gold & navy, which contrast dramatically with the wood panelling.
Or if you’re considering a ceremony at Holborn Town Hall, whisk your guests just around the corner to the private reception, kicking off with cocktail hour.
The events team at L’Oscar are excellent, & can support you at every step of your planning journey.
Image credits: L’Oscar London