A Guide to the Most Iconic Wedding Venues in London
London is made for weddings; incredible architecture, excellent food, & one of the most famous skylines in the world. It has provided an iconic backdrop to the unions of some very famous couples; Elizabeth Taylor & Michael Wilding, Paul McCartney (twice), Judy Garland & Mickey Deans, Jude Law & Sadie Frost, & more recently Dua Lipa & Callum Turner.
With so much rich history to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start. Having lived my whole life in London, I’ve put together a handy guide for some of the capital’s most iconic buildings that are available for weddings.
Kew Gardens
Kew, South West London
Seats up to 200 guests
Venue hire price from £11,000 + VAT
This UNESCO World Heritage site is a truly unique gem of London’s architectural history. As one of the most historically significant botanical gardens in the world, this venue is ideal for couples who have a passion for nature.
Choose from 3 spaces, including the incredible Orangery, which makes nature the backdrop. Let the greenery provide the backdrop for your photos, as this venue truly needs nothing else to make it memorable.
Image credits: Kew Gardens
Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A)
South Kensington, West London
Seats up to 600 guests
Venue hire price from £14,000 + VAT
Steeped in history & home to some of the UK’s finest collections, the vaulted ceilings & carved marble columns of the V&A provides a wealth of grand spaces for weddings. Founded in 1899 by Queen Victoria, it provides the ideal venue for lovers of tradition, history, & a flare for the dramatic.
Image credits: V&A Museum
Somerset House
Strand, Central London
Seats up to 100 guests indoors or 3,000 guests outdoors
Venue hire price from £4,000 + VAT
With views of the River Thames, Somerset House is a true icon of London’s skyline, & situated perfectly for truly central city weddings. The Fountain Court is the perfect setting for large outdoor weddings, with marquee hire available, host cocktail hour on the River Terrace overlooking the Thames, or retreat to the Portico Rooms for weddings of up to 100 guests.
The ideal venue for London lovers who prefer a classic or more traditional style of venue.
Image credits: Somerset House (Camilla Joy Photography)
Royal Opera House
Covent Garden, Central London
Seats up to 300 guests
Venue hire price from £5,000 + VAT
Located in the cultural epicentre of London, the Royal Opera House dates back to the early 18th century, & has been home to both the Royal Opera & Royal Ballet since the 19th century.
A truly iconic building, the glass façade brings in more natural light than most London architecture, perfect for those who love opera, ballet, or theatre, & ideally situated for some on-street couple’s portraits.
Image credits: Royal Opera House
Tower Bridge
Tower Hamlets, Central London
Seats up to 120 guests
Venue hire price from £1,116 + VAT
Truly one of the most recognisable structures in London, Tower Bridge (Americans, for the record this is what you call London Bridge, but that’s actually a different, much less impressive bridge). Most people don’t realise that it is a fully functioning venue, available for private hire, & offering some of the most incredible views of London.
For couples who truly adore the city, Tower Bridge offers the opportunity to truly make London part of your story.
Image credits: Tower Bridge
The Natural History Museum
South Kensington, West London
Seats up to 650 guests
Venue hire price from £23,000 + VAT
There are few places in the world that allow you to host your wedding beneath the suspended skeleton of a blue whale or a giant sculpture of the Earth, but London’s Natural History Museum is one of them.
Home to some of the world’s most important natural specimens, both modern & prehistoric, it is the perfect venue for couples who are lovers of the natural world.
Image credits: The Natural History Museum, London
Old Royal Naval College
Greenwich, East London
Seats up to 450 guests
Venue hire price from £5,450 + VAT
A UNESCO World Heritage site so ornate that it could make Marie Antoinette herself blush. Adorned with detailed, awe-inspiring frescoes, framed by vaulted ceilings, marble floors, & Grecian columns, this is a venue that few can compete with. On the edge of the Thames, it comes complete with river views.
Ideal for those who want to bring a bit of Regency glamour to their weddings, with smaller spaces available for more intimate events.
Image credits: Old Royal Naval College
Barbican Conservatory
City of London, Central London
Seats up to 650 guests
Venue hire price from £7,800 + VAT
A retro, brutalist icon of central London, the Barbican offers a different side of the capital’s cultural history. A mid-century marvel, the central courtyard provides a striking contrast between the man-made geometry of the buildings & the abundant gardens within.
Built in 1965 on a site that was almost levelled by the Blitz, it was heralded as a bastion of modern urban city planning, & has taken on a special place in the city’s cultural history.
Image credits: The Barbican
Hampton Court Palace
Surrey, Greater London
Seats up to 400 guests
Venue hire price from £3,500 + VAT
A truly regal venue, this historic palace is the furthest outside of London on this list, but it is more than worth the journey. Tread the hallways of Kings & Queens of centuries gone by, celebrate in the acres of manicured gardens, or get lost in the maze. There is truly no other venue quite like it.
Not only the dream venue for those who love the idea of a Tudor wedding, or are fascinated with the stories held within the walls, but also for couples who love to get lost in a truly beautiful place.
Image credits: Hampton Court Palace
Horniman Museum
Forest Hill, South East London
Seats up to 120 guests
Venue hire price from £500 + VAT
One of East London’s most famous museums, the Horniman features an incredible restored Victorian glasshouse as their main reception space for weddings, as well as aquarium hire for ocean lovers. Nestled in residential South East London, this venue is for those who want a truly iconic London wedding without the hustle & bustle of the city centre.
Initially opened in the Horniman family residence, it was moved & re-opened to its current purpose-built home in 1901. A true piece of London history, with the peace & quiet of the suburbs.
Image credits: Horniman Museum
St. Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s, Central London
Seats up to 400 guests
Venue hire price from £22,500 + VAT
Another true icon of London’s skyline, St. Paul’s Cathedral is available for just 30 weddings per year. Built in the 18th century, this Baroque masterpiece sits in the very heart of London. A building so recognisable that locals use its dome as a landmark with which to navigate the sprawling city below.
Sadly, as it is a cathedral & not a parish church, applications are only open to a very exclusive group. In order to marry at St. Paul’s Cathedral, couples must fulfil one of these criteria: OBE’s & their children, Orders of St. Michael & St. George, & their children, Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor & their children, cathedral community & their children.
Image credits: St. Paul’s Cathedral
