Venue spotlight: Celebrate your wedding in palatial style at Hampton Court Palace

Steeped in history, and with stunning architecture ranging from mellow Tudor brick to Baroque splendour, Hampton Court Palace is a unique and versatile venue for a wedding celebration with palatial elegance

Hampton Court Palace was once the favourite pleasure ground of royalty and has an irresistibly romantic history. Today it is a unique and versatile wedding venue capable of hosting everything from an intimate celebration to the grandest ball.

Scene setting

With mellow Tudor brick, elegant cobbled courtyards and splendid views of the River Thames, Hampton Court Palace is one of the UK’s most cherished historic buildings. Henry VIII wandered in the grounds, perhaps pondering his complicated love life. James I hosted memorably lavish parties long into the night in the Great Hall – also the venue for a performance by Shakespeare of Two Gentlemen of Verona in 1603. While history and romance are part of the fabric of this unique venue, its multiple wedding spaces offer scope to create something truly unique, whether yours is a grand celebration for a crowd or a small-scale and exclusive party.

Perfect for…

Hampton Court Palace offers multiple spaces that lend themselves to everything from a romantic winter wedding to an alfresco summer party. The largest is the hammer-ceilinged Great Hall, capable of hosting 400 for a standing reception and 270 for a banquet. This can be combined with the atmospheric Undercroft, once Henry VIII’s beer cellar and with space enough for dancing or a drinks reception for more than 200 guests. The Orangery and Privy Garden is perfect for summer drinks and dinner or a reception in combination with another Palace space. For daytime hire, there are two choice venues. The Garden Room has a capacity of 300 and large historic gardens for your exclusive use – making this a lavish setting for drinks, dinner and dancing. The Little Banqueting House can host a civil ceremony for up to 50, and 80 for a standing reception. Its gorgeous Baroque interiors, with murals by Antonio Verrio and vistas over the Thames, make this a standout romantic spot for an intimate wedding.

Hampton Court Palace may feel like a world away with its palatial interiors and tranquil grounds, but it’s convenient for Heathrow Airport and the capital. Journeys from London Waterloo take just over half-an-hour by train. For the ultimate romantic arrival at the Palace, the events team can arrange for you and your guests to journey along the Thames by private river launch.

The details

Hampton Court Palace is part of the Historic Royal Palaces group, which means peerless service from a dedicated events team who will work with you to select the best setting and format to match your vision of your day. Your events manager will meet with you regularly to plan every detail, from the ceremony to the menu and extras. While venues within the main house are only available for evening hire (this is also a unique historic treasure that opens to the public), both the Garden Room and Little Banqueting House host daytime weddings. Prices range from £3,000 for hire of the Garden Room to £10,000 for the Great Hall (plus VAT and exclusive of catering) at Hampton Court Palace.

Extra magic

Hampton Court Palace enables you to drink in the atmosphere of five centuries of history in a Grade I-listed setting – so this is the place to revel in being king and queen for the day and design the grandest feast or most romantic and exclusive gathering. This spectacular setting is a world-renowned historic treasure, making this a truly one-off venue that your guests will never forget. The Palace and grounds are also a picture-perfect backdrop for photography and film giving you not only a unique celebration, but also memories to last a lifetime.