These spectacular and one-of-a-kind London landmark buildings provide a unique and timeless backdrop for celebrating your wedding day in grand style
Banqueting House
This awe-inspiring 17th-century venue in Whitehall was created for royal parties and can host the grandest wedding. The key event space (and photo opportunity) is Main Hall with its spectacular ceiling painted by Rubens. For a more intimate feel the vaulted Undercroft – a former drinking den of James I – can host up to 380 guests for a civil ceremony and celebration. Both spaces are available for afternoon and evening events. Hire of this prestigious venue means you will have your own personal event manager who can also guide you on accredited suppliers for catering, flowers, furniture and entertainment. Capacity: Up to 500. hrp.org.uk
Eltham Palace
This extraordinary English Heritage property in Greenwich is a fusion of mediaeval and Art Deco architecture – thanks to very glamorous remodelling by former owners the Courtaulds. This gives you a variety of spaces to suit the theme and scale of your wedding. The Great Hall with minstrel gallery is perfect for a ceremony, wedding feast or dancing, while the fabulous circular Entrance Hall can stage a wedding ceremony in the round. The lovely Italianate dining room is perfect for more intimate dinners (up to 60) or drinks receptions. Eltham Palace also has fabulous grounds and celebrations often spill over into the gardens. Capacity: Up to 200. english-heritage.org.uk
Gray’s Inn
One of the four Inns of Court of the legal profession, this wonderful building has an original Elizabethan hall for celebrations, as well as five acres of gardens (known as The Walks) designed by Sir Francis Bacon – a rare treat in the heart of London. This private and tranquil property has a variety of spaces, from dining areas for intimate gatherings to rooms that can accommodate a crowd for a drinks reception. Perhaps the biggest draw in the summer is the elegant marquee in The Walks, which can host a fantastic wedding party for a crowd – 600+ if you are hosting a standing reception. Internal capacity: Up to 200. graysinnbanqueting.co.uk
Kensington Palace
One of London’s finest palaces, this remains a royal residence so it’s a truly unique venue and with only a limited number of wedding slots per year. Celebrations take place in The Orangery, an exquisite Queen Anne glasshouse requiring very little dressing. The grand internal spaces open up onto a south-facing terrace and lawns, with scope to erect a marquee if you’d like to host a truly grand-scale event. Evening events and limited daytime hire are available and you are assigned an event manager who can organise the details and advise you on the venue’s accredited suppliers. Capacity: Up to 300. hrp.org.uk
Old Royal Naval College
Standing sentinel on Thames at Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College offers a series of spectacular venues. Best known by tourists is the Painted Hall – sometimes described as the Sistine Chapel of the UK – with ceiling paintings by Sir James Cornhill. This amazing space is undergoing important conservation work and reopens for weddings in 2018. During its renovation, vaulted St Mary Undercroft and The Victorian Skittle Alley can still be hired for celebrations. The Admiral’s House is also available for exclusive hire for weddings. This lovely historic building has original wood panelling and a number of charming double height rooms for dinners or receptions. You can arrive for your celebration by river taxi and take picture-perfect photos by the Thames, adding to the romance of this versatile landmark venue. Capacity: Up to 90 (Admiral’s House) and 398 (Painted Hall). venuehire.ornc.org/weddings
One Whitehall Place
Attached to the five-star Royal Horseguards Hotel, this elegant space with its own entrance has views over the Thames to the London Eye. There are a variety of fabulous rooms, with lots of flexibility in how you organise them, and the sumptuous marble staircase and glittering chandeliers guarantee a memorable backdrop. The historic Whitehall Suite is perhaps the most impressive space, while the River Room is perfect for more intimate affairs. The availability of hotel rooms right next door – and central London location – make this a very convenient setting too. All couples are assigned a dedicated wedding planner to manage the details. Capacity: Up to 250. onewhitehallplace.com
Tower of London
An invitation to visit the Tower was not something to look forward to in the old days, but it has become one of London’s most iconic landmarks and a hugely popular visitor attraction. It is not licensed for ceremonies and guests have to be off the grounds by 10.30pm so the Beefeaters can lock up, but with numerous ancient city churches nearby and majestic surroundings, there’s scope to organise a truly unique reception. There are a variety of spaces – from the White Tower to the Banqueting Suite – with most boasting an impressive selection of artefacts. Large-scale events (1,000+) also take place in a marquee in the grounds. Internal capacity: Up to 300. hrp.org.uk
Trinity House
Overlooking the Tower of London, Trinity House is home to the General Lighthouse Authority – a charity dedicated to safeguarding shipping and seafarers – and has a selection of lovely rooms in an historic building designed by Samuel Wyatt. It is available for exclusive hire, giving guests access to all spaces and the largest of these can hold 180 for a reception. It has a grand central staircase and exquisite painted ceilings, as well as displays of historic maritime artefacts and lovely gardens for photography. The onsite team cater to both intimate and large-scale events. Capacity: Up to 180. trinityhouse.co.uk
