How to Choose Your Wedding Venue in London

London has a reputation for being cool and gritty, but also historic and regal - it's no wonder that couples from all over the world think that the city is the perfect backdrop for their nuptials. If you're at the stage in the planning process where you're starting to consider venues for your special day, London is a stunning setting for any wedding!

There’s no denying Britain’s capital city is full of life, culture, and vibrancy, and it is home to some of the most iconic architecture in the world. When choosing your wedding venue in London, it’s worth remembering that often city weddings come with all the charm and elegance of rural nuptials, but with lots more things to see and do!

Popular Wedding Venues in London

Whatever your plans for your wedding celebrations, you're sure to find your dream wedding venue in London - whether regency splendour is your thing, or you prefer a bit of cool brutalism, London is home to such a vast array of venue styles that you might feel a bit overwhelmed! When you think of London, you may immediately think ‘urban’, and whilst this is partly true, there are also many hidden gems dotted around the city. A London wedding doesn’t have to be ultra-modern and urban; it can also be classic, historical and incredibly elegant.

If history is your thing, then why not say your vows in the storied halls of the Natural History Museum, go all out regal with a wedding ceremony at Hampton Court Palace, or get married with a view of West India Quay at the London Docklands Museum? For something more low-key, there are plenty of small wedding venues catering to all your intimate wedding needs - from art galleries, to cosy pubs, or even a boat on the River Thames!

For the ultimate cool Britannia wedding venue, check out the famous Marylebone Town Hall - the venue boasts a star-studded past, with rock and roll royalty like Paul McCartney, Liam Gallagher and Ringo Starr all saying "I do" in its hallowed halls! There are plenty of easily accessible potential venues nearby to host your wedding reception, depending on your guest count and vibe. You could celebrate with a slap-up wedding breakfast in the grand hall at St Mary's, or if you want a more relaxed atmosphere, you could head to a nearby pub such as Sir John Balcombe for lunch.

There are venues located across the length and breadth of the city, catering to a variety of religions, tastes and budgets, from lush botanical wedding spaces such as the Barbican and Kew Gardens, to luxury wedding venues such as Shangri La Hotel and the Hotel Café Royal on Regent Street, to cool unique wedding venues such as our personal favourites, Asylum Chapel and Shoreditch Studios. The beauty of London is that it has a little bit of everything!

Finding a London Wedding Venue

If you’re not already familiar with London or need a bit of help seeking out the not-so-well-known gems, then the best place to head is a wedding directory. Inspiring wedding blog websites such as Love My Dress and Rock My Wedding have dedicated supplier directories that cover location-specific venues, florists, bridal fashion, photographers, and more. But if you want even more variety and choice, then platforms such as Coco Wedding Venues, Hitched, and Bridebook have specific venue finders where you can filter by location, capacity, venue hire fee and even style/vibe to help you find your perfect wedding.

Of course, Google is a brilliant place to head when hunting for your perfect wedding venue in London. But as you have probably already guessed from this article, there is a lot to choose from! Be clear with your search terms so that only the best-matched venues come up in the results. Try ‘blank canvas urban wedding venue East London’, or ‘luxury exclusive hire wedding venue Central London’, for example.

Another great way to seek out venues that you might not find otherwise is to head to Instagram. Use the same search terms as you tried on Google and see what comes up. Follow London wedding venue-specific hashtags and see where that takes you. One final tip is to follow some of your ideal wedding suppliers and see which venues they’ve worked at before and that look amazing (photographers or wedding stylists are best for this!).

The ideal location for your wedding day

As well as some of the best wedding venues, London has the most iconic backdrops for wedding photos, and it’s also worth mentioning that, due to the capital's iconic and multicultural status, it makes a perfect location for when you have family travelling from abroad. There are fantastic transport links with five international airports and a high-speed Eurostar rail link, making it pretty convenient for both you and your guests!

London is a hive of activity, with couples proposing, planning weddings, and getting married every day of the week. Be that Jewish, Asian, Chinese, Greek, etc, they’re all happening here, in this diverse, multi-cultural city - you just have to seek out the right venue for you! You might think you need to have a huge wedding budget to get married in London, and whilst this might be true of the most popular wedding venues, there are definitely some gems to be found for those with a lower budget!

If you're dreaming of celebrating your big day under London's skyline, your venue is waiting! Whether you want to celebrate in the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden or hold your reception in the landscaped gardens of Fulham Palace, you're sure to find a venue that ticks all the boxes in this historic city.