Wedding Venues in London & Average Costs
London is home to a wonderful range of wedding venues, from opulent hotels to hidden gems, meaning whatever vision you have for your big day, and whatever your budget, you’re bound to find plenty of options in and around the capital.
Grand & Elegant London Wedding Venues
London has over 2,000 years of history, and so much of that amazing history is represented in venues around the city, especially when it comes to grand and elegant venues that are bursting with luxury.
- Kingswood Arts is a 19th-century castle-like manor which is now a major hub for London’s art and culture scene.
- If you’re after something more central and stylish, Kindred, located right in the heart of West London, has loads of options to make sure your wedding day is extra special.
- You can also discover chic boutique hotels like Sun Street Hotel in Shoreditch, or host your day in grand surroundings like No.4 Hamilton Place, a stately Mayfair townhouse perfect for the most refined celebrations.
- Brunswick House is a huge Georgian mansion, and is so well known that it almost needs no introduction.
- Gunnersbury Park House in the centre of the iconic park has a history that dates back to the 11th century.
- The Honourable Artillery Company promises a fairytale wedding, whether you’re looking for a huge celebration or something intimate.
- Chiswick House & Gardens is set within 65 acres of beautiful gardens, which lend themselves perfectly for the most stunning wedding photoshoot.
Outdoor London Wedding Venues
Despite being a major city, London is actually home to more than 3,000 parks, which means you don’t necessarily need to leave the capital if you’re hoping to make the most of the good weather and get married outside. Venues including The Phoenix Garden, The Hurlingham Club, Battersea Park Weddings, Woodberry Wetlands and Chelsea Physic Garden are all fantastic wedding venues that have open-air space for your ceremony and reception. Or, if you want a royal park backdrop, the Mandarin Oriental—which overlooks Hyde Park—is hard to beat.
Unique London Wedding Venues
London is such a diverse and historic city that there are also so many venues that reflect just how unique it truly is. You can choose a venue that ties closely to your interests, or is so unique that your guests will never forget your special day. The Queens House, London, Natural History Museum, The National Gallery, London Film Museum and ZSL London Zoo are just a sampling of some of the amazing venues you can choose from in and around London. For a venue with unique heritage charm, BMA House in Bloomsbury—a Grade II listed building located on the site of Charles Dickens’ former home—might just be “the one.”
Sports London Wedding Venues
Sports fans are also spoilt for choice when it comes to London wedding venues, with so many world-famous stadiums and sports grounds welcoming couples who have love not only for each other, but also for sports or a specific team. Cricket fans will love The Kia Oval and Lord's Cricket Ground, while rugby fanatics will go wild for Wasps FC. And when it comes to football, Arsenal Football Club, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and the iconic Wembley Stadium are just three stadiums to choose from. Another amazing venue to consider is Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, home to the hugely successful 2012 Olympic Games.
Affordable London Wedding Venues
London might be known as an expensive city, but there are also loads of affordable and budget-friendly venue options to choose from. And the best part is, you don’t need to compromise on quality just because you don’t want to spend a fortune. Just a small selection of affordable London wedding venues includes Le Gothique, Belair House, Coulsdon Manor Hotel, Ark Royal Venue and Thames Rowing Club.
London Wedding Venue Costs
Overall, couples are now spending over £7,800 (or 37.5%) more to marry in London (£28,629) compared to the national average (£20,775), and the same applies to the wedding venue. Couples in London pay an average of £7,020 for their wedding venue, notably lower than the national average of £5,945 (excluding catering). Venue costs in London tend to be higher than the national average due to demand and the city’s premium services. So, flexibility with dates or off-peak seasons may help reduce costs and still let you enjoy a wedding venue in the capital.
Of course, average costs can vary dramatically depending on many other factors, including the type of venue and what sort of packages are available. The breakdown above and the examples of specific venues are just that—examples—and therefore merely indicative and illustrative.
Average Wedding Venue Booking Lead Times in London
You should generally expect to book a ceremony or reception venue in London at least 12-18 months before your wedding. However, the average lead time can naturally vary, depending on the venue and the time of year.
It’s possible to find last-minute dates around only 6 months in advance, but you might need to be more flexible with your wedding date. For this, off-peak dates and weekdays will likely be your best bet, and often have much shorter lead times, as there will be less demand at such times.
However, as a rule of thumb, if you have your heart set on a specific venue in London, enquire with them as early as possible to maximise your chances of securing a booking. You’ll almost always need to pay your venue a deposit as a percentage of the overall cost to lock in your wedding date.