Late availability - weekdays and weekends in 2024 still available! Riddle’s Court offers an intimate and romantic setting for your wedding ceremony or special occasion. It is just a short walk from both the Royal Mile Registry Office and St Giles Cathedral in the centre of the picturesque Old Town of Edinburgh. Riddle’s Court is full of stunning details that help your day feel like a part of Edinburgh’s history – from elaborate ceilings, chandeliers and the charming courtyards to the stunning onsite accommodation where King James VI once held a royal banquet, there’s a host of opportunities to capture your special day. Prices start from £800+VAT depending on what your celebration looks like, and we have limited late availability in 2024. We also have package options which include exclusive use of the entire building and our honeymoon suite. Restored by Scottish Historic Buildings Trust in 2015-2017, Riddle's Court is a historic jewel in Edinburgh's Old Town. Hidden until recently, it is a historic and atmospheric building. A unique venue for exceptional events and spectacular entertaining, with modern amenities and full lift access.

Personal Message from the Manager

Name of Wedding Contact: Taylah Egbers

Firstly, a huge congratulations on your engagement! You must be so excited to start planning your special day. Finding the perfect venue is where the fun really starts, and we are thrilled that you have considered Riddle’s Court, (Edinburgh's Top Rated Venue 2023) in your search. We've seen plenty of different weddings over the years and we're dedicated to making your wedding personal and unforgettable!

Experience

Year Business Was Established

1985

No. of Weddings Hosted

More than 50

Public Liability Insurance

Yes

No. of People In Team

Overview of Riddle's Court

Venue Type

City Hotel

Venue

Dining Capacity

Reception Capacity

Usual Access Time

12:00 PM

Usual Finish Time

12:00 AM

Ceremony & Reception

Church Within Walking Distance

Confetti Permitted

Sound System Available

Wedding Licence

Venue

Disabled Access

Grade I/II Listed Building

Bridal Changing Facilities

Exclusive Use

City View

In-House Wedding Coordinator

Food and Drink

Alcohol Licence

Corkage Charge for Own Alcohol

Kosher Catering

Halal Catering

Asian Catering

External Catering Permitted

Pricing for Riddle's Court

Venue Hire Only

Prices Start At

£800

Maximum Price

£5,600

From intimate ceremonies to full day weddings, Riddle’s Court offers a variety of options to fit your needs- request our brochure to find out more information. Your hire will include the use of our ornate chivari wedding chairs with a choice of ivory or blue seat pads, any onsite decoration you may wish to use, and a dedicated event coordinator to help plan the special day.

What is included in this pricing:

Choice of preferred caterers

Wedding coordinator available on the day

Private room(s) included (non-exclusive use)

Exclusive use

Day before set up available

Couple accommodation included

External caterers not permitted

Furniture included

Packages
(total price)

Prices Start At

£500

Maximum Price

£5,600

Number of Guests Included

What is included in this pricing:

Exclusive use

Furniture included

Couple accommodation included

Wedding coordinator available on the day

Non consumables (e.g. linen, lights etc.)

Reviews for Riddle's Court
(36)

Elspeth and Tom

Happy couple married in July

August 2024

Full of charm

Having our wedding at Riddle’s Court was a magical experience. The historical building is full of charm and was perfect for our party size. The team were so welcoming and accommodating from start to finish and made sure our day ran smoothly. My only regret is we didn’t get a photo taken in the accessible toilet with the bread oven! I cannot recommend Riddle’s Court highly enough.

Oskar Gilchrist-Grodnicki (Celebrant)

Wedding: July

August 2024

Excellent from start to finish

"The team at the Riddle's Court goes above and beyond and not only for their couples. As a celebrant, I was approached in advance of the event to check on my plans of arrival and any details that might come in handy for the team ahead of the big day. On the day itself we had a little run-through before the Grooms arrived, so I was ready to meet the couple and their guests and deliver the best ceremony knowing that the venue was prepared for all eventualities. Excellent team!"

Ochre Botanical Studios

Wedding: July

August 2024

A gem in the wedding industry

As wedding florists, we have had the pleasure of working with numerous venues over the years, but Riddles Court truly stands out as a gem in the wedding industry. From the very first interaction, the team at Riddles Court consistently impresses us with their professionalism and attention to detail. Their coordinators are always prompt with their communication, ensuring that every detail is addressed in a timely manner. We highly recommend Riddles Court to any couple looking for a wedding venue.

Kate Godfrey Photo

Wedding: May

July 2024

Working at Riddles Court is a dream

Working at Riddles Court is a dream. The staff are very attentive, organised and keep everything running to schedule. As a photographer, sometimes organising large groups of people can be a challenge but the staff are always willing to step up and help direct. I have always felt well cared for and looked after as a vendor so I can only imagine how lovely they must be to customers!

Graeme and Gareth

Happy couple married in July

July 2024

A magical venue

A massive thank you for making our wedding so special. You had set up Riddles Court beautifully and we felt in very safe hands with your excellent organisation skills from start to finish. We couldn’t have been happier and everyone commented on how magical the venue was!

Alex and Alexandros

Happy couple married in July

July 2024

Everything we hoped for and more

Alexandros and I are incredibly grateful for the support from you and the entire team at Riddles Court. With a tight timeline to plan a wedding that was special and meaningful, your guidance through every step made all the difference. You provided not only a stunning venue but also an unforgettable wedding experience that we and our guests cherished. We wanted to showcase why we love Edinburgh so much, and you helped us achieve that beautifully.

Gussie & Neil

Happy couple married in May

June 2024

An absolute pleasure working with you

It was honestly an absolute pleasure working with you and your team. We really appreciated all the organisation support, the event checklist in particular was really helpful, and checking in to keep us on track. The communication was great throughout, we felt fully informed and all the responses we received were very helpful and answered all our questions. A lot of our guests said how lovely the venue was as well, and that they had a really lovely time.

Mary-Elizabeth and David

Happy couple married in May

June 2024

A Wonderful Experience

My husband David and I had a wonderful experience having our wedding reception at Riddle’s Court on 25th May 2024. Even from arranging to see the venue over a year before, Taylah consistently impressed us with her friendliness and organisational skills. No question was considered too small and every email was answered very efficiently. Our wedding reception was perfect. We would highly recommend Riddle’s Court to anyone planning their wedding. Thanks so much!

Page and Eddie

Happy couple married in February

April 2024

Most amazing wedding day

My husband and I had the most amazing wedding day at Riddle's Court. We would love to thank Erin and Hope especially for being our witnesses and making our day so special. Thank you so much!

Jennifer Glen Photography

Wedding: October

April 2024

I absolutely fell in love with the building

I absolutely fell in love with the building and all the staff were so lovely and helpful. The wedding coordinator was one of the best I've worked- so many disappear but she was present and attentive all day. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed I get to visit again soon.

Location & Contact Details for Riddle's Court

Website

Phone

Address

322 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, EH1 2PG, Scotland, United Kingdom

Travel Notes

Perfect for public transport or taxi drop-off, Riddle's Court is situated on the Lawnmarket, the top part of the Royal Mile in central Edinburgh. The nearest car park is about 5 minutes' walk away, but most guests opt to be dropped off just outside.

Nearest Town

Edinburgh

Nearest Motorway & Junction

M8, Junction 1

Nearest Train Station

Edinburgh Waverley Station

Nearest Airport

Edinburgh Airport

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Gallery

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FAQs

Find out a bit more from our FAQs

Describe the best wedding that happened at Riddle's Court?

It’s so hard to choose, but one in particular that stands out was in July when we hosted our biggest group of guests to date. We had been working with the couple for nearly three years, and after so many postponements, to see everyone finally gathered was extremely heart-warming. From the couple and guests to the suppliers and staff members at Riddle’s Court, everyone was overjoyed to celebrate.

What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?

Make the planning process fun, prioritise what you want to do and don't get bogged down by tradition! Don't book yourself in to create 70 DIY favours and invitations if you hate crafting, and don't stress about a first dance or cake cutting if it's not for you. Try to keep optimistic and plan for things that will make you happy. Once you realise that there's no 'one way' to have a wedding, it makes everything so much easier!

What’s your favourite personal touch you’ve seen at a wedding?

A recent couple decided to decorate the venue with their two favourite things: Lego and quirky patterned shoes! What made it even more personal was that each Lego model had a unique story relating to the couple’s relationship for all the guests to discover.

Describe Riddle's Court in 5 adjectives

Unique, romantic, historic, intimate, unforgettable!

Where’s the best photo spot at Riddle's Court?

Definitely our picturesque external staircase - it's the showstopper as you come off the Royal Mile!

Have you had any celebrity guest or wedding at Riddle's Court?

Not at one of our weddings, but Riddle's Court has seen its share of famous faces over the years - from King James IV and the Duchess of Buccleuch to Maggie Smith, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.

What’s your favourite canapé?

The mini potato scones with chive cream cheese and sun-dried tomato from our onsite caterers is a winner - though we've seen so many delicious canapes over the years, it's impossible to choose.

What’s your favourite midnight treat?

Any kind of ice-cream - but impartial to mint choc-chip!

What is Riddle's Court most unique feature?

This is a difficult question as there are so many unique features from throughout history at Riddle's Court. There is a spectacular painted ceiling that was commissioned in the 1890s that ties together the history of the building, the city, and the University of Edinburgh. In our onsite apartment, there are painted beams from a royal banquet held there in the 16th century - and not to mention our destination loo and great glass lift that you can only truly appreciate in-person!

What part of your business are you most proud of?

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is the charity who restored and who manages Riddle's Court - their mission is to restore at-risk buildings throughout Scotland for the benefit of the community and so they're sustainable and suitable for contemporary use. This means that all the profits from our weddings and venue hire go back into the charity - so a wedding with us is an investment into Scottish heritage. It doesn't get much better than that!

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