LGBTQ+ & GAY WEDDING VENUES IN LONDON
THE MOST PHOTOGENIC LONDoN LGBTQ+ WEDDING VENUES
As an LGBTQ+ wedding photographer, I understand how important it is to find a wedding venue in London that is gay & LGBTQ+ inclusive. Your wedding planning journey often starts with booking your wedding venue, so it’s essential the location in which you say ‘I Do’, celebrates and embraces your LGBTQ+ wedding plans. The great news is, if you’re planning a London wedding, there is endless chocie when it comes to finding a wedding venue that exactly matches your vision. Whether you’re seeking iconic views of the city from The Shard or The Gherkin, wanting to exchange vows surrounded by that lush foliage at Kew Gardens or looking to party on the River Thames, London has a wedding venue for every couple.
From stately homes, to beautiful gardens, roof top terraces to riverside resturants, your London LGBTQ+ wedding venue options are pretty much limitless. There is lots to consider when it comes to choosing the right venue for your queer wedding (sign up below for a definitve checklist), but there are some key advantages to hosting your wedding in the the capital. London is an easy city to travel to for guests coming from further afield; be that within the UK or overseas, and there is plenty of accomondation options available for those not wanting to leave the wedding reception shenanigans too early. The multicultural nature of London also means that you can esily incoporate customs, cuisine and clothing from a range of cultures, faiths and influences.
London is also a fabulous city for wedding photographs, with it’s famous landmarks and sights creating vibrant and stirking backdrops. Fancy a kiss in front of the London Eye or a romantic embrace on board a London red bus? Maybe photographs amongst some impressive architecture are more your thing, so you’d love to find a wedding venue near the Barbican or perhaps the artsy area of Shoredtich is more your cup of tea.
Below I have listed ten of my favourite LGBTQ+ wedding venues in London, each offering features that can make your wedding day magical. At the very least, the variety of venues below shold demonstrate that a your London gay wedding can be anything you want it to be, and can take place slap back in the centre of the city or amongst the beautiful outskirts of Greater London.
BANKING HALL
Located in the centre of the Square Mile in central London, Banking Hall is a stunning luxury Art Deco wedding venue well worth adding to your ‘to-visit’ list. The Grade ll listed building was formally the headquarters of Lloyds Bank, but now serves as a fantastic venue for your special day.
ISLINGTON TOWN HALL
Situated in Upper Street in (you’ve guessed it) the London borough of Islington, Islington Town Hall is an incredibly popular venue for exchanging your vows. Featuring a stunning marble staircase, a gorgeously eye-catching corridor (perfect for post-ceremony couple shots), and a façade that lends itself to fabulous confetti photographs, this listed building is a great backdrop for saying “I do”.
KEW GARDENS
There are few London wedding venues as iconic and well known as Kew Gardens. Located on the banks of the River Thames, Kew Gardens features 320 acres of stunning horticulture and is less than 7 miles from central London. Kew is home to over 30,000 plant species and 40 listed buildings and structures, and 5 of these can become the centrepiece for your wedding celebrations. Couples travel from across the globe to host their wedding here, and it is easy to understand why.
MORDEN PARK HOUSE
Morden Park House is a Georgian Manor House built in 1770 and is located in the beautiful surroundings of Morden Park. Since the year 2000, it has been home to Merton Registry Office and can be hired out for your wedding or civil ceremony. Throughout this period, couples have been able to exchange vows in one of three ceremony rooms or the outside gazebo, before heading off to celebrate elsewhere. However, Morden Park House can now also hold your wedding reception and party due to the addition of a permanent marquee.
OXO2
Located on the second floor of the infamous OXO Tower on London’s South Bank, OXO2 is a beautiful bright weddings and event space offering views that look out onto the river Thames. Modern and contemporary in design, OXO2 offers a blank canvas on which to create a wonderfully unique wedding styled to your personal taste.
SEARCYS AT THE GHERKIN
One of the most iconic buildings of the London skyline, The Gherkin is instantly recognised by Londoners and tourists alike. Imagine having your wedding day inside this stunning venue, with its 360-degree views of the capital, and extensive attention-to-detail when it comes to hosting special events. Your wedding day will be a talking point for guests for years to come.
ST BARTS BREWERY
Situated next to Smithfield Market, in the heart of London, St Bart’s Brewery provides an incredible location for your post wedding ceremony partying. Overlooking St Paul’s and with a variety of urban backdrops for your wedding photos (including a private garden for your exclusive use), St Bart’s Brewery is worth adding to your prospective wedding venue list.
TOWER BRIDGE
Wedding venues don’t get any more breathtaking than Tower Bridge. One of the most recognised and photographed London Landmarks, many people don’t realise that they can say “I do” within this historic building. Tower Bridge offers not one but three spaces for your wedding celebrations; two of which are licensed for the ceremony itself, whilst all three can provide the backdrop for your drinks and reception. You have a choice of hiring one, two or all three spaces for your wedding day.
VICTORIAN BATH HOUSE
Located in Bishopsgate, just a stone’s throw from London Liverpool Street station, this beautiful wedding venue is Grade ii listed and dates back to 1817. As you have probably already guessed, this fabulous building used to be a Turkish bathhouse but has been stylishly refurbished and repurposed.
WILTON’S MUSIC HALL.
A stunning, atmospheric theatre, Wilton’s Music Hall is a truly unique and magical space to hold your wedding. It’s beautiful archetecture and lighting lends itself to amazing wedding photographs. The staff are extremely helpful and accomodating and will help you to create a day that feels incredibly special.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR LGBTQ+ WEDDING VENUE
It goes without saying that viewing several gay / LGBTQ+ / queer wedding venues in and around London, will give you the best sense of what you want and what will suit you best. Even if you fall in love with the first London wedding venue you go to visit, arrange some tours of alternative venues to broaden your perspective and ensure you are making an informed decision.
Before each visit, make a list of questions that relate specifically to your wedding needs and requirements. Generic lists from the internet are useful but not always relevant to your day. They also don’t give you much information on what type of answers you should be looking for – that is very much dependent on what matters most to you.
Some of these questions may have been answered on the venue’s listing page here on my site or on their own website, but there might be some specific question you want to ask in relation to LGBTQ+ weddings. I’ve listed a few examples below.
- Have your staff (both permanent and contract) received any training in diversity and inclusion?
- Do you have an inclusion policy?
It’s important to ensure that not only does the wedding venue coordinator have an understanding of the importance of inclusive language and customer service, but that any individuals or companies they employ on a regular basis have also been made aware of any polices in place.
- Do you actively promote LGBTQ+ weddings and LGBTQ+-owned suppliers?
- Are there any LGBTQ+ couples we can talk to about their experience of getting married here?
Remember that just because a venue (or any other wedding supplier) is happy to take money to be part of your London queer wedding, they may not have truly taken the time to understand how to be truly inclusive and supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.
HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR LONDON WEDDING VENUE VIEWING
Aside from asking the right questions, there are several other things you can do to make sure you get the best from each wedding venue visit you book (and yes – please always book and don’t drop in unannounced). Firstly, there are the practical things such as checking the weather forecast, checking travel times and avoiding any disruptions on the road or public transport. Also wear comfortable shoes and comy clothes.
Take lots of photos and make notes too. If you are visiting lots of venues you can quickly lose track of which venue offer what.
Once at the venue, think about where might be good for photographs – both within the venue grounds and in the local area. Is there enough parking guests arriving by car?
How bright or dark is it inside the venue? If it’s a beautifully sunny day are there some cool shady spots outside (also good for photos), and would the venue feel very different if the weather happened to be not so great on your wedding day?
Try to notice little details that your venue tour guide might gloss over, such as the cleanliness of the windows and whether the ceilings are free of cobwebs. Grand installations or stunning wallpaper are fab features but basic cleanliness and caretaking shouldn’t be overlooked too.
Think also about accessibility for any guests with a disability or who are older and may need reasonable adjustments to be made.
Try to consider the mood of your wedding – do you want a loud and vibrant day with all your guests partying together or do you want a more chilled approach with plenty of areas for smaller groups and couples to sit and chat? A venue with lots of little rooms and areas are great if the chilled vibe appeals to you, but would not be so great for an ‘everyone on the dance floor’ evening celebration. Even the bar being in a different room to the entertainment can impact how your guests spread out and interest with each other.
For more information and advice on finding your perfect LGBTQ / queer/ gay wedding venue in London, subscribe to my email series.