Your ultimate guide to the most stylish registry offices in London

Are you engaged and looking to hold a civil ceremony or a wedding in a town hall venue in London? Then I can help you find the perfect one! You have so many incredibly beautiful options to choose from (and of course some much less attractive ones). As a wedding photographer, I know how important it is for you to find a genuinely lovely registry office venue in London that suits your style and vibe as a couple. So with so many beautiful options to choose from, where on earth do you start? Here’s your ultimate guide to finding the best and most stylish registry offices in London (from a wedding photographer because of course I want you to have the most gorgeous wedding pictures!)

Registry offices are perfect if you’re planning a small elopement or a micro wedding in London. Lewisham is my nearest registry office, but having registered my daughter there when she was born, I’m not in love with it’s aesthetics as a wedding venue as much as I love the convenience of it being super local. You can check which is your nearest registry office in London here: https://www.gov.uk/register-offices 

Luckily, you don’t have to get married at your local registry office but you do have to give notice there at least 29 days before your ceremony date. Once that’s done though, London is your oyster when it comes to choosing a town hall venue to tie the knot. Here’s my rundown of the most stylish venues that, as a wedding photographer, I urge you take to a look at! 

With so many supremely photogenic town halls in London, there’s no reason at all that your civil ceremony can’t have all the charm and elegance you dream of on your wedding day and I’m here for it!

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Chelsea Old Town Hall in London is on Chelsea’s King’s road and is a lovingly restored grade II listed building with tons of original Victorian-era features giving a really authentic feel to the details in each room. The ceremony rooms vary in size and all have big beautiful windows that let in lots of light. It’s a bit of a dreamy venue for me as a photographer and I know there’s going to be lots of opportunity for some really stunning photographs. This is the most popular venue for my couples!

Located in the heart of Kensington and Chelsea, South Kensington and Sloane Square tube stations are conveniently close by, and of course you don’t need to live in the borough to get married here. There’s slightly different rates available for weekday weddings, so if you’re planning a really small micro style wedding then choosing a weekday date can offer some savings. 

You can actually hold bigger wedding receptions here as well, and if you’re planning a larger celebration then you can have 140 people at your ceremony and 180 for a dinner reception. You get a dedicated events manager to assist you with everything in the run up to your big day and the main hall has a fabulous sprung dance floor for your evening party, set against the beautiful architectural backdrop.

Where could we go for couple’s photos afterwards? I’ll whisk you off for some couple’s photos after your ceremony and there’s some absolutely gorgeous streets nearby. I usually take my couples on a walk down Oakley Street, taking in some of the cute little mews along the way, and stopping for photos by the fire station, on the crossings, ending up at the beautiful Albert Bridge! 

Find out everything you need to know about booking Chelsea Old Town Hall for your wedding ceremony here. 

See my blog post from a Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding here. 

Here’s some of my favourite spots for couple’s photos after your ceremony at Chelsea Old Town Hall!

The crossing near Albert Bridge is a favourite spot of mine… I’ll hold the traffic for you!

Albert bridge is a stunning spot for couple photos and easily walkable within 10mins from Chelsea Old Town Hall. 

My favourite hidden photo spot near Chealse Old Town Hall is No. 50 Cheyne. They always have absolutly stunning seasonal floral displays outside and it’s a beautiful spot just opposite the Albert Bridge. 

The King’s Road is absolutly chocka with busses and they make for a really fun wedding portrait! Let me know if you want to try this one. I’ll bring my tripod along and get you to stand really still while the bus goes past. I love getting creative with couple’s photos!

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Situated a short stroll away from Highbury & Islington Overground station, Islington Town Hall in London is known for its striking Art Deco architecture. Featuring a grand marble staircase and ornate details throughout you can host up to 85 guests here. 

The rooms include the largest Council Chamber, a stunning wood paneled room featuring a vaulted ceiling, beautiful stained-glass windows and a striking red carpet for your wedding entrance. 

The Richmond Suite features original Art Deco details, oak paneling, high elaborate ceilings and a beautifully ornate fireplace with dried flower displays can host up to 60 guests. 

The popular Room 99 with its high ceilings and airy mid-century feel is decorated in a simple oak, grey and white and can host up to 20 guests. You can also book the anteroom to have some getting ready photos together before or after your ceremony. 

More information: https://www.sayidoislington.com/town-hall/

For me, Old Marylebone Town Hall is simply the most stylish registry office in London offering a blend of classic elegance and modern sophistication with an iconic clock tower and lovely airy ceremony rooms. 

Choose from the Westminster room with luxurious wood paneling and plush carpets, or the Knightsbridge room with a feature fireplace painted in muted greys with velvet seating for 30 guests. 

The Pimlico room which seats 20 guests features paneled walls, a gorgeous fireplace and a gold chandelier. You can take a 360 tour of all the rooms on their website. 

More information: https://www.adaytoremember.london/old-marylebone-town-hall

After your ceremony, I’ll take you for some couple’s portraits in the gorgeous little mews behind the town hall. My favourite spot is this bright blue door as I’m always on the look out for a pop of bold colour!

Hackney Town Hall is a stunning but unusual registry office in London, featuring two state of the art glass roofed atria giving a modern outdoors meets indoors feel to your ceremony. 

The original 1930s building includes the wood paneled Council Chamber and Committee Rooms. There is plenty of space for up to 250 people for a dinner dance and as this registry office can host a few more guests than others, it’s perfect if you’re planning to hold a reception here as well. 

More information and image credit:https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-venues/hackney-town-hall_5893.htm

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Situated opposite Kings Cross station, Camden’s registry office is right in the heart of London and features some grand architecture with a marble staircase. 

The council Chamber seats 80-160 guests and has lovely skylights and the original u-shaped council seating. In the Regents Room there’s a lovely botanical feel with draping plants and cacti to add a bit of greenery to the space which can seat 20 guests.  

You have your choice of local spots for wedding photos after your ceremony too. Plan to take a stroll down to Russell Square, Regent’s Park, or catch the fountains in Granary Square for your wedding photos. 

More information and image credit: https://tietheknot.camden.gov.uk/regent-s-room

Situated right in the centre of Brixton, Lambeth Town Hall is an elegant building offering a range of beautifully decorated rooms for your ceremony. The Olive Morris Suite in luxurious grey velvet can seat up to 40 guests. For couples looking for a bit of colour on their wedding day, the Pauline Room has a gorgeous floral wall display and bright fuschia velvet chairs for up to 20 guests. 

The Circular Hall with its original Edwardian architecture has some beautiful stained glass, lovely big windows and views out over central Brixton. The Council Chamber is a double-height space, with a deep coved ceiling with a high dome, illuminated by beautiful original Edwardian era chandeliers. You can book the Council Chamber at Lambeth Town Hall for 2 hours making it a great option to hold your drinks reception there as well. 

For David Bowie fans (like me!) the Bowie room is a lovely choice of venue to tie the knot in, with a capacity for a small ceremony of 10 guests, and of course there’s the opportunity to have your couple’s photos taken next to the famous mural on Tunstall Road! 

More information and image credit: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/choose-love/marriages

Located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich in South East London. Woolwich Town Hall is a Grade II listed building, renowned for its impressive Victorian architecture and historical significance. Designed by Alfred Brumwell Thomas, the town hall was constructed in 1899 in the Edwardian Baroque style, featuring grand columns, ornate detailing, and a distinctive clock tower. 

The Council Chamber has beautifully  high ceilings and intricate woodwork, and there are smaller more intimate committee rooms available for More intimate weddings.

I love Woolwich Town Hall for its proximity to the Thames path which winds its way along the river all the way up to North Greenwich with loads of really unique opportunities for couples photos along the way. 

Greenwich park nearby also has  numerous opportunities for beautiful nature inspired wedding photos including the formal flower gardens, tree lined avenues and some absolutely stunning views looking out over the London skyline.

More information: https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/directory_record/3431/woolwich_town_hall

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Located in central Bromley but set back in the stunning Bromley Palace park and gardens In my opinion, Bromley registry office in London is truly one of the most beautiful. Situated on the Civic Centre site, it includes the old Bishop’s Palace which was built in 1775, and lends a very grand atmosphere to the whole site of the registry office. 

The beautiful grounds are perfect for photographs of your special occasion, and are available for all ceremonies booked at the Civic Centre which can host up to 130 guests for your wedding ceremony and reception. 

All overlooking the grounds, there is a suite of rooms, including the main Function Room and the Chairman’s Room for smaller ceremonies. After the ceremony, wedding parties can go into the grounds via the beautiful French windows out onto the colonnade. 

You have lots of options for photographs at this stunning venue including in the gravelled courtyard, on the staircase in the entrance hallway of the Palace, as well as in the two ceremony rooms and the sprawling palace park grounds.

More information, image credit and video tours: www.bromley.gov.uk/gethitched

The Bexley registry office in London is located in Danson House, which is a stunning Grade 1 listed Georgian villa designed by Sir Robert Taylor, the architect of the Bank of England, built in 1766. Set in more than 200 acres of beautiful scenery in Danson Park, the venue overlooks greenery on all sides and the lovely Danson Lake. This is a registry office in London that also brings a bit of scenic charm set in one of South London’s many beautiful green spaces.  

Danson House is a fine example of 18th-century grandeur, featuring elegant columns, symmetrical façades, and elaborate interior details which really give you a sense of the opulence of the Georgian era. Choose from the Dining room with a capacity of 65 guests, the Salon for 45 guests and the Johnston room which seats a smaller party of 12. 

You’ve got so many opportunities on site for photographs in Danson Park that you’ll hardly need to think about going anywhere else for your couple’s photos. But if you do want to plan a couple’s photoshoot with  a nature inspired vibe, you also have the beautiful Oxleas woods nearby which are just stunning throughout the year. 

More information and image credit: https://www.akentishceremony.com/register-offices/danson-house/

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