A fairytale wedding deserves a grand ballroom, with chandeliers and ornate ceilings. And there are plenty to choose from at London’s historic hotels.
Luton Hoo
Kimpton Fitzroy London opened in 2018, occupying a full block along the eastern side of Russell Square in Bloomsbury. The original building was designed by Charles Fitzroy Doll in 1898. The luxurious hotel has 334 bedrooms and suites, along with four restaurants and bars, a gym, eight meeting and events spaces - and a Grade II heritage listed ballroom.
As part of an £85 million refurbishment, the 19th-century ballroom at Kimpton Fitzroy London was restored to its former splendour. Today, the grand event space, which has a private entrance on Bernard Street, can host up to 350 guests, and boasts original architectural details, a full wall of windows and a mezzanine gallery.
The lower-ground floor, meanwhile, houses eight additional meeting and event spaces that can accommodate gatherings of eight to 80, with natural daylight and the same classic design aesthetic found throughout the hotel.
South Farm (photo: Nataly J Photography)
Another of London’s architectural gems is the Lansdowne Club, within walking distance of Green Park and Bond Street Stations. Over the course of almost 300 years, the club has played host to many of London’s most notable social events.
Designed by Robert Adam, one of the pioneers of neoclassicism, the restored Grade II listed ballroom here has 24-carat gold leaf vaulted ceiling and minstrel galleries and can host 190 guests for a banquet. The space can be tailored to your requirements, with a stage for speeches or live music, a dancefloor etc. The adjoining Long Gallery, with its arched windows, signature oak flooring, and barrel-vaulted ceiling, works well for the drinks reception.
South Farm (photo: Nataly J Photography)
The club’s boutique spaces are suited to smaller-scale events. The Shelbourne Room has been refurbished in light blues accented with white and has its own private anteroom and natural daylight. It holds 60 guests, while the Findlay Room caters for private dining for up to 20. The ballroom is also a focal point at The Berkeley, in Mayfair. It has a striking 3D ceiling, bespoke eucalyptus-wood panelling and inventive lighting.
Claridge’s Art Deco ballroom is a romantic space with rose gold mirrors and original crystal chandeliers.
One Great George Street, close to the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and St James’s Park, has a variety of rooms including the impressive Great Hall. The building has Neo-Palladian and Baroque interiors, yet is bathed in natural daylight from its glass-domed skylights.
From immersing yourself in historic architecture to - floating. Oceandiva London is a sustainably focused event venue on the River Thames that you can enjoy either moored or sailing. It holds 400 for dinner and dancing and up to 1,000 for standing receptions, in spacious and flexible event spaces, indoors and out.
Sail east of the river to enjoy London’s landmarks from the vessel’s upper deck. This is a good spot to welcome your guests on board and create a theatrical backdrop for your event and for capturing those special moments of your event. Or you might prefer to view the capital from a great height. Searcys at The Gherkin boasts 360-degree views from the top of one of the most recognisable skyscrapers in the city. The dome creates the illusion of one continuous curve, which is sure to impress from every angle. With a restaurant, bar and five private dining rooms, it is also a versatile space for weddings and ceremonies.
A nightclub provides a relaxed vibe where music and dancing is at the fore. At Faces, in Essex, for example, you get state-of-the-art sound, lighting and video, plus a great atmosphere.
Museums are the perfect way to reflect your interests and support arts and culture while partying in a stylish venue. Often guests will get a chance to admire the exhibits too.
V&A South Kensington has glorious Victorian architecture with a range of event spaces which feature classical sculpture and celebrated artworks, a soaring domed ceiling, a 19th-century terracotta façade, an elliptical pond with open-air terrace and a programme of acclaimed exhibitions for guests to enjoy.
Meanwhile, Young V&A, in Bethnal Green, is a Grade II listed building with a historic-meets-industrial feel. It has magnificent half-moon windows, wrought-iron balconies, a lofty arched ceiling, a dramatic spiral staircase and a hand-laid mosaic floor. Young V&A also offers a rolling programme of temporary exhibitions for guests to enjoy.
Landscaped gardens are an asset for summer simchahs, in particular. Fairmont Windsor Park stands in 40 acres of grounds and its 800 sq m pillar free ballroom has crystal chandeliers, coloured lighting, pillar free space and a large private foyer.
The estate at Luton Hoo, in Bedfordshire, features a rock garden, formal gardens, a 17th century mansion house and a weir and lake.
And on the Cambridgeshire/Herts border, South Farm is a place of twinkling fairy lights amid historic barn beams, gardens and orchards, rare-breed animals and flexible catering (kosher friendly with rabbinic guidance, Masorti guidance and supervision and vegetarian/pescatarian).
