The ultimate guide to: your perfect Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding
- Mar 15, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 7
Now updated for 2025!
If you're looking for a central London registry office to tie the knot at, The Old Marylebone Town Hall should be at the top of your list! Situated on the bustling Marylebone Road between Marylebone, Paddington, and Camden, this huge, iconic building is a stunning backdrop for your special day, as well as a very well-connected one, with dozens of train and tube stations within a short walk away.
The Old Marylebone Town Hall opened over 100 years ago in 1920 and has played host to the weddings of celebrities such as Sir Paul McCartney, Sean Bean, and Melanie Griffith. Getting married here starts from just £635, a bargain for such a stunning setting!
I've had the pleasure of photographing weddings at Old Marylebone Town Hall many times, so I've put together this guide to provide you with all the necessary information and photo ideas, as well as suggestions for nearby venues to host your wedding reception.
Getting married at The Old Marylebone Town Hall: The Basics
The Town Hall is the registry office for the City of Westminster, which has a great website with loads of information about getting married there, as well as other licenced venues in the borough. Their FAQ page is particularly useful for any questions you might have about how to book and what the process is. If you'd like to see the Town Hall before you decide on it as your wedding ceremony location, you can even book a physical tour here, or take a virtual one here.
Getting married in the Westminster Room
If you have a lot of guests, the Westminster Room, seating up to 100 guests, will be the ideal spot for your nuptials. Vast, with beautiful wooden panelling, and lots of light coming in through the windows, it is a great backdrop for your wedding ceremony, whether it be big or small.
Your wedding in the Westminster Room can take place at on and off peak times, and is booked alongside the Paddington and Marylebone rooms as they all connect in a chain, so that gives you the potential to use one of the other rooms for photography purposes, or for having your pre-wedding interviews.
Getting married in the Paddington Room
The wood-panelled Paddington Room has the capacity for eight people, for an intimate and informal ceremony in front of the carved fireplace. As said above, this room can only be booked when there isn't a ceremony going on in the Westminster or Marylebone rooms due to them interconnecting.
Getting married in the Marylebone Room
The small Marylebone Room is similar to the Paddington Room, but with the space for a few more guests, so you can have your perfect intimate wedding with up to twelve of your nearest and dearest. The ceremonies in this room also take place in front of a striking carved fireplace.
Getting married in the Mayfair Room
The Mayfair Room (and the following rooms) are far lighter and airier than the wood-panelled ones, so depending on the kind of vibe you want for your wedding ceremony and look you want for your wedding ceremony photos, this may sway your decision on which one to go for.
Unlike the previous rooms mentioned, the Mayfair Room can be booked for weddings solo, and has a capacity of up to 30 guests.
Getting married in the Knightsbridge Room
I adore the duck egg blue feature wall in this light and bright room, which also has a capacity of 30 for a ceremony in front of its striking fireplace. It's the only one in the town hall I haven't had the pleasure of shooting at, so no real wedding photos yet unfortunately!
Getting married in the Pimlico Room
Pimlico will always have a special place in my heart, as it is where my wife and I first lived together, so I love this room, which has space for up to 20 people. The light walls, fireplace, and carved mirror make a beautiful backdrop for your intimate ceremony.
Getting married in the Soho Room
If you want to keep it casual, opt for the Soho Room, with a capacity for up to thirteen people on its comfy chairs and large velvet sofa.
Photo Locations - the perfect places to take your Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding pictures
You're spoilt for choice on where to have your wedding photos taken at the Old Marylebone Town Hall, as it is stunning inside and out. You're also right on the doorstep of Regent's Park if you're after a greener look to your pictures, or the pretty streets of Marylebone for something more urban.
Old Marylebone Town Hall itself
Once the vows have been said and you've been proclaimed married, don't rush out of the building! The inside of Old Marylebone Town Hall is full of wedding photography opportunities. All the white marble lining the walls and grand staircase also means it is very bright and suits a light and airy style of photography well (which I'm always very grateful for!).
Before you step down the staircase, pause to take a moment on the attractive teal bench for a relaxed shot. You can take a moment just to be with each other and reflect that you're now married (!!!), as you'll be surprised by how little time you actually get to spend together on your wedding day.
Head on down the stairs, but make sure your photographer has gone first, so they can get some shots of you both descending, hand in hand.
After some casual photos on the top part of the stairs, you can pause on the landing for a wide shot of the final section of the staircase and the striking torches on either side. The shot below from Tereza and Pavel's wedding always makes me smile!
There's also a really nice window on the landing you can use for a snap!
Outside the Town Hall
The wide sweep of cascading steps at the front of Old Marylebone Town Hall are the perfect setting for some fun confetti shots as you exit as newlyweds. Make sure you arm your guests with plenty of confetti to make the most of it - the more colourful the better for lots of impact!
Once you're done with your confetti tunnel, the steps are great for family group photos, providing you have the time before another wedding party needs to depart. Staggering guests down stairs is always a great way to position large groups of guests so you can see all of their faces, so make use of the steps while they're free!
If you have time before you have to make way for another set of newlyweds, you can also take some couple photos at the top of the stairs and along the columned porch.
In the vicinity of Old Marylebone Town Hall
You don't have to venture far from the registry office to find other great spots in which to take your wedding photos. Just behind the town hall, you can find Salisbury Place, a quiet cobbled street which is perfect for a few shots of you and your new spouse.
If you'd like some additional photos in a more 'urban' setting, then you can proceed south further into Marylebone and find other similar quaint streets and beautiful period buildings, or even pop around the corner and have your photos taken outside 221B Baker Street if you're Sherlock Holmes fans!
But if you want something a bit greener, instead turn north to...
Take your wedding photos in Regent's Park!
One of the downsides to a lot of other central London registry offices is that they're not near enough to one of London's gorgeous parks to utilise them for your wedding photos. But the Old Marylebone Town Hall is situated less than ten minutes from Regent's Park, and has a wealth of different backdrops for you to enjoy. From fountains to waterfalls, to wide open spaces and a beautiful rose garden, there's something for everyone.
Now, do you technically have to have a permit to shoot in any of the Royal Parks? Well, yes. So it may be worth playing on the safe side and get one, if you don't want to worry. However, I've taken snaps there (and in other parks) quite a few times, and never had any problems. Hoping I haven't now jinxed myself...
Where to have your wedding reception after getting married at the Old Marylebone Town Hall
With the town hall being positioned so centrally in London, you can pretty much go wherever you like for your wedding reception in any direction! And if you do decide to head off further afield, take a leaf out of Adam and Caitlin's book and hire a vintage Routemaster bus to transport your guests. Not only does it make your lives a lot easier, it also looks great in photos!
But if you want to go somewhere within walking distance, here are a few suggestions!
The Landmark Hotel - a five-star establishment a few minutes walk down Marylebone Road with a breathtaking atrium, crying out to feature in your wedding photos.
Sir John Balcome - a pub with delicious food and private spaces to hire just behind nearby Dorset Square.
St Mary's Marylebone - a stunning Georgian hall well suited to larger wedding parties.
41 Portland Place - a beautiful townhouse with the added bonus of outdoor space!
Regent's Conferences and Events - a huge outdoor space to hire within the park itself, absolutely perfect for a summer wedding and handy if you'll already be in the park taking your photos.
Thinking of a Wedding at Old Marylebone Town Hall?
Go for it! It’s one of the most iconic London registry offices, combining style, history, and convenience.
If you’re looking for a relaxed, documentary-style London wedding photographer who knows this venue inside out, I’d love to hear from you.
Check my availability or request my brochure by hitting the button below!
Frequently asked questions
How do we book our wedding ceremony at the town hall?
Bookings are through the City of Westminster’s official site!
Is confetti allowed on the steps?
Yes — biodegradable confetti is permitted and makes for an iconic exit photo on the main steps.
Where are the best photo spots nearby?
Inside: the marble staircase and teal bench.
Outside: the steps and columns.
Nearby: Salisbury Place, Regent’s Park, and Baker Street.
Do you photograph LGBTQ+ weddings at the Old Marylebone Town Hall?
Absolutely! All couples are welcome, and I do a lot of queer weddings at venues across London.
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