A prestigious venue that is as unique as your wedding.
Finding the perfect venue for your wedding is probably one of the biggest challenges you'll face in the course of planning your special day.
Built by Sir Christopher Wren over 300 years ago and sitting on the banks of the River Thames in London's fashionable Chelsea, the Royal Hospital offers a wide range of beautiful rooms and outdoor spaces to hire, plus the support of our experienced and dedicated events team.
In addition to beautiful surroundings, the Royal Hospital Chelsea can also provide picturesque backdrops for your photos, professional and creative caterers plus a host of practical attributes such as an easily accessible location and private parking.
The Royal Hospital is, of course, home to the world-famous Chelsea Pensioners, retired soldiers who have come to live in this very special place in their later years. So not only will your wedding celebrations take place against a backdrop of their extraordinary history, but you'll also have the satisfaction of knowing that profits from venue hire at the Royal Hospital go towards securing a future both for the buildings themselves, and for the Chelsea Pensioners who live here.
The Chapel
The beautiful Chapel in the heart of Wren’s original buildings features an impressive mural of The Resurrection by Sebastiano Ricci, and is home to a professional choir. Some people are eligible to get married or have Christenings here.
Whilst all are welcome to worship at the Chapel of The Royal Hospital, it is not a parish church but rather the Chapel of the Chelsea Pensioners, their staff and families and those closely connected with the Royal Hospital. Due to this, only weddings for those couples with exceptional connections are married here.
If you feel that you have an appropriate connection, you may wish to discuss the possibility of your wedding here with the Chapel Administrator, Maria Speight, 020 7881 5214. All bookings will then ultimately be dealt with by the Events Department.
At a glance
Capacity: 400
Available to hire for wedding ceremonies in conjunction with other venue spaces for the reception
The Great Hall
With its richly panelled walls, fine oil paintings and beautiful 17th century mural by Antonio Verrio, the impressive Great Hall is the largest of our indoor spaces and is little changed since Sir Christopher Wren first designed it more than 300 years ago. Linked to the Chapel by the Octagon, this room would be a fantastic choice for your wedding reception.
At a glance
Capacity for drinks: 400
Capacity for dinner: 250
Outside space available for additional hire: Figure Court
The State Apartments
The two rooms of the elegant State Apartments - the Council Chamber and the Ante-Room - boast a prestigious history of entertaining monarchs and other notable figures since the late 17th century and would make a stunning venue for your wedding reception. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and later embellished by Robert Adams, these beautiful rooms feature paintings by Van Dyke, Kneller and Lely, and important carvings by William Emmett, John Grove and William Cleere.
At a glance
Capacity for drinks: 250
Capacity for dinner: 100
Additional outside space available for hire: Figure Court
Figure Court
The elegant Figure Court lies at the very heart of Wren's original design for the Royal Hospital. Bordered by the State Apartments, the Chapel and the Great Hall, the courtyard space is graced by the imposing gilded statue of Charles II, created by Grinling Gibbons and presented to the King in 1682.
At a glance
Capacity for drinks: 400
Available for hire separately or in addition to the Great Hall and State Apartments
Ranelagh Gardens
Ranelagh Gardens is one of London's hidden gems. Tucked away in the extensive grounds of the Royal Hospital, these magical gardens provide an ideal outdoor space for a summer drinks reception or an alfresco wedding breakfast.
At a glance
Capacity for dinner/drinks: 200
Wedding Photography
Your wedding photographs will be treasured for years to come, capturing the special moments of your happy day. The Royal Hospital Chelsea offers a wide range of elegant and historic brackdrops, both inside and out, against which your photographs can be taken. Why not book a visit with your photographer before the big day? We will be happy to show them around and discuss all of the possibilities.
In Safe Hands
With years of experience, our dedicated events team understands just how important your wedding is to you and your family. Above all else, we believe that attention to detail is key to ensuring your special day is everything you dream it will be. We will be on hand to help with every step of the planning from the moment you first come to visit us, until your very last guest has gone home.
As well as finding the right space for your celebrations, we can also help with sourcing caterers, florists, photographers and guest accommodation. If needed, we can also offer advice on wedding photography and transport, and we will, of course, be there on the day to make sure everything runs to plan, so you can relax and enjoy your wedding day to the full.
You can download a brochure about our unique venue and what we can offer here.
To book a site visit or find out more, contact us on:
T: 020 7881 5250
E: RHCEvents@chelsea-pensioners.org.uk
