It’s an unmissable Westminster landmark, with its gorgeous neoclassical architecture and Corinthian columns. Even before entering the building, the façade itself sets the tone, with a picture-perfect stairway leading up to the entrance.
We’re of course talking about Old Marylebone Town Hall. The Grade II-listed building on Marylebone Road has been a sought-after wedding venue for celebrities and royalty alike since the 1960s – and even for the local community. Those looking for a classy, understated celebration in a historical setting know this is the place to book.
The history of Old Marylebone Town Hall
While Old Marylebone Town Hall is now primarily a wedding and ceremony venue, it actually started out as the local seat of government when it opened its doors in 1920.
It wasn’t until the 60s that the building’s purpose changed entirely, kick-started by a major restoration of the council chamber in 1968, which had been severely damaged during the Second World War. When renovations wrapped up, it was the registry office and the walnut-panelled ceremony rooms that became the heart of the town hall.
Barely a year later, one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings of the decade was celebrated at the renovated town hall, when Sir Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman tied the knot in March 1969.
Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach followed in 1981, then Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas in 1996, and Liam Gallagher and Patsy Kensit in 1997. Both Gallagher and McCartney even returned to the venue when they remarried in 2008 and 2011.
Dua Lipa’s intimate wedding ceremony
The latest couple to choose the historical London venue for their nuptials is pop star Dua Lipa and husband Callum Turner, who tied the knot with just eight guests at Old Marylebone Town Hall this Sunday.
While we don’t know which of the ceremony rooms the couple picked, almost any of them could have accommodated the small party. Many of the rooms at Old Marylebone Town Hall are rather intimate, such as the Paddington Room, which has a capacity of just eight people. Some others accommodate anywhere from 12 to 30. The grandest space – the Westminster Room – fits up to 100 guests, and includes a grand piano.
While this particular ceremony was rather intimate and understated, the couple apparently plans for a much larger party next week, with rumours of a grand three-day wedding in Sicily.
📍You’ll find Old Marylebone Town Hall at 97-113 Marylebone Road, NW1 5PT.
🚇 The nearest station is Marylebone.