16 unique wedding venues in the UK for alternative couples

The best alternative wedding venues in the UK cover almost every dream and style you could imagine, from serene design-led spaces to bohemian festival sites.

Updated on 20 January 2025

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16 unique wedding venues in the UK for alternative couples

The skies are blue, a string quartet plays on the lawn and a Champagne reception is there to greet your guests. Sounds gorgeous, doesn’t it? Well, that’s because it is, but it doesn’t mean it’s perfect for every couple. Some couples, who aren’t envisaging the big white wedding, might dream of something a little different - whether that day includes rustic street food, a small room for an intimate ceremony, or a totally modern hotel with glass panelling. If you fall into that category, one of the UK’s most unique wedding venues for alternative couples might be for you.

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We know that finding your dream wedding venue can be nothing short of overwhelming - it’s a really big task, and finding somewhere that speaks to you as a couple is integral to your big day. You’ve likely already decided that you want something a bit out of the ordinary for your wedding, and now you’ve got the task of finding the perfect alternative wedding venue.

Perhaps the size of the venue takes priority for you, or you have a strict budget in mind. Well, we’ve pulled together a list of the most unique wedding venues for alternative couples across the country, offering up hotels, restaurants, town halls and even a distillery.

Get sifting through our list of the best quirky wedding venues for alternative couples in the UK, from restaurants that celebrate musical artistry to venues that hark back to a forgotten ancient age. All of our wedding venues have something special and unique to offer, so you’re set to find something spectacular. If you need a further helping hand with finding a wedding venue that suits your style, check out our list of some of the best wedding fairs and open days across the country.

Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Hampshire

wedding ceremony with glass sculpture behind

What: Calling all gin and spirit lovers! We've got the wedding venue for you. If you're looking to celebrate at an unusual wedding venue, Bombay Sapphire Distillery might just be your cup of tea. Available for exclusive evening wedding receptions and blessing ceremonies in front of the pond and Mediterranean Glasshouse. This is where Bombay Sapphire grows its botanicals, and in the summer months, you can host a reception on the patio with these sparkling fixtures as your background. Alternatively, The Mill Bar and Terrace - a multi-level area for cocktails and fizz - overlooks the River Test, and includes hire of the Entrance Hall for a dancefloor or buffet. As alternative wedding venues go, this is one of the most memorable.
Where: Laverstoke Mill, Whitchurch, RG28 7NR
Find out more: Bombay Sapphire Distillery

Oxford Town Hall, Oxfordshire

wedding tables in large hall with ornately carved ceiling

What: Oxford Town Hall is certainly a wedding venue that is steeped in history and grandeur. A stunning Grade II listed building, the Oxford Town Hall can be traced back to 1897, was opened by the Prince of Wales. It's retained its majestic architecture, offering endless photo opportunities, from the sweeping stone staircases to the charming alcoves and elegant balconies. The largest space is the Main Hall. Complete with a soaring domed ceiling, this space can accommodate up to 500 guests with additional seating around the upper levels. There are smaller rooms, too, including The Assembly Room with its old-world vibe, the more intimate St Aldate's Room, and the more eccentric Court Room which still has the original dock and benches from when this was a functional courtroom.
Where: St. Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1BX
Find out more: Oxford Town Hall

Swanley Meadows, Cheshire

bride and groom at festival wedding on gress

What: If you're a couple that leads busy lives, and you want to truly switch off from the hustle and bustle for this one, very important day, consider Swanley Meadows. Beside the River Dane in the Cheshire countryside, Swanley Meadows is tucked away, accessible via a winding track at the bottom of the owner, Jenny's, family farm. Nearby, tranquil waters will run through the river while bees buzz around the wildflower meadow. Swanley Meadows is a photographer's dream. From May through to September, four interconnected tipis combine to facilitate your special day. You can separate the tipis as needed – picture a dancing tent, a live music hub and one that serves food. If you'd prefer to say I do outside, the 200-year-old beech tree is a brilliant setting.
Where: Bank Lane, North Rode, Congleton, CW12 2PJ
Find out more: Swanley Meadows

Baltic Centre For Contemporary Art, Tyne and Wear

bride looks out at river tyne with Tyne bridge behind

What: Set on Gateshead Quayside, the Baltic Centre For Contemporary Art is a truly special wedding venue. Known as a fantastic art gallery, it's housed in a former industrial flour mill and has beautiful views of the River Tyne, so you can say ‘I do’ with one of the country’s most iconic bridges in the distance. If views over Newcastle and the Tyne sounds like you, the Balcony is the ideal location. Alternatively, the Gallery space, on level one, is perhaps the most unique of the venue's wedding locations. Naturally, it's a fitting location to exhibit your love, emerging as a blank canvas for you to decorate to your heart's content. Perhaps you'll line the aisle with candles and foliage, or opt for a moody atmosphere with dark lighting. 
Where: Quays South, South Shore Road, Gateshead, NE8 3BA
Find out more: Baltic Centre For Contemporary Art

Aviator Hotel, Hampshire

Staircase made to look like a plane staircase

What: The Aviator Hotel Hampshire is the perfect choice for the couple who wants something that's stretching just from the more traditional, into a little alternative. If, as a couple, design is something you're passionate about, then the Aviator Hotel Hampshire has exactly what you'll be looking for. There are photo opportunities at every turn. For example, the Cody Room, an intimate space for just 20 people, is decked out in a rich teal blue colour, with grand candelabras on the table and dark oak furnishings. You'll have the chance to choose from a selection of packages that are designed to make your day all that much easier, whether you're searching for luxe, deluxe or the ultimate package.
Where: 55 Farnborough Road, Farnborough, GU14 6EL
Find out more: Aviator Hotel Hampshire

Crazy Bear Stadhampton, Oxfordshire

wedding tables with colourful interiors and lights

What: Lights, camera, action! Crazy Bear Stadhampton is one of Oxfordshire's most eccentric wedding venues, and definitely suited to alternative couples looking to get hitched. Tucked away in the Cotswolds countryside, the venue has everything you need for a special celebration, whether you're hosting a small handful of guests or everybody in your phonebook. Just imagine this – you enjoy your wedding breakfast in a cosy marquee with billowing white satin overhead, lights string from every direction and unique lighting hangs down above the tables. In the evening, you'll have the chance to enjoy your very own firework show, before heading to one of the hotel’s uniquely decorated bedrooms.
Where: Bear Lane, Stadhampton, OX44 7UR9
Find out more: Crazy Bear Stadhampton

Horizon 22, London

wedding table with city at night visible from window

What: It’s hard to find a unique wedding venue in London, we know that. Strange as it seems, being the capital, it’s easy to feel like every wedding venue in London is a copy of another. But, there is an alternative option out there for you - meet Horizon 22. This is the highest event space in London and is certainly a wedding venue that your guests won’t forget. As soon as your guests arrive, they’ll have their breath taken away. Set on level 58, you’ll step into a beautiful open space with soaring floor-to-ceiling windows and gorgeous 360-degree views of London’s skyline. With a capacity of up to 500 guests for standing receptions or 280 seated, Horizon 22 offers plenty of space to celebrate with everyone you love.
Where: 22 Bishopsgate, City of London, EC2N 4AJ
Find out more: Horizon 22

Bury Court, Hampshire

natural garden with old building with interesting turrets

What: If you've always imagined your wedding to be like something out of a children's fairytale book, then Bury Court is the place for you. The team at The Barn, Bury Court's wedding venue, know just how to put on a breathtaking affair and considers each wedding to be a passion project, not just to honour your love but for the venue itself. The barn is rustic and captivating, with low wooden beams and swinging chandeliers, but you could also choose to host your reception in the gravelled garden just outside, where huge trees line the way and wisteria hangs overhead. As for your photos, they will be nothing short of unique, too, with the chance to run through a wheat field and get some of the best snaps you could imagine.
Where: Hole Lane, Bentley, Farnham, GU10 5LZ
Find out more: Bury Court

Forever Green, Nottinghamshire

wedding ceremony with wood behind and pagoda

What: Want to say your vows in the very spot that Robin Hood declared his love for Maid Marion? Choose Forever Green, an independent, family run restaurant, wedding and conference venue that is surrounded by 70 acres of woodland in the Sherwood Forest. While Forever Green is open to the public throughout the week, you'll have total venue hire of the whole venue, and will have a dedicated events team that will ensure your dreams come true, so that you can enjoy the day. The beautiful venue has gorgeous views of the forest, offering three distinct rooms that are fully licensed to hold civil ceremonies and vow renewals, along with a marquee for larger weddings.
Where: Southwell Road, Ransom Wood, Mansfield, NG21 0HJ
Find out more: Forever Green

Harbour House, Somerset

bride and goom walking in riverside restaurant

What: Should you be looking for a unique wedding venue in Bristol, you should definitely consider Harbour House, a single-space venue that has everything you need to cater for up to 200 guests. Harbour House has a special history to it, set in a 19th-century transit shed that was said to be the private boathouse of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. You'll have breathtaking views of the water, and enjoy plenty of delicious options when it comes to your meal choices. The team at Harbour House have put on events and weddings with all kinds of themes in mind, so if you're hoping for an apres ski-themed affair, or fancy a cabaret singer in the evening, they've got you covered.
Where: The Grove, Bristol, BS1 4RB
Find out more: Harbour House

Hard Rock Café, Manchester

Music themed room with stage and guitar decor

What: That's right, you can have your wedding at the Hard Rock Café in Manchester. The name is recognisable across the world, thanks to its reputation of popping up in all great big cities. The team at the Hard Rock Café have been planning events for years, and now, the most special event you'll ever plan can be celebrated right here. Your wedding could cover two floors of the restaurant, with plenty of natural light, and of course, the Hard Rock Café's signature novelty decor with hanging music memorabilia and instruments. You know that you'll be well covered when it comes to food and drinks, too, with a crowd-pleasing selection of North American dishes.
Where: The Printworks, Manchester, M4 2BS
Find out more: Hard Rock Café Manchester

Le Café du Marché, London

wedding table in intimate restaurant with brick walls

What: If you’re a couple who considers themselves quite the Francophiles, then you’ve no doubt found your dream wedding venue in Le Café du Marché - a family-run restaurant that’s been running since 1986. This gorgeous space has an authentic French feel, are brought to life in a cosy, rustic setting on a cobbled Clerkenwell street. The restaurant is housed in a converted warehouse, built on top of a former coach house. Lucky for you, many of the building’s original architectural features are still intact, and you’ll also have the option to customise the venue’s decor. Make things even more French and opt for a croquembouche - a stunning tower of profiteroles drenched in golden caramel - instead of the traditional three-tier wedding cake. Bon appetit!
Where: 22 Charterhouse Square, Barbican, EC1M 6BX
Find out more: Le Café du Marché

Richmond Athletic Ground, London

bride in short dress walking on grass

What: Just to the side of the famous River Thames, the impressive 26-acre Richmond Athletic Ground offers a one-of-a-kind venue for your wedding. The Club Room is cosy, and elegantly decorated, complete with floor-length windows that bathe the room in natural light and a view of the pitches. There's also the option to enter through the stunning French doors. Then there's The Murray Judd Room which offers plenty of privacy and a full-length bar. For fans of the London Scottish or Richmond Rugby teams, you couldn’t choose somewhere better. The Richmond Athletic Ground is also a very flexible wedding venue, allowing you to erect a marquee on the pitch, choose your own caterers, and make the space truly your own.
Where: Twickenham Road, Richmond, TW9 2SF
Find out more: Richmond Athletic Ground

Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath

Bride and groom kiss in roman bath colonnade

What: If you're searching for a wedding venue that is spectacularly special from the moment you arrive to the last dance of the night, opt for The Roman Baths. A venue with the most fascinating 2,000 year history, The Roman Baths are steeped in romance and beauty. Suitable for weddings of all kinds, the small, the private ceremony and the grand. Your ceremony will take place just to the side of the baths themselves, first thing or later in the day, when the museum is closed. Can you imagine the photos here? Flooded with natural light, glows from the water and the most incredible architecture surrounding you. The Pump Room is a Georgian-era beauty that dates back to 1795, with a magnificent crystal chandelier, a stage, and plenty of space for dancing. 
Where: Abbey Church Yard, Bath, BA1 1LZ
Find out more: Roman Baths & Pump Room

Stockwith Mill, Lincolnshire

man playing bagpipes in front of old water mill

What: The expansive Lincolnshire Wolds are home to Stockwith Mill, a 17th century water-driven corn mill that acts as a tremendously unique and beautiful setting for couples tying the knot. There are two choices for your wedding day here - Millers Field and The Stables. For up to 100 guests, Millers Field is a beautiful and secluded five-acre field alongside the River Lynn, with spectacular views and the option to add bell tents. The Stables is a bit of a safer option if you're concerned about the weather. But, should the sun shine, you can still choose to host a bit of your day outside. This glorious setting features the stable's original exposed wooden beams and those spectacular views you'd expect of the Lincolnshire Wolds.
Where: Harrington Road, Hagworthingham, Spilsby, PE23 4NE
Find out more: Stockwith Mill

Thames Luxury Charters, London

bride and groom on boat by tower bridge

What: Now could you really ask for a more unique wedding venue than a boat floating down the UK's most famous river? We think not. Thames Luxury Charters offers a whole fleet of vessels ready to host your unique special day. Among them, The Elizabethan accommodates 200 guests standing, and 140 seated. It's the most popular choice, thanks to versatile features including a retractable roof for an open air experience with views of London landmarks. For grand celebrations, The Dixie Queen makes an iconic setting for up to 620 guests. In fact, it's so large Tower Bridge will rise up to let you pass. The Edwardian, meanwhile, is charming and intimate, perfect for weddings of up to 90 guests. 
Where: Butlers Wharf Pier, Tower Bridge, SE1 2YE
Find out more: Thames Luxury Charters

After flicking through our list of the UK’s most unique wedding venues for alternative couples, you’ve hopefully got a lot of ideas open to you. But if you’re struggling with the process of nailing down the perfect location, just take a look at our top tips on how to choose a wedding venue - we’ve covered all the bases so you can feel confident exploring your options.