Love in London: Museum wedding venues

With Valentine's Day this weekend, we know love is in the air here in London. Romantic events, or occasionally not so romantic events (check out the Jewish Museum's Fright Night this Thursday) will be plentiful in London's museums this week, but here at the Ministry we are thinking of a more long term celebration of love. In the competitive world of the city's wedding venues, we've picked out some of the best options for combining your ever-lasting love for your partner and of course, museums. Well weddings in London are of course exorbitant in price, at least with a museum venue your money is going towards funding cultural heritage! Here are out top 8 museum wedding venues to get your pulse racing this Valentine's Day...

1) The Garden Museum

With all these lovely venues to choose from, deciding who would be top on the list is no mean feat. There is so much to think about - ambiance, location, photo opportunities, cost, but we think the Garden Museum has it all. Ideally suited for those of you with a slightly more traditional bent, the Museum, which is housed in a beautiful sixteenth century church with a historic knot garden, brings the historic home feeling right to Lambeth. Situated next to Lambeth Palace and with stunning views of the Houses of Parliament, you are sure to get some enviable wedding snaps. It's also very affordable compared to many of the city's venues. Although the Museum is currently closed, it will be taking bookings for Spring 2017 ceremonies!

2) The Canal Museum

The Canal Museum in King's Cross might not necessarily be your first thought as a wedding venue, but its well known in the industry for its quirky vibe and fantastic value for money. With venue prices starting at about £900, its well below many of its competitors in price; plus its a licensed venue so you can have your legal ceremony and reception all in one place! The building itself is a Victorian ice warehouse (for making ice cream) that backs directly on to the canal- and you get all the exposed brick period features you can dream of. And if all that wasn't enough, you can arrive on your big day by boat.

3) The Steam Museum (Kew Bridge Steam Museum)

Slightly less central than the first two venues is the Steam Museum in Kew Bridge, but don't let that distract you. Housed in a former pumping station, the Museum is built around several three story nineteenth century steam engines that still work. And yes, for a price you can run some of the museum's steam engines on your wedding day. Your guests will wander through the beautiful industrial spaces while listening to music, or head out to a festival-style reception in the yard (home to a working joinery and forge). It's industrial-vibe is perfect for those who are looking for something a bit different, and the hire fees are also very reasonable. For a little extra, you can ride the miniature train to meet your guests. Clearly the best venues involve some kind of quirky transport.

4) The Museum of London Docklands

If an industrial feeling has peaked your fancy, then you might like the slightly larger Museum of London Docklands. The building itself is a nineteenth century warehouse and it carries a historic vibe throughout with its exposed beams, reclaimed floors and stunning brickwork. Situated right next to the West India Quay, there are plenty of opportunities for interesting photographs with some of London's dockside heritage. It's a bit more expensive than the previous venues, but more suitable for larger parties. Plus, you can take your wedding pictures in Sailor Town! Nothing says true love like pretending to be a hard drinking sailor in 1840s Wapping.

5) The Horniman Museum

So you'd love somewhere Victorian but want a space that's a little bit more 'pretty' than these industrial spaces, then the Horniman Museum is for you. Take your vows on the Bandstand and your photos in the beautiful gardens before heading to the Grade II listed Victorian Conservatory for a memorable knees-up! The Horniman Conservatory has to be one of the most beautiful wedding spaces in all of London, but unfortunately all this Victorian glamour comes with a pretty high price tag. Still, if you can afford it the Horniman makes for a glamorous wedding celebration.

6) The Pump House Gallery

Not technically a museum, but a lovely little art gallery in Battersea Park, the Pump House Gallery (you guessed it, in a nineteenth century pump house) combines art and history! The beautiful surroundings and the light airy spaces of the gallery make this venue best for a spring or summer wedding - plus then you can enjoy drinks by the lake. Although it's quite a small space, it definitely makes up for it in photo opps and very reasonable hire prices.

7) The Natural History Museum

So mostly we wanted to provide you with tips of less thought of and reasonably priced museums for your wedding- but c'mon, how cool would a reception at the NHM be?! Well - if you are struggling with where to put your 300 guests and you do have 20k to spare for venues fees, than this would be an amazing spot. Dance the night away beneath the arches of the Heintz Hall and descend its sweeping stone staircase for your introduction. It certainly would be memorable...

8) Jerwood Space

The Jerwood Space in London Bridge brings a bit of a modern-twist to our so far very historic list. Civil ceremonies and weddings in the Jerwood take place in its bright, white-clube style gallery space, and receptions in its Glasshouse. The surrounding industrial streets would be beautiful for photographs, and it is just the space for the more artistically inclined. Plus with hire by the hour fees, you can make your wedding as inexpensive or lavish as you can afford!

These are just a few suggestions that we love- but if you have any other fab museum wedding ideas but sure to let us know so we can add them! Now enjoy your Valentine's week you lovebirds. 

We swoon for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle #historyvalentine

My dearest Arthur,

I went to the Museum of London the other week to see their new exhibition all about your detective stories- they even had a little interview clip of you, so good to hear your voice again! But then it was the strangest thing- after you finished speaking about your creation of Sherlock Holmes they cut you off, before you could get to the wonderful things that made you...well you!

My darling as you are, undoubtedly, reading this in the afterlife, you are surely aware how much these 21st century people just adore your stories. Really they are so very popular, on TV and in the cinema - even though I think you'd find these modern Sherlocks a little bit young and funny-looking. But for some bizarre reason they seem to not remember that you were also the world's foremost Spiritualist! A beacon to us all! Come to think of it, there's actually quite a few things people don't seem to remember about you. Your valiant efforts for the country in the Boer War...I mean well in terms of your writing, it was hardly your fault that you were too heavy to enlist. I always did like a man with some meat on his bones.

For all your efforts, people still don't believe in fairies. I mean it's as if they never read your 1921 book The Coming of the Fairies. As if those little girls made those fairies out of paper, preposterous.

You would be pleased to know the Rochester Spiritualist Temple still exists in London, so not all your work is for not. I just find it so unbelievable that people don't remember you could actually speak with the dead!

To add insult to injury, Brits now absolutely love to ski yet do they remember who brought the sport form Scandinavia? No, of course not. Although actually this forgetfulness could be seen as a plus as they also don't seem to remember your failed career in ophthalmology. Never was for you darling.

Well, Arthur, I'll always remember these most lovable attributes about you. Well- I don't have to remember, you can tell me all about it at the next seance.

See you soon xxx

The Ministry Explains It All: London's Top 5 Museum Dates for Valentine's

Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching, and we know the number one thought on your mind is, ‘how do I pick the perfect museum date?’ Because, let’s be honest, museums are absolutely amazing for dates. They are usually free, often quiet, you can show of about something you know, or learn something new together. Basically a trip to one of London’s many fantastic museums plus the all-important gift of chocolate is the safest bet for a successful Valentine’s. If you need some inspiration about what museum best suits your sweetheart, don’t worry the Ministry has got it covered. 

1) There will always be difficulty in choosing a winner, so we have cheated slightly and picked one of our favourite places that isn’t a museum- the Dennis Severs House. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, the atmospheric historic home/art project that is 18 Folgate Street cannot be beat from romance potential. Go for one of their Silent Night Visits (Mondays and Wednesdays £14) and explore the house by candle light. The experience of walking through the reconstructed rooms in silence is very intimate, although maybe an idea best left for a trip with a date you already like. After you’ve drunk in the scented atmosphere of the past, get drunk in the more conventional sense at the nearby Water Poet. http://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/

2) Maybe we just find candlelight romantic, but we can’t help but think of the Sir John Soane Museum as the next logical choice for a date night. Unfortunately the Soane’s famous candlelit evenings are the 1^st Tuesday of the month (the 4^th of February in this case) but that's not to say it's not a good bet even in the daytime. The museum is still a great date location in the day and particularly in the late afternoons when the light is softer. Get lost with your date amongst the relics of past civilisations with plenty of discrete corners for a quick snog. Plus if your Valentine has a mind for design they’ll love the pop up exhibition ‘Cities and Other Ruins’ running until the 15^th. Holborn has plenty of excellent pubs for a drink after, try the Ship or the Princess Louise. http://www.soane.org/

3) If you are up for a different sort of evening entirely, why not see what your Valentine is made of and take them just across the way to the Hunterian Museum. While spending some time strolling amongst jars of picked people parts may not suit everyone’s tastes, it certainly is a different sort of date for the more morbidly curious. What isn’t romantic about a reflection on life and death through the ages? Not for the faint of heart but certainly a change of pace for those adverse to the more soppy side of the holiday. Recover at the cosy Seven Stars or if it’s too full the Knights Templar. www.hunterianmuseum.org

4) For a more conventional sort of Valentine, do what every young hip Londoner does and take them to the Tate Modern. The Turbine Hall and the Tanks make great locations for your next coupley Facebook picture. Brush up a bit of art history and wow your paramour with your knowledge and cultural prowess (yes dahhhling it’s all about de Chirico). Or for pop art lovers book ahead for the Richard Hamilton retrospective opening on the 13^th. Added bonus: the permanent displays are free and the gallery is open until 10am on Friday the 14^th! When you are done slink off to the South Bank for people watching, or to make it a really special night book a table at the restaurant. http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern

5) For a more off-beat date head to the British Library. Even if it might remind you of your school days, you’ll be quickly won over by the stunning building and the aesthetics glass-panelled stacks. You’ll have a chance to see their fantastic ‘Georgians Revealed’ exhibition and revel in the antics of our over-the-top 18^th century predecessors. Once you are overloaded with your love of books and Georgian celebrity culture, live the high life yourself by heading over to St. Pancras’ Searcys Champagne Bar. Impress your date and order ‘The Grand’ – champagne cocktail that includes 24 carat gold leaf. Thank us later. http://www.bl.uk/

Just for an added bonus- if you want to get out of central, head north to the newly refurbished Kenwood House for a calm oasis of art, architecture and landscape in Hampstead Heath. Hold hands in front of the Turners or admire the Moores in the garden. The vaulted Robert Adam Library is a must for book-lovers. Or maybe you are so loved up you won’t notice your surroundings at all, who are we to judge? Why not make a day of it and take a walk, enjoy the house and book a table at the quaint Spaniards Inn. Snuggle up next to the fire with a pint and maybe a ghost or two. Ah, sounds the perfect Ministry Valentine’s Day.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/kenwood/

My History Valentine: Frederick John Horniman (1835 – 1906) SocialReformer, Tea Endorser and South Londoner.

To my Darling Frederick John Horniman, 

Since our first introduction four years ago I have been struck with one of your many beautiful arrows and my life has changed. From a mere presence to an obsession you have shown me the world through your ethnographic pieces, Victorian curiosity,  love of tea and politics. 

All of this information has been learnt through your presence in history and what I have seen in your collection. I long to view your hand stroke the merman you so desired, the other clasped tightly around your spears whilst ogling the beautiful butterfly named in your honour. But you have been gone since 1906. 

My great love for you is fueled by your drive, to think that your enthusiasm to collect and subsequent philanthropy were all down to Tea. My love for the magical substance is as strong as those freshly packaged leaves, but I would give India's supply up to be your cup of tea. 




Your drive to collect may not have been as strangely obsessive as Henry Wellcome's, but your interests were specific to ethnography, India and natural history unlike that American who collected anything 'medical.' Your selection of ethnographic objects brought the world to Forest Hill, anthropologists out of their armchairs and south Londoners to an awesome museum they can call their own.

 I love to read about how your collection swallowed your home, filling all of the gaps. Your wife Rebecca's ultimatium,  (her or the collection!) disgusted me. I would have relished in the expansion of your curiosities,  prancing about the house dusting the beautiful objects and hopefully admiring your handsomeness.

Your passion as a social reformer, a man of politics and power drives me wild. I love a man who knows what he wants and will give it all up for the sake of the public, when I heard you had donated your collection to the London County Council in 1901 my heart flutted like the Papollo Horniman. 

I can continue to praise you but will you ever love me back? I would and will continue to love you more than you loved your collection and wife combined. I know your standards are high, I heard whispers that you thought your own daughter to be so ugly that she couldn't be painted, so could my beauty match that of your ethnographic masks?

 I only hope we can meet one day, and I can find out if your name reflects your personality.

Yours forever, 

Terri