The Wellington Arch will close from the 9th December 2011 and will reopen with a bang in May 2012 after an extensive refurbishment. The Wellington Arch is one of the most unique spaces in London and will be undergoing extensive refurbishment to its interior over the winter.
The addition of a new floor will give much improved access to the balconies and their amazing views across London and into Buckingham Palace gardens. For the first time we will also be installing state of the art conferencing facilities and WiFi throughout the event spaces giving our corporate clients a level of service to rival the best in the industry.
Capacities look set to increase slightly with intimate dinners for 40 and drinks receptions for 80; in addition a regularly changing exhibition on the lower levels means there will be something new to see with each visit.
This unmissable London landmark in the middle of Hyde Park Corner is a novel place to impress guests, with bird’s eye views across Westminster and Buckingham Palace Gardens.
Originally designed in 1825 by the architect Decimus Burton, it was intended as both a victory arch marking Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon and as a grand outer entrance to Buckingham Palace. The Arch was completed in 1828, only to become embroiled in a fierce row when it was topped with a colossal statue of the Duke of Wellington.
By 1883, Hyde Park Corner had developed into a serious traffic bottleneck, so to ease this, the Arch was dismantled, moved 20 metres and rebuilt in its present location. At the same time, the Wellington statue was removed and replaced with ‘Peace Descending on the Quadriga of War’, which remains the largest bronze statue in the UK.
Wellington Arch licensed for monumental weddings
One of London’s best known landmarks has just been awarded a civil ceremony license, providing a towering alternative for couples looking for somewhere different to wed in the heart of the capital. Couples can now tie the knot beneath the galloping hooves of the largest bronze sculpture in Western Europe in the stylish Burton Room right at the top of the arch – as the traffic whizzes around Hyde Park Corner below. The room is a contemporary split-level space with a gallery leading out to two dramatic external balconies, where guests can enjoy views across the gardens of Buckingham Palace and the London skyline. As an added bonus, daytime wedding-guests may also see mounted Horse Guards passing through the Arch’s mighty columns on their way to the Changing of the Guard. At night, Wellington Arch is dramatically swathed in light. Intimate ceremonies for up to 35 guests and stand up receptions for up to 80 guests are available on an exclusive basis seven days a week. Couples marrying at Wellington Arch can choose from a range of top quality suppliers, carefully selected by English Heritage.
Venue hire is £2,500 + VAT during the day and £3,500 + VAT for the day and evening.
