Standing at the edge of the City of London, the Museum of the Order of St John offers eight stunning rooms dating from the twelfth to the twenty-first centuries, and a secluded garden.
It is steeped in History; From the 1140s until 1540, the Gate was the entrance to a vast priory, the English seat of the Knights Hospitaller. After the Reformation, it passed to the crown, and 30 of Shakespeare's plays were licensed in the Gate when it was the office of Elizabeth I's Master of Revels. In the 18th century, painter William Hogarth's father opened a coffee house here, and Dr Samuel Johnson later frequented it when the Gentleman's Magazine operated from its offices in the rooms above St John's Lane. Charles Dickens was a regular was the gate housed the Old Jerusalem Tavern in the latter part of the 19th Century.
Two of the rooms are available for Civil Ceremonies - the Council Chamber, an intimate, ancient room, and the grand Chapter Hall. All spaces are available for hire as part of a reception,* and an impressive array of the finest caterers ready to help plan your perfect wedding breakfast.
*With the exception of the Crypt of the Priory Church.
Personal Message from the Manager
Name of Wedding Contact: Juliet
Hello, and welcome to the Museum of the Order of St John!
We have a variety of incredible, unique spaces to offer you - and we look forward to hearing more about your day, and working on an individual plan to make that perfect day happen! We really enjoying meeting couples before they book, to give a personalised tour of the spaces, discuss pricing plans, and talk about all the little details which will make the day so special - so please get in contact to book in your showround.
We are really lucky to have some plenty of travel links nearby - so we are very easy to get to! The venue is located within the historic gate, so it definitely sticks out as somewhere different
What’s your favourite personal touch you’ve seen at a wedding?
One wedding had the Wedding Car wearing a top hat and bow tie! There was an oversized hat attached to the car itself (see our photos, we uploaded it specially!) and we thought this was really quirky and fun!
Describe The Museum Of The Order Of St John in 5 adjectives
Historic, Elegant, Intimate, Timeless, Unique
Where’s the best photo spot at The Museum Of The Order Of St John?
Each room has its own character and best spots- so this is a tricky one! The Cloister Garden in the summer is a definite favorite spot in the sun, and the Chapter Hall is also brilliant for those classic, timeless shots.
What’s your favourite canapé?
Anything that won't spill down our front!
We are lucky enough to work with an array of brilliant caterers, and everytime it seems like they can never get tastier...but they always do!
What is The Museum Of The Order Of St John most unique feature?
The Gate is one of the last of its kind in London - you won't find any in Central London outside the Tower!
What part of your business are you most proud of?
We'e a small team that prides itself on being as accommodating as possible