Greenhithe · Kent · Overlooking the Thames
A Grade II listed, historic Tudor Gothic stately home overlooking the River Thames, and a much-loved family home. Its grand rooms, gardens and grounds are available for weddings, celebrations and private events. Weddings and events at Ingress Abbey are run by a proudly Black-owned, woman-owned family business, and every couple is warmly welcome.
Weddings
From the Abbey, stone stairs and lawns fall away to the Thames. Your hire includes the Abbey's grand rooms and principal spaces, plus all of the gardens and grounds. The Abbey itself has nearly two centuries of history, and the estate more than six.
Marry here under our civil ceremony licence, with your ceremony in the Gold Room, the Red Room, the Orangery, the Hall or the Flagstone Courtyard, or hold the ceremony elsewhere and bring your guests back for the reception. Drinks flow through the Gold Room, the Red Room, the Hall and the Orangery. Dine indoors, or in a marquee in the grounds, and dance the evening away in the Gold Room.
As a dry-hire venue, you choose your caterer and other suppliers from our approved list, and you can bring your own DJ or band. On the day, a private room with en-suite is yours for changing and relaxing. Celebrating over several days or travelling from overseas? See multi-day & destination weddings.
Download our wedding pricing guide (PDF)
Check your date
Private events & celebrations
The same rooms that frame a wedding work just as well for milestone birthdays, anniversaries, family celebrations, corporate dinners, away days and launches.
The Abbey is also a distinctive location for film, video and photo shoots. See filming & photography.
Each booking includes the grand rooms, the principal spaces and the gardens, with a commercial kitchen available to caterers from our approved list, and parking on site.
Plan your event
Stay & celebrate
Dreaming of a wedding at an English stately home? Ingress Abbey is a Grade II listed, historic Tudor Gothic stately home overlooking the River Thames in Greenhithe, Kent, England, and it's wonderfully easy to reach from London and the major airports. We love welcoming couples and their guests from the US and around the world. Our trusted travel partners are on hand to help with every part of your journey, from flights and transfers to places to stay, so getting here is easy.
High-speed trains run from London St Pancras to Ebbsfleet International in about 17 minutes, then it's a few minutes' drive to the Abbey. Greenhithe station is close by too. Gatwick is about 38 miles away (typically around an hour by car, depending on traffic) and Heathrow about 60 miles (typically 1¼ to 1½ hours, depending on traffic). For those flying privately, London Biggin Hill and London City Airport offer private jet facilities (both about 30 to 45 minutes' drive, depending on traffic).
The Coach House, right on the grounds with its own private entrance, has 3 bedrooms and sleeps 7. It's available to book as an optional extra for the couple and family. For your guests, there is great accommodation nearby in Kent, including the Mercure Brands Hatch Hotel & Spa, the DoubleTree by Hilton Dartford Bridge and the Travelodge Greenhithe.
Design a multi-day celebration that's entirely your own. It might be welcome drinks, the main event and a relaxed farewell brunch, or something different, and we'll work with you to bring your vision to life. Food and drink are seamlessly handled by your choice of caterers from our approved list, leaving you free to enjoy every moment.
Planning from overseas is easier with local know-how. We're happy to put you in touch with trusted local suppliers, from florists and photographers to planners, so you can plan with confidence.
For couples who'd love to make Ingress Abbey their own for a few days, exclusive hire is available on request. You and your guests will have the Abbey, gardens and Coach House entirely to yourselves, with just a few private rooms kept closed, so you can relax completely. Along with the Coach House, the Abbey's own guest rooms are available too, so more of your family and friends can stay on site. A minimum stay of three nights applies, and pricing is available on request.
Standard set-up and clear-down days don't count towards the minimum.
Can we marry legally at Ingress Abbey?
Yes, Ingress Abbey holds a civil ceremony licence. If either of you is from outside the UK or Ireland, you'll usually give notice together, in person, at a local register office in England or Wales, after living in that district for at least 7 days. Notice must be given at least 29 days before the ceremony. Most non-UK nationals, including US citizens, also need a Marriage Visitor visa before travelling. See GOV.UK and the Marriage Visitor visa guide for full details.
Is there a simpler option?
Many couples complete the legal formalities at home, then celebrate at Ingress Abbey with family and friends. Humanist and other celebration ceremonies are warmly welcomed.
Getting here
Ingress Abbey
Prioress Crescent
Greenhithe, Kent DA9 9UR
Directions to the car park entrance (for drivers and sat nav)
Front of the Abbey on Google Maps
By road: close to the M25, with parking on site.
By rail: Greenhithe station is close by, so guests can easily arrive by train. Ebbsfleet International is just a few minutes' drive away, with high-speed trains to London St Pancras.
Filming & photography
Ingress Abbey is a Grade II listed, historic Tudor Gothic stately home overlooking the River Thames in Greenhithe, Kent, with characterful interiors, formal gardens and river views, all within easy reach of London. It's a versatile location for film, television, commercials, music videos and photo shoots.
Choose from the Gold Room, the Hall & Gothic Gallery, the Orangery and the Red Room, along with the gardens, the Flagstone Courtyard and views across the river. The Coach House is available too for shoots, accommodation and additional work areas. A private room with en-suite serves as a green room for talent, hair and make-up.
We can welcome up to 100 crew and talent, with parking on site for vans and trucks, so your unit base can sit right next to the action. Ebbsfleet International (about 17 minutes from London St Pancras by high-speed train) and Greenhithe station are both close by.
Every shoot is quoted individually, based on the hours, rooms and areas you need and your headcount. For longer shoots, we can add prep days and strike days to your quote. Rates are available on request.
Access is available between 7am and 11pm.
We're happy to arrange a recce so you can see the spaces, plan your set-ups and check access.
The spaces
A light-filled room for your ceremony, drinks or dining.
An elegant room for your ceremony, drinks receptions and dining, which can also be used for dancing in the evening.
Red damask walls, twin chandeliers and a walk-through bay window onto the East Garden: a richly elegant room for your ceremony, a drinks reception or an intimate dinner.
The central hallway beneath the Gothic Gallery, at the heart of the Abbey, and a striking setting for your ceremony.
An open-air courtyard for your ceremony, drinks and mingling.
Formal gardens with room for a marquee for larger dining.
Lawns running towards the Thames, available by arrangement.
History
1363Edward III endows the manor on the Dominican nuns of Dartford Priory, who farm the land and work its chalk. Jane Fane, Abbess of Dartford, is the last to hold it.
The DissolutionHenry VIII keeps the estate and has it rebuilt as a royal retreat for his journeys to the coast.
1763–1772John Calcraft commissions Capability Brown to reshape the park and open up views to the Thames.
1833The present house is built for James Harmer, Alderman of the City of London, to a Tudor Gothic design by Charles Moreing. It is said to include stone from Old London Bridge, and the grounds hold several follies.
Victorian eraJames Harmer holds parties at Ingress Abbey for London high society. The poet Eliza Cook lives here and writes poems including “The Old Armchair”.
20th centuryFrom 1922 the estate is home to the Thames Nautical Training College. Its ships, including HMS Worcester, lie moored in the Thames off Greenhithe, and for decades the Abbey and grounds serve the college. The Cutty Sark arrives at Greenhithe in 1938. Prince Philip attends the 1953 ceremony at which the college's Cutty Sark is handed over for preservation, and in 1962 Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visit for the college's centenary prize-giving.
21st centuryIngress Abbey returns to its original use as a family estate, and today it is a much-loved family home that opens its doors for weddings and celebrations.
Stay over
The Coach House is right on the grounds, with its own private entrance, and sleeps 7. The whole Coach House is available to book for accommodation as an optional extra, for a separate fee. You can book it, for example, for the night before and the night of your wedding. It's a peaceful place to get ready and to come back to afterwards.
Gallery
Imagine your day
Please note: every image in this section is an AI-altered visualisation of the original room, for illustration only. These are not photographs of real events. For real photographs of the Abbey, see the gallery.
Take the tour
Wander through the gardens, the Gold Room, the Red Room, the Orangery and the Coach House in our short video tour.
The “Imagine your day” scenes near the end of the video are AI-altered visualisations, for illustration only. Watch on YouTube
Practical information
Enquiries
To check availability, arrange a viewing or talk through your plans, please contact Irene Malin.
Irene Malin
events@ingressabbey.com
+44 1322 250788
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