Update September 2024
Major building works at the Town Hall in Woolwich mean that there’s limited availability for ceremony bookings in the Edwardian Room.
The room is only available until 30 November 2024.
From December 2024, we will offer an alternative venue outside of the Town Hall until the Edwardian Room is available again. We’ll confirm details for this venue shortly.
If you want to book a ceremony in the Edwardian Room before 30 November 2024, please email registrar@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
Overview
You and your partner are legally required to attend an interview in person to give notice of your intention to marry or enter into a civil partnership. You must do this before your ceremony. This interview will take place in the register office in the borough you live in.
You must be at least 18 years old to marry or enter into a civil partnership, or give notice to do so.
Making your appointment
Notice appointments are usually fully booked for up to 6 weeks.
If you or your partner are subject to immigration control, there must be at least 78 days between your notice appointment and ceremony.
If neither of you are subject to immigration control, there must be at least 28 days between your notice appointment and ceremony.
The notice is valid for one year.
To make an appointment to give notice, call the contact centre on 020 8921 5015.
Costs
It costs £114 if you or your partner are not a British national and you do not have:
- Indefinite Leave to Remain
- pre-settled or settled status
- or a marriage or civil partnership visa
It costs £84 for everyone else.
Information you will need for the appointment
You must know the licenced venue you are going to book. You must also know whether you want to have a marriage or civil partnership.
The notice is only valid for the specific venue and ceremony recorded at your appointment. If you change your mind about your venue or ceremony type after you've given notice, you must give notice again.
You must both provide proof of the following:
- name
- date of birth
- address
- nationality
- if you have previously changed your name, you must provide proof of the change of name
If you or your partner are subject to immigration control, you must both provide passport-quality photographs, even if you have a visa for the purpose of marriage or civil partnership.
We have the right to cancel your appointment if:
- you go to your appointment without all the required documentation
- we cannot take your notice for any reason including not knowing where your ceremony will take place
If we have to cancel, you will not get a refund. You will have to re-book your notice and pay the required fee.
Freedom to marry or enter a civil partnership if you've been married or in a civil partnership before
You will need your original final divorce or dissolution papers with the court's original stamp.
If any documents are not in English, you must provide a complete translation, including any court stamps and the original documents. The translation must be signed and dated by the person providing the translation and include their contact details. Any third party can provide the translation.
There are costs paid to the General Register Office, for the clearance of some divorce or dissolution documents. You will pay any relevant costs at your notice appointment.
Costs for divorce or dissolution documents
There is no cost for a dissolution or divorce which took place in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
For dissolution or divorce which took place anywhere else, there is a fee of £55 for the register office to check your documents or £83 if the General Register Office needs to check them.
We will tell you at your notice appointment which fee applies to the dissolution or divorce documents you present.
Contact us
Register Office
Woolwich Town Hall
Wellington Street
London SE18 6PW
Open: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Telephone: 020 8921 5015