London Rowing Club and Thames Rowing Club sit side by side on Putney Embankment, both overlooking the River Thames and offering gorgeous backdrops for weddings in South West London. They’re close together, but each has its own feel and architectural character that shows up in photographs — especially in natural light.
If you’re planning a wedding here, you have two excellent riverside venues within a stone’s throw of each other — and plenty of photo opportunities from light-filled interiors to the ever-changing Thames with rowers and kayakers drifting by.
London Rowing Club — history, character, and classic light
London Rowing Club’s Victorian boathouse has been part of Putney’s riverside since the 1870s and brings a layer of historic charm that shows up beautifully in photos.(Events at London Rowing Club)
It’s a venue with classic proportions, tall period windows, and a balcony that runs along the river — meaning light floods in from multiple angles throughout the day. From a photographer’s perspective this makes for flattering, soft light during ceremonies and receptions alike.
Inside, rooms like the Long Room and the Fairbairn Room have a neutral palette and architectural detail that gives your wedding images a timeless feel without being distracting. Because the balcony is right on the Thames, portraits with silhouetted river scenes — rowers in the background, sparkles on water — feel effortless and authentic.
Having the balcony means you also get fun, spontaneous moments: champagne toasts with sweeping river views, candid group shots against the water, or golden-hour light pouring in as crews train past.
Thames Rowing Club — bright, open, and full of life
Just next door, Thames Rowing Club has a slightly different vibe — still historic, but with a more open, contemporary feel inside thanks to its modernised Great Hall and huge French doors opening to a broad balcony overlooking the Thames. The Great Hall has very high ceilings and expansive glazed walls that bring the river right into the heart of your reception space, making it ideal for images where guests and surroundings feel connected. When the doors are open, the balcony becomes a natural extension of your wedding day — perfect for relaxed portraits with the water, or even a shot of drinks and laughter framed by river traffic and rowers in motion.
Compared with London Rowing Club’s more intimate classic spaces, Thames Rowing Club suits couples who want big, airy rooms and a party atmosphere that still feels connected to the river. Its expansive floor plan and the way light floods across the room give images a bright, energetic quality.
The river and the Thames Embankment — an ever-changing studio
The Thames itself is a huge part of what makes weddings here so photographable. Whether you’re based at London Rowing Club or Thames Rowing Club, the river offers constant variety: smooth reflections in still water, kayakers and rowers slicing through frames, river buses or even the odd pleasure boat passing by.
For portraits, you don’t need to walk far — a few steps onto the embankment gives you textures of the riverbank, moored boats, and ever-shifting light. These make great candid couple shots and fun guest images, and they help ground your photos in this unique London location.
Using activity on the water in your photos
One of the best things about weddings here is that the river is alive. Rowers training, kayakers gliding past, and even the backdrop of Putney’s boating life add movement and visual interest to images without feeling staged. I often frame couples against crews in the distance or capture laughs as a boat serially becomes part of the background — little details that make your photos feel of the moment and of the place.
Choosing between the two spaces
Both venues deliver on space, light, and incredible riverside scenes. If your priority is a classic, character-rich interior with historic vibes and timeless light, London Rowing Club delivers beautifully. If you want a very bright, open hall that feels a touch more contemporary and maximises river views through huge glazed doors, Thames Rowing Club is a great choice.
Whichever you choose, you’re set up for relaxed, natural photography that makes the most of the Thames, light-filled rooms, and a sense of place you won’t find in many other London wedding venues.
View my portfolio of weddings at London Rowing Club and Thames Rowing Club.