5 Reputable Notary Public Providers in Central London (2026 Guide)

Disclosure: this guide is published by Staple Inn Notaries, which is included in the list below. Details of the other firms are taken from their own published information as at October 2026 — always confirm fees, addresses and availability directly before booking.

Central London has more notaries per square mile than anywhere else in the UK, which makes choosing one harder, not easier. A document notarised incorrectly can be rejected by a foreign registry, bank or court, costing weeks and a second set of fees. This guide sets out five reputable notary public providers across Holborn, the City and the West End, what each is best suited to, and how to check any notary before you book. It is written by Staple Inn Notaries, a leading provider of remote notary services in England and Wales, based on Gray's Inn Road in Holborn.

What makes a notary public reputable?

Every notary practising in England and Wales must hold a current practising certificate issued through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. That is the minimum. Beyond it, a reputable provider will show:

• A verifiable appointment — you can search the Faculty Office's public register of notaries by name.

• Professional membership — usually the Notaries Society of England and Wales or, for City firms, the Society of Scrivener Notaries.

• Transparent fees — a published fixed fee or hourly rate, with notarial fees shown separately from apostille and embassy legalisation costs.

• Relevant jurisdiction experience — familiarity with how the receiving country expects the document to be prepared.

• A clear complaints route — first to the notary, then to the Faculty Office and the Legal Ombudsman.

It also helps to remember that notaries in England and Wales are qualified lawyers. They can carry out the full range of non-contentious legal work that solicitors undertake, including conveyancing, wills, probate and corporate work, and can advise on contentious matters short of court litigation, including mediation.

The 5 providers at a glance

1. Staple Inn Notaries — Holborn

Staple Inn Notaries is led by Sheikh Najam, Notary Public for England and Wales, appointed by the Court of Faculties under Royal Authority and regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is also a European Attorney, an RICS Accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator, and a STEP-qualified Private Wealth and International Tax Lawyer, trained across Common Law, Civil Law and International Law systems.

The practice is a leading provider of remote notary services in England and Wales, so clients in the UK or overseas can have documents notarised by secure video appointment as well as in person at the Holborn office. It specialises in cross-border corporate and property matters and handles FCDO e-Apostilles for documents headed to Hague Convention countries such as Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Poland and Japan.

Fees (flat rate):

• Notarisation of a personal document: £135

• Notarisation of a commercial or property document: £150

• FCDO apostille, standard (3 working days): £95 + VAT, including the £45 FCDO fee

• FCDO apostille, urgent (1 working day): £125 + VAT, including the £45 FCDO fee

The notarial fee covers notarisation only; apostille and any embassy legalisation are charged separately.

Best for: clients who want a senior international lawyer to handle the document end to end — particularly property transactions, company documents, powers of attorney and estate matters with an overseas element — and anyone who cannot easily attend in person.

2. John Venn & Sons — Aldwych, Covent Garden

John Venn & Sons is a firm of scrivener notaries and translators dating back to the early nineteenth century. Its London office is at 95 Aldwych, WC2B 4JF, a short walk from Holborn and Covent Garden, with a second office in Birmingham. As scrivener notaries, its notaries are qualified in English law and aspects of foreign law and examined in two foreign languages, so they can prepare and certify documents in the form and language of the country where they will be used.

The firm is regularly instructed on German certificates of representation for English companies and on notarial acts for Spain, and offers legal translation of corporate documents, accounts and witness statements. Its staff handle legalisation at London consulates and chambers of commerce directly, and the firm states that it holds ISO 27001 accreditation for information security.

Best for: documents that must be drafted or certified in a foreign language, and matters needing translation and consular legalisation under one roof.

3. Cheeswrights LLP — City of London

Founded in 1779, Cheeswrights is one of the oldest and largest scrivener notary firms in London, based in the City (EC3). The firm grew up serving shipmasters at the Port of London and retains a strong maritime practice, while handling general notarial work across most European jurisdictions, Russia and the CIS, and Latin America.

Cheeswrights is closely associated with Brooke's Notary, the leading practitioner text on notarial practice in England and Wales, edited by its former senior partner Nigel Ready.

Best for: shipping and maritime documents, and foreign-language instruments that need a scrivener notary's linguistic qualification.

4. Tom Ginot Notary Public — Bedford Row, Holborn

Tom Ginot is a dual-qualified Notary Public and Solicitor of England and Wales and a member of the Notaries Society. Before qualifying as a notary he practised for around a decade as a corporate and commercial lawyer. He works from 37–41 Bedford Row, WC1R 4JH, and also serves North London.

As a native Hebrew speaker, he has a particular focus on documents for use in Israel, including Aliyah paperwork and Israeli estate matters. He offers mobile appointments in the evenings, at weekends and on Bank Holidays. His published fees start from £180 + VAT for private documents and £220 + VAT for company documents, with apostille arranged through the FCDO.

Best for: Israeli and Hebrew-language documents, and clients needing an out-of-hours visit.

5. Holborn Notary — Kingsway, Holborn

Holborn Notary is based at Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, WC2B 6NH, opposite Holborn Underground station, and works by appointment. It advertises same-day appointments, mobile notary visits, and FCDO apostille and embassy legalisation, and says its notaries have more than 20 years of experience.

Best for: straightforward witnessing and notarisation at short notice close to Holborn station.

How to choose the right notary for your document

1. Start with the destination. Ask whether the receiving country needs an apostille, embassy legalisation, or neither.

2. Check the notary on the Faculty Office register before you book.

3. Ask for the fee in writing, with notarial, apostille and courier costs listed separately.

4. Ask whether remote notarisation is accepted for your document and destination; many are, saving a trip into town.

5. Bring the right ID — a valid passport is usually required, plus proof of address for first-time clients.

6. Ask for notarised copies, not certified copies, if a foreign authority needs a copy it will rely on. They are not the same thing.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a notary cost in Central London?

Fees vary by firm and document. Fixed-fee practices typically charge from around £135 to £220 per document, while some firms bill by the hour for complex matters. Apostille and embassy legalisation are usually charged on top. Staple Inn Notaries charges £135 for personal documents and £150 for commercial or property documents, with apostille priced separately.

Can I get a document notarised online in London?

Yes, for many documents. Remote notarisation lets a notary verify your identity and witness your signature over a secure video link, and the notarised document can then be apostilled for use abroad. Acceptance depends on the receiving country and document type, so ask the notary to confirm before your appointment.

How do I check that a notary public is genuine?

Search the notary's name on the Faculty Office's public register of notaries in England and Wales. Every practising notary must appear there with a current practising certificate. You can also check membership of the Notaries Society or the Society of Scrivener Notaries, and ask the notary for details of their professional indemnity insurance.

What is the difference between a notary and a solicitor?

A notary is a qualified lawyer appointed to authenticate documents and facts for use abroad, and in England and Wales can also carry out the full range of non-contentious legal work, such as conveyancing, wills and probate. Notaries cannot conduct court litigation, but they can advise on disputes and act as mediators.

How long does an apostille take?

The FCDO's standard service generally takes a few working days, and urgent next-day options are available through notaries and agents. At Staple Inn Notaries, the standard apostille service takes three working days and the urgent service one working day. Embassy legalisation, where required, adds further time.

Contact block

Staple Inn Notaries 

Fox Court, 14 Gray's Inn Road, Holborn, London WC1X 8HN

Tel 020 3488 4195

internationalnotary.co.uk 

Make an enquiry

Author bio

Sheikh Najam is a Notary Public for England and Wales, appointed by the Court of Faculties under Royal Authority and regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is a European Attorney, RICS Accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator, STEP-qualified Private Wealth and International Tax Lawyer, and CEO of Staple Inn Notaries. He is Vice President for Notarial Affairs and an Advisory Board Member at Justinian Lawyers.