In a nutshell
- Many of our favorite attractions in London are also seriously great photo spots.
- Sometimes all it takes is a different angle, an eye for details, or visiting at a different time of day to get a truly unique shot.
- We’ve also included a few lesser-known spots that are absolute gems for photographers — like the Sky Bridge and Shell Mex House.
The Shard: London's Highest Photo Spot
The Shard is one of London’s top highlights and, at 310 meters, is the tallest skyscraper in the city.
The 360-degree view from the observation deck is not only spectacular — you’ll also get many of the city’s most iconic attractions right in front of your camera lens.
That panoramic vista doesn’t come free, though. You’ll need to pay at least 28 pounds for admission to the observation deck.
Buy your ticket online in advance — tickets purchased on-site are even more expensive.
You can find even more info about The Shard in our tips for visiting The Shard.
Photo tip: The observation deck is enclosed in glass for safety reasons, which can cause reflections in your photos. You can counteract this with a polarizing filter. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about photography with lens filters.
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster is one of the most iconic landmarks in London. The seat of the British government is a hugely popular Instagram spot — no secret among photographers anymore, but it absolutely earns its place on our list of the best photo spots in London.
You get the best view of the impressive building from Westminster Bridge. But if you want something a little different, come back after dark.
At night, with the illuminated Parliament in the background and red double-decker buses rolling past in the foreground, you’ve got a seriously special shot. Use a longer exposure and the colorful lights blur into streaks — a really fun effect to play with.
Photo tip: For a good long exposure at night, you’ll definitely want to bring the right travel tripod — otherwise your shots will come out blurry. We also recommend a fast prime lens with a wide aperture of f/1.8.
Street Photography in Notting Hill
Notting Hill is a must on any London trip. The rows of colorful houses provide a fantastic backdrop for street photography.
If you’re a film fan too, Notting Hill will put plenty of famous Hollywood filming locations right in front of your lens.
Photo tip: In street photography, it really pays to focus on details. Let your eye wander and look for unexpected angles or small moments that tell a bigger story.
Colorful Hustle in Chinatown
Chinatown is located in London’s Soho neighborhood and is on the smaller side compared to its international counterparts — the one in Paris, for example, is considered the largest Chinese community in Europe. Still, a visit to London’s Chinatown is absolutely worth it, and not just for the photography!
Many different cultures come together here, and there’s always a lively, energetic atmosphere. And then there’s the food. Seriously good.
Things get especially lively when Chinatown celebrates Chinese New Year.
The easiest way to get to Chinatown is to take the subway to Piccadilly Circus — from there it’s just a few minutes on foot.
Photo tip: Chinatown is wonderfully colorful. If you want to push the effect even further in your shots, you can easily do so afterward with the right photo editing software.
Street Art in Shoreditch
In Shoreditch you step into alternative London, where the bars and pubs buzz with nightlife.
For photographers, though, Shoreditch is really all about the street art. You’ll find the wildest murals covering building walls around every corner. Famous artists like Banksy have left their mark on the facades here.
A great starting point is Brick Lane, where many guided street art tours of London kick off.
Street art walking tour through Shoreditch
Photo tip: A wide-angle lens lets you capture even large murals in narrow alleys without losing the full picture.
Markets in Shoreditch
Shoreditch is worth a visit not only for its street art, pubs, and bars — the markets here are seriously good too.
With Brick Lane Market, Old Spitalfields, Backyard Market, and Truman Brewery all in the same neighborhood, Shoreditch is home to some of the coolest markets in London.
You can really go to town with your camera here, photographing the lively market activity and the characterful brick facades of the old buildings.
Photo tip: At markets, a telephoto lens is often your best friend — you can discreetly pull subjects in from a distance and capture authentic moments without getting in anyone’s face.
Sky Bridge in Covent Garden
The sight of this Sky Bridge can genuinely make your head spin.
The Bridge of Aspiration in the heart of London connects the Royal Ballet School with the Royal Opera House, and from the outside it almost looks as though the bridge is twisted in on itself. Looks are deceiving, though — the walkway leads straight across to the other building.
For architectural photography, the Sky Bridge is one of the best photography locations in London.
Photo tip: Stand directly beneath the bridge and shoot looking straight up — you’ll get a completely different perspective on the structure that most visitors completely miss.
PwC Building
If you’re already near The Shard or Tower Bridge, make a detour to the PricewaterhouseCoopers office building — it’s really worth it.
The PwC building (open in Google Maps) is a paradise for fans of modern architecture. The glass facades create striking light effects and reflections that let you get super creative with light and shadow.
Photo tip: If you come in the evening, bring your travel tripod. You can play with reflections and photograph the sunset from a whole new angle.
Shell Mex House
Shell Mex House is a real local favorite among London photography spots — we actually stumbled across it by chance. We never quite figured out what’s inside the building, but honestly, it doesn’t matter.
What made Shell Mex House so special for us was the arcade walkway on the ground floor. It’s a beautiful backdrop and one of those spots you’d never find on a tourist map.
Shell Mex House is also just a short walk from the banks of the Thames. So if you want to take a boat trip on the Thames, you can easily combine the two.
Photo tip: The arches make a great background for portrait photos. The backdrop looks special without distracting from the subject in the foreground. A real Instagram spot!
Kyoto Garden in Holland Park
Holland Park is a large park in Kensington and one of our favorite London recommendations for families. It has playgrounds, cafés, plenty of trees and flowers, and several themed gardens.
The standout is the Kyoto Garden, which — as the name suggests — is designed in the Japanese style. It’s a genuinely peaceful escape from the city, and the photo opportunities are seriously lovely.
If you’re a tulip fan, the Dutch Garden is also right there and well worth a detour.
Photo tip: When everything is in bloom in Holland Park, it’s a perfect place to practice macro photography. Flower blossoms are ideal for your first macro shots — the subject stays nice and still.
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is one of our true London off-the-beaten-path picks — it might sound a little macabre, but hear us out. It’s even the resting place of figures like Karl Marx.
What makes the cemetery so special: it’s been left largely in its natural state, and that’s exactly what creates such unique photo subjects.
Admission to Highgate Cemetery costs 5 pounds — and it’s absolutely worth every penny.
Photo tip: On those rare sunny London days, you can play beautifully with backlighting. When light filters through the trees, it creates a truly atmospheric, almost otherworldly mood in your shots.
