5 Amazing London Street Photography Locations
In this blog I will share with you 5 great locations for street photography in London. Each location offers something different in terms of photography style, environment and mood. Finally please note, these are not the only locations nor the best locations. Having spent over 5 years photographing in London and thousands of photos later, I found many of my best images came from these spots.
View from Sky Garden
Barbican
Located in the City of London the Barbican is a housing estate like no other. It has some of the most unique and photogenic architecture in London and is often full of photographers and commercial photoshoots. This location is like a maze with so much to explore. From long walkways, green spaces, staircases and even a greenhouse. In the middle is a fantastic square with a cafe and it is a lovely place to relax in the summer. My suggestion is to just get lost and see where each staircase or walkway will take you. The light here is good all year round and due to the natural contrast of the dark buildings and the sky, it can even work on a cloudy day. Finally lens wise I would say anywhere between 35mm and 85mm will be good here.
One New Change
One New Change is a shopping centre located in the City of London. This is my go to spot for abstract and reflection shots. Inside you will find a mixture of unlimited reflective surfaces at every imaginable angle and incredible light. Mix the two together and you have a millions of opportunities. I have spent hours here walking around and trying to find unique compositions and reflections. Furthermore at the top is a lovely viewing platform where you could see St Paul’s Cathedral and the London skyline. It doesn’t matter if the sun is out or the sky is grey, you are sure to get some great shots here. From experience I found longer lenses tended to do better so I would suggest from 50mm and above.
The City
The City of London is a historic financial district. It is where you would find timeless architecture, traditional streets and smartly dressed city workers. If you are looking for a city slicker type environment then this is the place to be. The actual district is quite large and even encompasses the previous two locations. Although I would highly suggest exploring the entire area, below are some of the places I would start with:
Throgmorton Street
Leadenhall Street
Lombard Street
North / South facing streets (Example - Rood Lane)
Garden at 120
Any time of year it is good here however between autumn and spring is when you have the best light. As for lens choice, honestly it is entirely up to you and what you like to shoot with. I got shots here at 28mm and 200mm.
More London
For this one we need to cross the river and head to Tower Bridge. More London is an area that runs between London Bridge Train Station and Tower Bridge. It has a mixture of tall clean skyscrapers, the classic tower bridge shot and the charming Shad Thames just the other side of the bridge. I love this area and often this is where I start my photo walks. Any time of day here works because in the morning you can get the soft golden light however at midday you can get the sharp clean light that works well with the more modern architecture. Lens wise I would say 35mm - 85mm will do the job. Finally keep in mind that this entire area is private. As in it is public access but privately owned. You will see this in London a lot and it’s easy to tell as it’s full of security guards. If you’re shooting with a huge set up or in any way look professional, be ready to have security ask what you’re doing. Nothing to be alarmed about and once you explain it’s a hobby they leave you alone.
Soho
The previous places were (in my opinion) better during the day. However Soho is more of a night photography spot, especially on a cold winter’s evening. Soho is full of neon lights, characters and reflections. Couple that with a cold night and you will have plenty of backlit steamy windows. If you like cinematic scenes or you prefer characters, then Soho has to be on your list. I would suggest to avoid it on weekend nights. It gets rammed and many are drunk / on drugs… not my favourite environment but for you it might be different. Although you should be careful in any major city, I would say in this specific area just take extra care due to pick pockets and opportunists. Don’t flash you gear about and keep a close eye on your bag. Finally when it comes to lens choice I would say a 50mm here is perfect.
If you enjoyed this blog and would like to know more about London, please check out my full London Photography Guide below where I go into a lot more detail and share locations of shots.
If you're planning to visit London or you’re a local and want to know some of the best locations for photography, this guide is for you.
What you need to know:
- 170 Page PDF document (94mb)
- 50+ Locations
- 100+ Photo spots
- Only covers locations that consistently deliver good photo opportunities
- Clickable maps
- GPS Coordinates
- What 3 Words Coordinates
- Addresses
How will this guide help you:
- Save you time and give you a clear checklist of where to go
- Show you real world photos I took from the suggested locations
- Show you coordinates for those photos if you want to take the same
- Give you feedback on any pitfalls with specific places and attitudes to photographers
- Food / Drink / Restroom suggestions
- Lens choice suggestions
- General visiting advice
- Inspire you to head out and shoot by removing the “where shall I go” barrier
This guide is a result of years spent living and photographing London in all conditions and seasons. I have only recommended locations that have consistently delivered good photos that I have been happy with. This guide does not cover every spot, that would be impossible and a lifetimes work. This guide is there to put luck in your favour when visiting the capital.
Finally I want to say a massive thank you for supporting me. Buying this guide is the most direct way you can support my work thus allowing me to make more videos / photos / tutorials for you.
Thank you for your support!