My Photography & Travel Guide to London, England
Updated January 2024
London is, of course, one of the great cities of the world. A city full of history, art, culture, and plenty of wonderful things to do. It is often the first city that Americans visit when they go to Europe because there is no language barrier and historical ties.
“In London, everyone is different, and that means anyone can fit in.” – Paddington Bear
Hyde Park
I have been visiting London since I was a child. The funny thing is that I wouldn't say I liked it that much until I visited London as a photographer in 2017 and twice in 2019. My view of London, through photography, completely took a 180-degree turn. Why? Because photography allowed me to see the beauty of London. In prior visits, I did not pay attention to details, and I did not search for all the beautiful places this city has to offer. This is the power of photography. It opens your mind and lets you see the world.
If you visit in the Spring and get lucky with the weather, you might stay for a lifetime. Everything about this city has changed for me. I now love visiting, and I was there in December 2022 and again in March and October 2023!
The food is outstanding, the sights are incredible, and there is so much to see and do. For photographers, there is so much variety in what you can photograph, from classic landmarks and architecture to incredible graffiti, food, street photography, and historic neighborhoods like Notting Hill. Also, the city’s museums are among the best in the world. Where else can you see the Rosetta Stone, which is located in the British Museum?
Here are a few good guides about London from Nomadic Matt and Rick Steves and Travel and Leisure.
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit London is March through May, when the temperatures are mild, and the city's parks are green and blooming. But I enjoyed London in the fall and winter as well.
Where to Stay? Hotel Recommendations
I can only recommend the hotels that we have tried in London. I realize that they lean towards luxury hotels, but these are the ones I know. My recommendation is to stay in Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Covent Garden, or close to Buckingham Palace.
The Doorman at the Mandarin (Gregory and Robert)
I prefer Knightsbridge for one simple reason: I love to be able to walk into Hyde Park. The area has lots of restaurants and is very centrally located, and like I said, being able to walk into the Park at any time is just incredible. However, I recently stayed in Mayfair and the Shard and loved both areas as well.
The Mandarin
Here are a few recommendations:
The Mandarin Oriental London (Knightsbridge) --Fantastic
The Four Seasons London Park Lane (there is another one on the opposite side of London)--A Classic!!
Intercontinental London Park Lane--A Solid Hotel
The Berkeley Hotel Knightsbridge--Boutique Hotel in a Great Location
The Rosewood London - I would NOT recommend it
London Marriott Hotel County Hall - located right on Westminster Bridge--fantastic location
The Connaught is my personal favorite in Mayfair
The Shangri-La in the Shard (Best Views in London)
Restaurants, Cafes, & Bakeries Recommendations
London’s rapidly growing restaurant scene has placed the English capital on the "foodie" map.
The Stairwell in Hide
Compared to Paris, Rome, and other European culinary destinations, the London food scene hasn’t always had a stellar reputation. However, over the last decade, the city has seen a dramatic shift from unremarkable restaurants to a huge selection of delicious options.
You will definitely not leave London hungry! In fact, there are more than 60 Michelin Star restaurants in the city. However, you do not need to go to expensive restaurants to eat well. There are literally so many great, wonderful, inexpensive restaurants as well. From my short list below, the ones I would highly recommend are Ottolengi, Zuma, and the River Cafe.
Harrods Food Market on the Ground Floor
The Princess Royal, Notting Hill
Ottolengi Israeli/Palestinian Fusion (multiple locations, but all of them are 10 Stars)
Nopi also from Ottolengi
Em Sherif Cafe in Harrods
Franco Manca for Excellent PIzza
I know it is touristy, but you have to experience a proper afternoon tea while in England. It is really a great experience that you should not miss. Most good hotels have afternoon tea. It is a good idea, however, to reserve in advance since it is very popular. Here are a few of my favorites that I have tried, and I am including a link from Conde Paste Traveler and another list from Vogue
Claridge's, Mayfair
Fortnum & Mason
The Dorchester
The Connaught
The Rosebery at Mandarin Oriental
The Berkeley Prêt-à-Portea
Also, remember to visit an incredible outdoor food market called Borough Market. I absolutely love strolling through the market with 100s of different food vendors. Dating back to the thirteenth century, London’s oldest food market is full of delicious foods and artisanal shops. Here is a link to their website.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show (Only in May)
If you want to see and photograph something truly special, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show is simply amazing. The RHS is a charity whose mission is "to inspire a passion for gardening and growing plants, promote the value of gardens, demonstrate how gardening is good for us, and explain the vital role that plants play."
The show usually takes place at the end of May, and you have to buy tickets in advance. The flower show rivals the tulips at Keukenhof in the Netherlands. You will be able to visit the incredible gardens with so many varieties of flowers and plants that it will make your head spin. There are something like 800 different types of Roses.
The world’s greatest flower show
PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
I always recommend going out early in the morning to avoid the crowds and when it is easier to use a tripod. The other thing that you need to keep in mind is if you need a permit to photograph certain areas. Of course, Drones are not permitted to be flown in London.
Photography Gear & Advice
In terms of photography gear, my recommendation is 1 body ( i.e., Canon EOR R5/6/7, Nikon Z7/8/9), and a 24-105 mm or a 24-240mm or something equivalent. I usually travel with 2 lenses (a very wide lens like 15-35 mm and a medium telephoto 70-200mm), but it is not necessary to bring 2 lenses. Sometimes, it is much better to go light so you can jump on a scooter or bike. I would also bring a Tripod and ND filters (3,6, 10) since the city is really fun to capture at night.
My List of the Best Places to Photograph In London
These are my favorite locations for photography in London. You can download my Google Map here
Hyde Park
Hyde Park is the "Central Park" of London. It is the largest of the four Royal Parks that run from the entrance of Kensington Palace through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace. When I am in London, I try to visit the park every day. This is why I always stay in Knightsbridge so that I can easily access the park.
Here are some of the fun things you can do in Hyde Park:
Take a walk or bike ride through the park.
Rent a rowboat on the Serpentine Lake.
Visit the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain.
Listen to speakers at Speakers' Corner.
Attend a concert or festival.
Have a picnic.
If you want to do something different, you can visit its Speakers Corner. This is an open space for public speaking, debates, and demonstrations in London. It is located on the northeast edge of Hyde Park near the Marble Arch and Oxford Street. The general public gathers here to express their views and opinions on anything. It can be very interesting and entertaining.
Science Museum
The Science Museum includes all sorts of award-winning exhibitions, iconic objects (cars, trucks, gadgets etc), and stories of incredible scientific achievement. You will be able to see amazing objects that have shaped the last few decades, from the first Apple computer to Apollo 10, which orbited the moon in 1969.
The British Museum
The British Museum is one of the best museums in the world. From the second floor, you can take a photo of the museum entrance.
Natural History Museum
Another incredible Museum is the Natural History Museum. It is a fun place to spend an afternoon walking around and seeing the exhibits.
Always look for reflections
Do you want to see a Dinosaur? Well, they have one. It is home to 80 million plant, animal, fossil, rock, and mineral specimens. It is located in South Kensington, and it is also a world-class research institution full of wonders. Don't miss it!!
Street Photography
I love walking around the city and taking candid shots of people in the city. London is one of the best places for Street Photography in the world.
St Clement Danes Central Church of the Royal Air Force
St Clement Danes is the Central Church of the Royal Air Force. It is a shrine to all those who have died in service in the Royal Air Force. It is probably not on the normal list of locations to visit in London, but I think it is well worth it. This small church is usually empty.
Taken with a 14mm Lens
Somerset House Strand
An eighteenth-century neoclassical palace between the Strand and the river. It’s an art gallery, event space, and music venue. The Somerset House has an interesting Spiral Staircase on the Right Side of the structure as you enter.
Tate Modern
From the Tate Modern, you can get some wonderful shots of Saint Paul’s Cathedral from the Balcony on the 3rd floor. I took the photo below from the exit of the museum.
Tate Britain Milbank
If you enjoy art by David Hockney or Mark Rothko, then you will love visiting the Tate Collection. There are also 3 Spiral Staircases to photograph in the Gallery.
Lloyd's Building
The Lloyd's building (sometimes known as the Inside-Out Building) is the home of the insurance institution Lloyd's of London. It is located on the former site of East India House on Lime Street, in London's main financial district. You cannot enter the building, but the main attraction is photographing it from the outside.
The Gherkin
This is one of the most recognizable modern building in London. Londoners have a lot of opinions on the design of this building.
Millennium Bridge
This bridge leads towards Saint Paul's Cathedral and was dubbed the "Wobbly Bridge" when it first opened. It had to be shut down for 2 years to fix the wobbling. It is now safe, and I crossed it many times on the way to Borough Market or Saint Paul's Cathedral.
Tower Bridge Tower
The capital’s most famous bridge, which crosses the Thames near the Tower of London. Not to be confused with London Bridge as it rather frequently is. Many visitors incorrectly think it is called London Bridge, which is in an entirely different location. Tower Bridge was built between 1886 and 1894 and is one of the defining landmarks of London.
Did you know it lifts up in the middle when large vessels pass underneath (you can check out lift times on its website), and it gained a glass floor on the high walkways in 2014, allowing visitors to look straight down to the road and river 42 below?
A 6 Second Long Exposure
St. Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's, with its world-famous dome, is an iconic feature of the London skyline. They do not allow Photography or Video inside the church but you should definitely go inside and visit.
One New Change
1 New Change is located right across from Saint Pauls. If you go up to the roof there is a bar called Madison's that has a perfect view of the church.
Buckingham Palace & Saint James Park
The home of the King of England. This is probably the most visited location in London for good reason. Right in front of the Palace is a 57-acre park called Saint James Park which is just wonderful to stroll through. It is basically the King’s front garden. On a beautiful day you will not find a better place than Saint James Park.
The Shard
The Shard also has a hotel on the 33rd floor called the Shangri-La. The hotel has one of the best views of Tower Bridge. It seems half of Londoners hate it, and the other half love it.
It is full of restaurants, offices, and residents. Western Europe's tallest building and London's one and only 95-storey skyscraper, so it's certainly not to be missed. There are bars and restaurants all the way up and a public visiting area called the View from The Shard.
Big Ben Westminster
Big Ben is probably the world's most famous clock. The iconic silhouette is instantly recognizable and is one of the most Instagrammed landmarks in London.
A 20 second long exposure
Big Ben isn’t actually the official name of the famous landmark. That’s right – this famous London landmark isn’t officially named Big Ben. For hundreds of years, it used to be called, simply, the Clock Tower. But in 2012, the landmark was renamed the Elizabeth Tower to commemorate the former Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. So what people actually refer to when they say “Big Ben” is the bell inside the tower.
There is one great location across the river that gives you a very cool framing for the clock. Right across from the London City Marriot Hotel located on Westminster Bridge, there is a staircase that leads down to the river. From there, you will find this location coming out of the Subway (Tube).
This is the Exit of the Metro at Big Ben
There is also a wall in honor of those who passed away from Covid.
Houses of Parliament
The House of Lords and Commons home is on Big Ben's left.
Westminster Abbey
A royal church with over 1,000 years of history. It is the church that is the site of most of the coronations and other ceremonies of national significance like the Royal Weddings. One interesting fact is that it has the oldest door in the world.
London Eye South Bank
The London Eye is the world’s largest cantilevered observation wheel. In essence, it is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank, with enormous views of the city. It is actually very cool and will provide you with incredible views of London. Many of London’s landmarks are visible from this 135-meter-high wheel. You will spot Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace.
Shoreditch
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Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel
Leake Street is a Graffiti tunnel that began in 2008. This 300-meter tunnel is the city’s largest legal mural wall. If you enjoy street art, don't miss it!!
I’ve visited the tunnel several times since it opened. Each time, I’ve been struck by the sheer number of pieces you can see here. If you’re looking to see some of the freshest street art in town, Leake Street Tunnel is the place to go. Another area worth visiting for murals is Shoreditch.
Knightsbridge/Harrods at Night
Harrods is one of the most famous department stores in the world. It is located in Knightsbridge, London, England, and is owned by the state of Qatar
Harrods is just massive with every brand you can imagine. There are also lots of nice restaurants inside the department store. Definitely a great place for people watching.
The Queens House in Greenich
The Queen's House in Greenwich is an architectural masterpiece and home to an internationally renowned art collection. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site. However, the main reason I wanted to go there was to photograph the stairwell. From London, it only takes about 20 minutes by train.
The Blue Stairwell
Final Thoughts
I have merely scratched the surface of everything you can do in London. Time-Out has a great guide on other things to see and do. I hope I have given you a few good ideas of what to photograph in this incredible city.
If you have enjoyed this guide to London, please look at my other Photography & Travel Guides at this link.