Your guide to 100 wonderful, unique, & fun things to Photograph in London!

London is one of the most visited cities in the world, and perhaps one of the most photographed too!

From iconic attractions to hidden corners, everyone looks to capture its beauty. Yet, a lifetime wouldn’t be enough time to find its unique energy and ever-changing heart & soul.

London really does have something for everyone, making it an ideal place to break out the camera. From the vibrant street life to period architecture, and Royal Parks to atmospheric passageways, there are opportunities around every corner.

Every borough has its own unique identity just waiting to be explored and experienced.

Combine the city’s diversity with all of the walking possibilities, and London also becomes ideal for a mindful photo walk.

Which is a perfect opportunity to be fully present and capture the beauty around you at the same time.

100 Things To Photograph in London

As an advocate of wellness travel, I am always looking for ways to enrich my well-being. In fact, mindful photography is a great traveling partner.

A photo walk is a perfect example of a simple way to support the mind & body during travel.

Stretching your legs, practicing mindfulness & doing something you enjoy are all supportive of well-being. And it allows you to relax and explore at a leisurely pace.

In fact, a mindful photo walk is one of my favorite things to do & a regular part of my wellness travel planning. Photo walks to keep me sane, happy & fulfilled!

London is one of my favorite weekend getaways and a great place to dive into photography.

Over the years, I’ve visited many corners of the city. Exploring the Georgian period architecture, beautiful parks, quiet squares, & vibrant food markets is always time well spent in my book.

So, today I am sharing some of what I’ve learned first hand from those explorations. To help you find unique & wonderful things to photograph in London.

14 Iconic London Attractions

1. Elizabeth Tower, Big Ben & Parliament (blue hour here is magical)
   
   
2. Westminster Abbey
   
   
3. The London Eye (I love the nighttime view from across the Thames)
   
   
4. Buckingham Palace
   
   
5. Kensington Palace & Gardens (best in the early morning light)
   
   
6. Covent Garden (lots of passageways & facades)
   
   
7. Tower Bridge (soft light & fewer people makes early morning idyllic)
   
   
8. Tower of London (lots of unique things all in one place)
   
   
9. Picadilly Circus (street life, red buses & great signage)
   
   
10. St. Pauls Cathedral (the view from outside the cupola is fantastic)
    
    
11. The Tate Modern Museum
    
    
12. The Millenium Bridge (open 24/7, I am partial to the neon blue lights at night)
    
    
13. The Shard
    
    
14. The Gherkin (bring your wide-angle lens)

8 Famous Streets

1. Bricklane (street art, vintage stores & food)
   
   
2. Carnaby Street (a lively area in the heart of Soho)
   
   
3. Columbia Road (head here for the Sunday flower market)
   
   
4. Jermyn Street (old shop fronts & the home of men’s fashion)
   
   
5. Fleet Street (history & one of a kind buildings, from Temple Bar to Trafalgar Square)
   
   
6. Portobello Road (Notting Hill’s colorful main road)
   
   
7. Oxford Street (buses, stores & people galore)
   
   
8. Regents Street (architecture & xmas lights)

18 Quintessentially British Things

1. Black Cabs
   
   
2. Blue Police Phone Boxes
   
   
3. Book shops
   
   
4. Bunting
   
   
5. Door Knockers
   
   
6. Hanging Flower Baskets
   
   
7. Keep Calm & Carry on Signs
   
   
8. Maps of London
   
   
9. Mini Coopers
   
   
10. Outdoor Markets
    
    
11. Park Deck Chairs
    
    
12. Pillar Boxes (red post boxes)
    
    
13. Pubs
    
    
14. Mews
    
    
15. Routemaster Buses (look for the old red ones)
    
    
16. Shopping Arcades
    
    
17. The Tube (train, stations & signs!!)
    
    
18. The Union Jack Flag

20 Places & Things

1. Alleyways (visit the Harry Potterish Goodwin’s Court)
   
   
2. Benches
   
   
3. Bridges (Albert Bridge at twilight is magical)
   
   
4. Clock Towers
   
   
5. Churches
   
   
6. Courtyards (Somerset House & Gray’s Inn when it’s warm)
   
   
7. Departments Stores (Heals has a great spiral staircase)
   
   
8. Doors (step back in time & visit another era)
   
   
9. Fountains (The Italian Gardens in Hyde Park are beautiful)
   
   
10. Museums (take your pick!)
    
    
11. Reflections (on windows and buildings & in puddles)
    
    
12. Royal Palaces (10 grand ones to choose from)
    
    
13. Shop Fronts (old, new, this century, the last)
    
    
14. Stairwells (inside Somerset House & The Queen’s House)
    
    
15. Street Lamps (gas lamps, pendant lamps, Georgian lamps, etc)
    
    
16. Signs (street, food, ghost & retail)
    
    
17. Street Art (try Camden & Shoreditch)
    
    
18. The London Skyline ( from Richmond Park or Parliament Hill)
    
    
19. Train Stations (inside & out)
    
    
20. Window Displays (Xmas at Fortnum & Mason never disappoints)

10 Foodie Things

1. Cafes (indoor & outdoor)
   
   
2. Coffee Shops (The Attendant, former Victorian toilets, is one of a kind)
   
   
3. Full English Breakfast (try the 80s themed The Breakfast Club)
   
   
4. Fish & Chips (you gotta try it at least once)
   
   
5. Harrods Food Hall (food heaven eye candy)
   
   
6. Street Food Vendors
   
   
7. Food Markets (Borough Market is food heaven!)
   
   
8. Rooftop Bars (for the food, drinks & views)
   
   
9. Sunday Roasts (for the food & the locales)
   
   
10. Tea (Afternoon Tea, Tea Rooms, anything tea-related)

6 Animals in Action

1. Deer (fallow & red deer at Richmond Park)
   
   
2. Dogs (walking their owners on their streets of London)
   
   
3. Horses (The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment at Horse Guards)
   
   
4. Pelicans, Ducks & Wild Fowl (near Duck Island in St. James Park)
   
   
5. Seagulls (especially near the Thames)
   
   
6. Squirrels (in parks & squares everywhere)

6 People of London

1. Beefeaters (aka Yeomen Warders at the Tower of London)
   
   
2. Mounted Police (around central London)
   
   
3. The Queen’s Guards (Buckingham & Horse Guards)
   
   
4. Street Musicians (the tube & street corners)
   
   
5. Street Performers (Covent Garden, Leicester Square, & Southbank)
   
   
6. Street Vendors (anywhere & everywhere)

8 Nature Spots in London

1. Gardens (head to Kew Gardens for land & the Sky Garden for a leafy view of the city)
   
   
2. Lakes (I love the many views from St. James Park, to include the duck pond with The Horse Guards building in the distance)
   
   
3. Parks (try Hamsptead Heath for its magnificent views)
   
   
4. Squares (these small green spaces are perfect places to capture daily life as you wander across the city)
   
   
5. Thames River (the tree-lined North Bank & along Richmond)
   
   
6. The Magnificent Seven Cemeteries (The Grade 1 Listed Brompton Cemetery is my favorite)
   
   
7. The Royal Parks (each offers a different perspective of London)
   
   
8. Regents Canal (Little Venice is colorful thru the lens)

The Four Seasons in London

1. Spring Bulbs (carpeting St. James Park)
   
   
2. Summer (endless green & deck chairs in the park)
   
   
3. Fall Foliage (Greenwich Park is a must see)
   
   
4. Winter (anywhere with xmas lights or snow,if you’re lucky!)

6 Annual London Events

1. Changing of the Guard (Buckingham Palace or The Horseguards, which is more intimate & has fewer crowds)
   
   
2. Chelsea Flower Show (every May, get tickets ahead of time!)
   
   
3. Christmas – (lights, markets, & ice skating venues)
   
   
4. Notting Hill Carnival (this annual street festival is every August)
   
   
5. New Year’s Eve Fireworks (get tickets for a really good view)
   
   
6. Trooping the Color (every June during the Queen’s annual parade)

Tips for London Photography

Here are a few things to keep in mind for your London adventures.

1. Start With Inspiration: Find creative inspiration by visiting a few London photography galleries or exhibitions.
   
   
2. Get An Early Start: Things can get crowded quickly, so get out early if you prefer unpopulated shots!
   
   
3. Consider The Light: Plan ahead what/when to shoot based on the time of day and direction of the sunlight. I use the Suncalc app to view the sun’s path to figure out shadows & get a better feel for twilight, etc.
   
   
4. Research: Make a list before you go, as it’s way too easy to forget something once you are caught up in your travels. I carry small eccolo journals to keep lists and write down thoughts when I am out & about.
   
   
5. Pack The Right Gear: Don’t get caught unprepared. For me, planning is key to make sure I have the equipment I really want for each trip. Even if I decide to go light & portable with my Moment I Phone lenses (which I love!)
   
   
6. Be Creative: Find a Bird’s eye view, lay on the grass & look at the tree canopy in the park, peer through a window – you get the idea! Have fun and try looking at things from a different perspective.
   
   
7. Look Up, Down & All Around: Look for reflections in puddles or find a rooftop for a new angle. Follow your curiosity & see where it leads.
   
   
8. Chase Your Passions: Above all, capture what really interests you, it will make the experience all the sweeter!
   

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So, which ones make your London bucket list?

Well, whatever you find, happy shooting!

until the next time…
…live well – travel well – be well

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