In this guide, I’ll be highlighting my favorite spots around London to shoot. Most photography guides for London tell you to “go to Parliament, the London Eye, etc.” While these are fantastic spots to see, I tend to veer off the path a bit, and over the years and a handful of visits to London, I think I’ve found a few spots worth sharing that you may not hear about in your standard “London Guide.”

Grant’s Quay Wharf - 51.5085° N, 0.0846° W

- Short of being ON Tower Bridge, this is the best spot I’ve found to get shots of Tower Bridge during the day, or night. It’s rarely crowded, as the path leading to is used primarily by runners.

2. One New Change - 51.5139° N, 0.0955° W

- On top of being the absolute best spot to see St Paul’s, it’s also a really cool location with a lot of neon lights, glass, and architecture that provides a lot of shooting options. The Formula 1 arcade is here as well, which is a great spot to get some food and drinks, and/or enjoy the F1 simulators. The rooftop terrace is the best place to get a shot of St Paul’s and the city of London, but I have yet to be able to get up there. Every time I’ve been in London, the rooftop terrace has been closed. Probably because I’m always here during the winter, but alas, if you can make it up there, do so.

3. Soho - 51.5136° N, 0.1365° W

- Possibly my favorite and least favorite place to shoot in London, depending on the day. Soho is full of neon lights, bars and restaurants, and interesting people: a street photographer’s dream. But, it’s also chaotic and nightmarishly busy on weekends, full of party goers, drunk crowds, and occasionally protests/marches. It’s always good to be aware of your surroundings, but that’s especially the case in Soho. I’d recommend going on a week night when crowds are more thin.

4. Piccadilly - 51.5101° N, 0.1342° W

- Piccadilly Circus is a great spot for people watching and street performers. It’s a major meeting point for Soho, Buckingham Palace, Covent Gardens, and the National Gallery, so there’s a lot of traffic, foot and vehicle. There’s a ton of great restaurants and pubs in every direction, along with quite a bit of shopping options as well.

5. Bank - 51.51334° N, 0.08890° W

- Bank is the financial hub for downtown London, located just northwest of Tower Bridge. It’s a great spot to wander and get shots of the architecture. Winter provides the best lighting and potential low hanging fog, but you can get good shots here anytime. The old Bank of London is a go to, along with the surrounding streets.

6. Leadenhall Market - 51.5128° N, 0.0835° W

- This is more of a fun one than a “photo potential” spot, but for the Harry Potter fans, this is a solid stop while wandering London. Located just east of Bank, and just north of Tower Bridge, this is the location where Diagon Alley/The Leaky Cauldron was filmed, and feels like you’re stepping into the movie.