17 Beautiful Places to Take Photos in London
London is a photographer's city.
You can photograph a skyline from a hill in the morning, colourful streets in the afternoon, historic buildings at golden hour and a completely different city once the lights come on at night.
And that's before you even start looking at the Thames.
The best places to take photos in London aren't all observation decks or famous landmarks. Some are parks, bridges, markets, streets, canals and viewpoints where the composition almost creates itself.
The trick is knowing what each place is actually good for.
Some give you the classic London photograph. Others give you something quieter, more colourful or completely different. And if you time your visit well, even a familiar location can look nothing like the photographs you've seen before.
So whether you're using a phone, a mirrorless camera or simply want better holiday photographs, here are 17 beautiful places to take photos in London.
1. Primrose Hill For the London Skyline
Primrose Hill is one of the easiest places to get a beautiful London skyline photograph without paying for a viewpoint.
From the top of the hill, the city stretches out in front of you, with the skyline rising beyond the green open space of Regent's Park.
Visit London currently describes Primrose Hill as one of London's best protected panoramic views and specifically highlights it as a popular sunset location.
That's what makes it such a useful photography location.
You have a huge amount of sky, an open foreground and a recognisable London skyline in the distance.
Try a wide landscape photograph.
Then turn around and photograph people sitting on the hill with the skyline behind them.
For portraits, the hill can also give you a natural London backdrop without making the photograph look like a typical tourist snapshot.
Best for: Skyline photographs, sunsets, portraits and wide views.
Best time: Sunset or early morning.
2. Greenwich Park For Old and New London in One Photograph
Greenwich gives you something very different.
From the higher parts of Greenwich Park, you can look towards the Thames and the modern towers of Canary Wharf, while the historic architecture of Greenwich sits below.
It's an unusually good place for showing two sides of London in one frame.
Visit London currently recommends Greenwich as a photography destination, highlighting the park, Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark and Old Royal Naval College as different photographic opportunities around the area.
And that's why you shouldn't treat Greenwich as one single photo spot.
Photograph the skyline from the hill.
Then walk downhill and photograph the Old Royal Naval College.
Look for symmetry around the buildings.
Go inside the Painted Hall for its extraordinary ceiling.
Then head towards the Cutty Sark and the river.
You can spend several hours here and come away with photographs that look as though they were taken in completely different parts of London.
Best for: Architecture, skyline, historic buildings, river views and detail shots.
Best time: Late afternoon and sunset.
3. King Henry's Mound, Richmond Park For the St Paul's View
If you want a London photograph that feels surprisingly far away from the city, go to Richmond Park.
At King Henry's Mound, there's a protected view towards St Paul's Cathedral roughly 12 miles away.
The Royal Parks specifically describes Richmond Park as a natural choice for photographers, with wildlife photography as well as the skyline from King Henry's Mound.
The photograph isn't about having hundreds of buildings filling your frame.
It's about distance.
Trees and open parkland create the foreground, while St Paul's appears on the horizon.
The view has been deliberately protected from development, which is why the sightline remains so distinctive.
If you're interested in wildlife photography too, Richmond Park gives you another opportunity — but be responsible around the deer. The Royal Parks asks photographers to use long lenses and stay at least 50 metres away.
Best for: Landscapes, long-distance skyline photographs and wildlife.
Best time: Clear mornings or late afternoon.
4. Parliament Hill - For a Different London Skyline
Another hill, another skyline but a completely different perspective.
Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath gives you a broad view across London from north of the centre.
Visit London currently highlights Parliament Hill alongside Primrose Hill and Alexandra Palace as one of the city's strong elevated viewpoints.
The advantage here is the sense of scale.
You're not looking at one landmark.
You're looking across London.
On a clear day, you can pick out parts of the central skyline while the open heath creates a natural foreground.
It's particularly good for photographers who want something less polished than an observation deck.
There are no glass walls between you and the view.
Just grass, sky and the city.
Best for: Wide skyline photographs and sunset landscapes.
Best time: Sunset or a clear day with good visibility.
5. Alexandra Palace For Sunset Over London
Alexandra Palace is another excellent elevated location, particularly if you want to photograph London from the north.
The hilltop position gives you long views across the capital, while the palace itself provides an impressive architectural subject.
Visit London currently includes Alexandra Palace among its recommended London viewpoints.
This gives you two photography opportunities in one location.
Photograph London from Alexandra Palace.
Then photograph Alexandra Palace itself.
The building's Victorian architecture can work particularly well when photographed from the surrounding park, while the elevated views become especially atmospheric around sunset.
If the weather is clear, stay after the sun has disappeared.
The city lights gradually begin to appear, giving you a completely different photograph from the one you took an hour earlier.
Best for: Sunset, skyline and architectural photography.
6. Horizon 22 For London from Above
Sometimes you want the entire city in front of you.
That's where Horizon 22 comes in.
Located on the 58th floor of 22 Bishopsgate, Horizon 22 currently offers 300-degree views across London and is the city's highest free viewing platform at 244 metres (800ft).
From the viewing gallery, you can photograph The Shard, St Paul's Cathedral, the Walkie Talkie, the Thames and the wider City skyline.
The enormous floor-to-ceiling windows also make it easier to photograph the city in poor weather.
And importantly, entry is free, but tickets must be booked in advance according to current Visit London guidance.
If you're going specifically for photography, consider booking around sunset.
You'll get daylight, sunset colours and the beginning of London's illuminated skyline in one visit.
Best for: Panoramic skyline photography, sunset and night photography.
Best time: Sunset into blue hour.
7. Sky Garden For Skyline and Greenery Together
Sky Garden gives you a photograph that is quite different from Horizon 22.
Instead of simply photographing the city from a high observation deck, you can use the plants, walkways and architecture as foreground elements.
Visit London currently lists Sky Garden among London's major viewpoints and describes it as the city's highest garden.
That greenery makes a difference.
You can frame the skyline through leaves.
Photograph the architecture of the building itself.
Use the curves of the interior as leading lines.
Or simply photograph London through the huge windows.
It's also useful when the weather isn't behaving.
You can still get a high-level city photograph without standing outside in the rain.
Check the current entry arrangements before travelling, as access and booking requirements can change.
Best for: Skyline, architectural details, greenery and indoor photography.
8. The Garden at 120 For a Free Rooftop View
If you want another elevated viewpoint without paying for an observation deck, look at the Garden at 120.
Located in the City of London, it offers views across the surrounding skyscrapers and towards landmarks including The Gherkin and The Shard.
Visit London's current 2026 viewpoint guide specifically includes the Garden at 120 among London's best free viewpoints.
The advantage for photography is the open-air setting.
You're not shooting through a conventional observation-deck environment.
Instead, you have a rooftop garden with planting, seating and skyline views.
That gives you more opportunities to create layered photographs.
Use the plants as foreground.
Frame skyscrapers between the greenery.
Or photograph the surrounding City architecture from above.
Best for: Modern architecture, rooftop photography and City skyline views.
9. Millennium Bridge For the Classic St Paul's Photograph
This is one of the most useful photography locations in central London because the composition is almost built into the bridge.
Walk towards St Paul's Cathedral and the lines of Millennium Bridge naturally pull your eye towards the dome.
Visit London specifically recommends the bridge for photographs of St Paul's and Tate Modern.
For the classic photograph, stand near the centre of the bridge and use its structure as leading lines.
But don't stop there.
Turn around.
Photograph Tate Modern.
Look along the Thames.
Capture the people crossing the bridge.
Visit around blue hour and the atmosphere changes again.
Because Millennium Bridge is pedestrian-only, you can also take your time moving around rather than worrying about traffic.
Best for: St Paul's, leading lines, architecture and blue-hour photography.
10. Tower Bridge and More London For the Iconic London Shot
If you want one of those photographs that instantly tells someone where you are, Tower Bridge is hard to beat.
But instead of simply standing directly in front of the bridge, walk around the More London area and the riverside.
Visit London's current photography guide specifically recommends More London for photographing Tower Bridge, while also noting views towards the Tower of London, The Gherkin and The Shard.
This gives you plenty of ways to photograph the same landmark.
Try a wide shot including the Thames.
Use nearby buildings to frame the bridge.
Photograph the bridge at blue hour.
Or wait for boats to pass underneath it.
You can also walk further along the Thames and change your angle completely.
Best for: Iconic London, architecture, river photography and night shots.
11. Westminster Bridge For Big Ben and the Thames
If you want the classic Westminster photograph, Westminster Bridge is one of the most useful places to stand.
From around the bridge and South Bank, you can photograph the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben across the Thames.
Visit London's current photography guide specifically recommends the South Bank and Westminster Bridge area for photographing Parliament, Big Ben and the surrounding London icons.
The location also gives you several compositions.
Photograph the Parliament buildings across the river.
Include Westminster Bridge itself.
Turn towards the London Eye.
Or wait for a red bus to cross the bridge.
The area becomes particularly interesting after sunset when the river starts reflecting the illuminated buildings.
Best for: Big Ben, Parliament, the Thames and classic London photographs.
Best time: Blue hour and evening.
12. St Dunstan in the East For Old London Against Modern Skyscrapers
This is one of London's most unusual photography locations.
St Dunstan in the East is the remains of a historic church that now sits as a garden among the City of London's skyscrapers.
The contrast is the photograph.
Old stone.
Greenery.
Modern glass towers.
Instead of trying to make everything look polished, embrace the contrast between the ruined church and the modern City around it.
Look upwards through the remains.
Use the arches to frame the sky.
Photograph the plants growing around the old stone.
Then step outside and include the skyscrapers.
It creates a photograph that feels distinctly London because it captures the city's layers of history in one place.
Best for: Atmospheric photographs, architecture, ruins and contrasting old-and-new London.
13. Leake Street Tunnel For Street Art and Colour
Not every London photograph needs a skyline.
Sometimes you need colour.
Leake Street Tunnel beneath Waterloo Station is one of the city's best-known street-art locations, and Visit London specifically recommends it as a photography spot for London's urban side.
The walls and ceiling are covered with constantly changing graffiti and street art.
That means the location itself evolves.
You can photograph the artwork directly, use the tunnel as a leading line or capture people walking through the colourful space.
It is also a useful reminder that London's photography scene isn't just historic buildings and expensive viewpoints.
There is an entire visual side of the city happening at street level.
Best for: Street art, colour, urban photography and portraits.
14. Abbey Road For the Iconic Beatles Photograph
You don't need to be a Beatles fan to recognise this location.
The zebra crossing outside Abbey Road Studios has become one of London's most famous photography spots.
Visit London currently recommends Abbey Road as a photography location and specifically highlights the opportunity to recreate the Beatles' famous album-cover crossing.
The challenge here is that it is a real working road.
So don't stand in the road waiting indefinitely for the perfect photograph.
Be aware of traffic, follow the crossing rules and be considerate of other people who are trying to cross normally.
The surrounding area can also give you more photographs, including the famous Abbey Road Studios exterior.
Best for: Iconic London, music history and fun photographs with friends.
15. Little Venice For Canals and Reflections
If you want a photograph that feels completely different from central London, go to Little Venice.
The canals, narrowboats, bridges, trees and waterside buildings create softer compositions than the City's skyscrapers.
Visit London specifically recommends Little Venice as a photography location, including for sunset photographs.
This is a place where reflections become particularly useful.
Look for boats reflected in the water.
Use the canal as a leading line.
Photograph bridges through the trees.
Or simply capture a narrowboat moving through the frame.
Early morning can be especially peaceful, while evening light can add warmth to the water and surrounding buildings.
Best for: Reflections, canals, boats, landscapes and quieter photographs.
16. Kew Gardens For Nature and Beautiful Architecture
If you want to photograph something other than the city skyline, Kew Gardens gives you an enormous number of possibilities.
And this isn't just a generic recommendation.
Kew itself publishes photography guidance highlighting locations including the Palm House, lake, vistas, glasshouses and seasonal plant displays.
The Palm House is particularly striking.
Inside, you can photograph dense tropical vegetation, architectural details and shafts of light.
Outside, the gardens offer sweeping vistas, flowers, water, trees and historic buildings.
Kew even runs photography workshops and photography walking tours, which says something about how much material there is for photographers here.
One important practical point: if you're bringing professional camera equipment or conducting a professional shoot, Kew has specific photography permit requirements. Ordinary visitor photography is subject to the Gardens' rules, while professional equipment and commercial photography require permission.
Best for: Nature, flowers, glasshouses, architecture and detailed photography.
17. Piccadilly Circus For London After Dark
Finish with something completely different.
Piccadilly Circus is one of the places where London really comes alive at night.
The illuminated advertising screens, traffic, people and famous Eros statue create a busy urban scene that can look completely different from the quieter parks and viewpoints on this list.
Visit London specifically identifies Piccadilly Circus as one of the capital's most photographed areas, particularly for its illuminated advertising and Statue of Eros.
This is where you can experiment with night photography.
Try capturing light trails from passing vehicles.
Photograph the screens against the surrounding architecture.
Use the crowds as part of the composition.
Or simply wait for a London bus to enter the frame.
Don't try to make Piccadilly Circus look quiet.
The chaos is the photograph.
Best for: Night photography, street scenes, neon and the energy of central London.
When Is the Best Time to Take Photos in London?
The location matters, but light can completely change the photograph.
Sunrise
If you want empty streets and fewer people, sunrise is one of your best options.
Places that become crowded later in the day can look surprisingly peaceful early in the morning.
It's particularly useful for bridges, streets and central London landmarks.
Golden Hour
The softer light around sunrise and sunset can make buildings warmer and landscapes more atmospheric.
This works particularly well at:
Primrose Hill
Greenwich Park
Parliament Hill
Alexandra Palace
Richmond Park
Little Venice
Blue Hour
Don't pack your camera away as soon as the sun disappears.
Blue hour when the sky still has colour while artificial lights begin to dominate — can be one of the best times to photograph London.
Try:
Tower Bridge
Westminster
Millennium Bridge
Piccadilly Circus
London's City skyline
Night
London becomes a completely different photography subject after dark.
Skyscrapers light up.
Buses leave trails.
The Thames reflects the city.
And places such as Piccadilly Circus become much more atmospheric.
For high-level night photography, viewpoints such as Horizon 22 and Sky Garden can also provide a completely different perspective, subject to their current opening and access arrangements.
You Don't Need an Expensive Camera
This is worth remembering.
A great London photograph isn't automatically better because it was taken on a professional camera.
Your phone can produce excellent photographs if you pay attention to:
Light
Composition
Reflections
Leading lines
Symmetry
Foreground and background
Timing
At Millennium Bridge, for example, the location itself gives you strong leading lines.
At Primrose Hill, the skyline gives you a natural background.
At St Dunstan in the East, the contrast between old stone and modern skyscrapers creates the composition.
At Little Venice, the water provides reflections.
The camera matters.
But where you stand matters more than most people realise.
Which London Photography Spot Should You Choose?
If you want the classic skyline, go to Primrose Hill.
If you want historic and modern London together, choose Greenwich Park.
If you want St Paul's Cathedral, head to Millennium Bridge or King Henry's Mound.
If you want a huge panoramic view, book Horizon 22.
If you want a rooftop with greenery, try Sky Garden.
If you want the classic London landmark photograph, go to Tower Bridge.
If you want Big Ben and Parliament, use Westminster Bridge.
If you want street art, head to Leake Street.
If you want colourful canal photographs, go to Little Venice.
If you want nature and beautiful architecture, spend time at Kew Gardens.
And if you want London at its most chaotic and colourful, take your camera to Piccadilly Circus after dark.
The best part is that you don't have to choose just one.
London gives you hills, rivers, bridges, parks, canals, ruins, skyscrapers, colourful streets, gardens and busy squares often within the same day.
So don't just look for somewhere with a famous view.
Look for somewhere with a photograph waiting to happen.
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