London’s popularity as a tourist destination doesn’t come without its reasons. Alongside its gripping history, West End entertainment hubs and hundreds of years of tradition, the city is also a rather photogenic thing. Whether you’re walking down the street from your London hotel or simply indulging in some Bayswater shopping, you’ll no doubt stumble across a setting, scene or instance that you simply can’t help but take a photo of. Whether it’s a sweeping panorama or an intimate selfie, you’ll be spoilt for choice for social media mementoes when staying in London.
It’s one thing getting a candid shot on your walk to the tube, but it’s quite another seeking out those perfect snaps. Many of the most photogenic locations in London are tourist attractions in their own right, and so it makes sense to list some of them here. From beautiful natural landscapes to surprisingly fun tourist traps, here are some of the best attractions in London that you’ll want to bring home with you in pixel form.
Buckingham Palace
Probably the most famous Royal landmark, not just in London but in the country, Buckingham Palace is always a tourist hotspot. Outside of its gilded gates, visitors can regularly be seen snapping pictures of the red-clad royal guards and hoping to spot the queens motorcade on its way in or out. It’s not just celeb-spotting and snapping either, Buckingham Palace’s white bricked column clad structure dates back to 1703 and is a beautifully grand landmark separate from its royal connections.
Greenwich Park And View
The stunning view from Greenwich Park’s beautiful Royal Observatory gives sightlines all across the Thames, even as far as to St Paul’s Cathedral. The park itself is well worth a visit, what with the photogenic Cutty Sark ship replica located on the riverside, which glitters with lights during the evening. Furthermore is the Greenwich Meridian, the line of latitude and longitude which is used as the spot from which time and clock differences are measured across the world. It’d be hard not to be tempted by a line straddling snap at this time-bending historic site.
Tate Modern Exhibitions and View
The Tate Modern is located on the Bankside of the River Thames and is one of the most popular art galleries in the city. Opened in the year 2000, the building has 10 floors, the highest of which has its own balcony. Whether you’re taking shots of the London skyline from this balcony or snapping the interiors of some of the very Instagrammable exhibitions, the Tate Modern is a must for art savvy photographers.
London Eye
For guests of Central London hotel deals, the London Eye is one of the most recognisable landmarks on the River Thames. With it’s 32 ovoidal capsules, the London Eye offers amazing views over the city and on clear days up to 25 miles in all directions during its half-hour-long revolutions.
Richmond Park
It’s not just the pristine scrublands and forests that make Richmond Park such a picturesque pastoral setting. The park itself is home to herds of semi-wild grey deer, who can be seen in groups and galloping all across the parkland. Make sure not to miss the photogenic vista point of King Henry’s Mound either, providing a stunning view of Thames Valley and even the distant St Paul’s Cathedral, the view of which has been traditionally preserved by landscape artists for centuries.
Sloane Square
The home of Sloanies and famous reality show Made In Chelsea, Sloane Square is often frequented by aspirational tourists dazzled by the wealth and grandness of the area. Whether Instagramming your brunch at the Hummingbird Cafe or taking a snap of your dinner at the Grand Court Restaurant, this dazzling area of West London is rife with photo ops. Make sure not to miss the beautiful independent shopping haven of Carnaby Street or the stunning exhibits at the Saatchi Gallery.
Kings Cross Platform 9¾
For non-Harry Potter fans, Kings Cross’s Platform 9 ¾ might be a little hard to catch a train from but does offer fans of the wizarding a franchise a monument to take a photo next to. Seeking out this section of the train station wall is far easier than entering the Room of Requirement, simply find the half-submerged transport trolley between platforms 9 and 10 and the groups of scarf clad tourists waiting for their chance to get a photo there.
Madame Tussauds
Located close to the Park Grand Paddington Court, this Baker Street based wax museum is one of the most famous in the world. With lifelike replicas of celebrities and fictional characters, this is the best place for faux in-crowd selfie shots.
Tower Bridge
Along the River Thames and close to Bermondsey and Southwark is Tower Bridge. This stunning late 19th-century suspension bridge has two upper-tier walkways that rise to about 60 metres above the river. It’s from here that you’ll find a stunning view to the West and East of the River Thames, as well as a clear line of sight to the nearby Tower Of London. Put this together and you have a once in a lifetime panorama that’s as worthy of your socials as it is of a British banknote.
Piccadilly Circus
This beating heart of London is reminiscent of Times Square in New York, what with its shiny billboards, tourist shops and chain restaurants. You’ll also find that the bustling thoroughfare is perfect for a photo, and the beautiful Shaftesbury Memorial Statue is a rather serene Centrepoint amidst the cars and West End theatres.
Sky Garden
It’s not just the views from this top floor Fenchurch Street tourist attraction that’ll get you taking photos, it’s the urban gardens stretched over three floors as well. With cafes, bars and walkways, there’s plenty to enjoy in this Walkie Talkie Building landmark.
London Telephone Box
What’s a trip to London without visiting one of its iconic red phone boxes? Though they are rarely used any more and diminishing in numbers, these phone boxes still act as a statement to the quirkiness and stand out features of the UK capital.
