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There are several reasons why street photography in London is so great.
It starts with the diversity of the people.
London is full of weird and wonderfully diverse folk, many of whom don’t mind having their picture taken.
Then, it boasts numerous great locations, buildings, and more events than most other places in the world.
All of which contribute to fantastic opportunities for capturing some excellent street photography.
Most of the imagery below was shot primarily using my Fujifilm X-T5, but some was taken on film.
The lenses used are a selection of the Fuji 23 mm, the Fuji 33mm, the Fuji 35mm, the Fuji 50-140mm, or the Sigma 56mm.
If you want to add an extra bit of fun to your street photography, why not try a glass prism or the Retropia disposable camera lens?
At the bottom of this post, you’ll find the gallery, with a selection of street photographs taken across the capital over the years.
Street Photography in London: Top Locations
I enjoy blending people with architecture, so many of these places are architecturally focused.
Buildings are easy to incorporate into street photography, as they don’t move, don’t talk back, and plenty of them look magnificent.
And London isn’t without its share of fabulous buildings, given that there are a lot of them and the architecture spans hundreds of years.
As with any street photography, it’s not just about the location.
It’s about the subject you are photographing, the time of day, the weather, how you edit your imagery, your level of patience and a bit of good old-fashioned circumstance and chance.
However, these locations are a great starting point, where you will have more than a fighting chance to combine interesting people with interesting architecture, hopefully in interesting weather conditions.
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Tate Modern
The Tate Modern is more of an architectural marvel than it is a marvellous art gallery.
There are numerous opportunities to utilise the building’s interior to your advantage.
More so than most other buildings I can think of.
Without doubt, the most interesting part of the Tate Modern is on Level 0.
You’ll find the concrete Tanks and the big, sweeping concrete stairs
It’s also where you will find a couple of other interesting areas to photograph.
Bank
Bank is another place where you can make good use of the buildings and is one of my favourite places for street photography in London.
The architecture is somewhat different to the Tate, but equally useful and arguably more beautiful.
Plus, there are always plenty of people loitering around the columns of the Bank of England.
Highlights are the arch at Princes Street and at the front of the Bank of England, where it meets the Royal Exchange.
I’ve seen numerous photo shoots here as well, which often feature interesting people, leading to potentially more interesting pictures.
City of London
The City of London is home to Bank, but the rest of the city is also worth exploring.
It has a mix of old and new architecture, and on sunny days, the harsh light cuts down through the skyscrapers, creating plenty of light and shadow for you to work with.
Other highlights of the City of London are:
- One New Exchange
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- City of London Guildhall
Barbican
Barbican is one of my favourite places in London.
It’s the city’s most famous example of Brutalist architecture and home to the Barbican Conservatory.
It’s a bit of a crazy place, with its walkways, spaces and concrete, which lend themselves well to photography.
You either love the Barbican or hate it, but be sure to make some time to wander through it slowly with your camera in hand.
Don’t forget to step outside of the brutalist area, too.
There are also some great roads surrounding Barbican that are worth exploring, and the modern buildings provide some interesting backgrounds.
Soho
I’ve teamed up with my mate Dek (@dek_traylor_photography), who shot some great stuff during a course at the Fujifilm House of Photography in Covent Garden, while on a photography walk with Mr Whisper.
Soho offers plenty of opportunities for street photography.
It has interesting people, neon lights, a fantastic nightlife scene, LGBTQ+ bars, cafes, and theatres, which attract a diverse range of people.
Mayfair
Mayfair is another excellent place for street photography.
The architecture doesn’t lend itself as well here, but what does stand out are the people.
Mayfair is where the affluent crowd congregates in their stylish and eccentric attire.
It’s also popular for shopping, so you’ll find plenty of interesting storefronts and many men in hats.
Southbank
A lot is going on on the South Bank.
There are two fabulous Brutalist buildings (the National Theatre and the Southbank Centre), a skatepark, markets, food stalls, and one of the world’s most famous attractions (the London Eye), making it visually rich and socially dynamic.
It’s a great place to be at the best of times, but armed with a camera, you’ll be sure to get some decent shots.
King’s Cross
Pushing into north London, King’s Cross is another great spot.
The area has undergone considerable redevelopment over the last two decades, bringing with it some impressive features.
You’ll find the spectacular Coal Drops Yard and the King’s Cross Rainbow Tunnel.
The tunnel is the easiest place for you to capture a high-contrast shot.
Just wait for someone to walk down, and voila.
London Bridge
London Bridge has a couple of highlights, namely Borough Market and the More London development.
Borough Market is one of London’s most famous markets, attracting millions of visitors per year.
There are plenty of food stalls with interesting lighting, railway arches, and, of course, a lot of people.
The best time to visit is early in the morning or later in the day, when the crowds start to thin; otherwise, it can get a little busy, making it harder for you to pick out the interesting elements.
Beyond Borough Market is More London.
It’s full of glass buildings, meaning there is an abundance of reflective surfaces to work with.
It’s also a popular spot for tourists due to the views of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
Shoreditch
Shoreditch is probably the coolest part of the capital.
It’s a relatively raw and gritty place in parts, with plenty of street art for you to incorporate into your imagery, given it’s arguably the street art capital of London.
Shoreditch is fairly lively most of the time, but it comes to life on a weekend, when there are markets, food stalls, and street performers.
Brick Lane is the absolute highlight of Shoreditch, so head there first and meander the streets north, towards Columbia Road Flower Market.
Brixton
Pushing outside of central London, but a short hop on the Victoria Line, takes us to Brixton.
I took a photo walk around the area, shooting film on my Canon AV-1.
Brixton is a remarkable place, offering a wealth of opportunities for photography, from the skate park to the hip-hop scene, vibrant markets, and impressive graffiti.
Brixton is the only place outside of Central London, but it deserves a spot on this list because it’s worth the journey.
The London Underground
The London Underground is vast; however, there are a few places to look out for, namely Baker Street (for that classic shot) and the Elizabeth line stations.
The Lizzy line is modern, sleek and spacious and contrasts nicely with the older stations.
Patience is your friend on the Underground, so it’s just a matter of time until you see the right person in the right place to photograph.
Events & Festivals
This one isn’t a location, but a consideration.
London is home to more events than anywhere else in the UK, and they make great places for street photography.
If you’re new to street photography, events are a great place to cut your teeth.
If you lack confidence when photographing random people on the street, then events offer a good opportunity for you (after all, street photography raises some ethical questions, despite being legal, such as photographing people without their knowledge or consent).
The people at events are already in the public eye and expect to be photographed.
It’s part of the job.
Some even welcome it, but without doubt, the ice is easier to break when there are plenty of cameras pointing at subjects.
The list below is not exhaustive; a quick Google search of ‘what’s on in London this weekend’ will reveal plenty of other events happening.
- Notting Hill Carnival
- Southside Hustle
- Waterloo Classics
- Putney Boat Race (using Retropia)
- Chinese New Year
- Eid
- Protests โ numerous events occur throughout the year, particularly around Trafalgar Square and Whitehall.
Gallery
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