Top 10 Photography Spots in London

London, the capital and largest city in the United Kingdom, is a multicultural metropolis with a rich history, vibrant culture, a mix of historical and modern architecture, and lush parks. Whether you are planning a professional shoot or want to add some eye-catching frames to your Instagram feed, London has plenty to offer. It is so photogenic, with so many opportunities, that knowing where to begin is half the challenge. Here are ten of the best photography spots in the city, covering both the headline landmarks and the hidden gems a traditional guidebook tends to miss.

Want a spot that impresses history, art, and film lovers in equal measure? Visit the Royal Naval College on the south bank of the River Thames in Greenwich. A UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the building first housed a hospital and was later a training college for Royal Navy officers. Its architecture draws photographers year round and has stood in for countless film locations, appearing in Sherlock Holmes, Thor: The Dark World, The Avengers, and more.

Do not stop at the exterior. The standout interior is the Painted Hall, a Baroque masterpiece often called Britain's Sistine Chapel. Its walls and ceiling chart Britain's naval and political achievements in such detail that the work earned its artist, Sir James Thornhill, a knighthood. Entry to the Painted Hall is ticketed (around £19, children free, and your ticket converts to a free annual pass), so book ahead through the Old Royal Naval College.

Neal's Yard is a gem hidden in plain sight: a tiny courtyard in the busy Covent Garden district that is easy to walk straight past. Miss it and you will regret it. It is a micro-village that barely feels like London, with colourful buildings, bright window frames, and plants spilling everywhere, home to independent cafes, restaurants, and shops built around sustainable and ethical practices.

Curiously enough, until the 1970s, Neal’s Yard was anything but a beautiful photo spot. Instead, it was a dark and rat-infested area that had warehouses that supported the Covent Garden market. It was due to an entrepreneurial man named Nicholas Saunders who turned things around and transformed the area. Neal’s Yard tends to be busy, so check it out early on weekday mornings for peaceful and uncrowded shots.

Hidden beneath Waterloo Station, the closest Underground stop to the London Eye, the Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel is a free, legal urban street-art gallery where artists work openly without fear of arrest.

This magnificent exhibit of street art came to life in 2008 due to the famous graffiti artist Banksy. He hand-picked nearly 30 street artists and organized an art exhibition called The Cans Festival. This exhibition turned what once was a filthy tunnel into a work of art and one of the top spots for London photography.

Historic buildings are no longer the only ones shaping the skyline of London. The Shard, a 72-storey skyscraper in South London, is the tallest building within the UK and the sixth tallest in Europe. It houses office buildings, hotels and resorts, restaurants, and residential apartments.

Nonetheless, the most exciting feature to tourists and photographers is The View From The Shard, a set of two observation decks that offers some of London’s best photography spots and 360-views. Note that the view comes at a price. Access is ticketed, with timed entry starting from roughly £32 (advance online fares are usually cheaper), so book ahead at theviewfromtheshard.com. Aim for the evening to catch sunset over London.

The London Eye is one of the best spots for a wide variety of iconic frames. Work different angles and different times of day: walk along the South Bank to catch the wheel, the Thames, and Big Ben together in one composition.

The Eye has become a defining feature of the London skyline. Shoot it from the back in winter when snow lightly dusts the ground, frame it at dusk, and you will come away with a memorable take on this icon.

Another hidden gem in the heart of the City,St Dunstan in the East was once a church. It weathered many storms across the centuries, including the 1666 Great Fire of London, before being left in ruins by the Blitz during the Second World War.

Today it is a peaceful public garden of old ruins draped in vines, and one of the best spots in London for romantic or eerie shoots. It is open from 8am to 5pm, so arrive early before locals fill the benches looking for a quiet refuge among the office blocks.

In the City of London, St Paul's Cathedral delivers classic London frames. The site carries over 1,400 years of history and has been destroyed five times, including in the Great Fire of London. The current cathedral is another Sir Christopher Wren design.

There is never a bad time to photograph St Paul's, whatever the season or weather. Walk around it, return at different times of day, and experiment with angles. Catch the cathedral reflected in the glass of the modern offices at One New Change, or head toward the Millennium Bridge to mix contemporary and historic architecture in a single frame. St Paul's is lit at night, so plan for some evening shots too. To photograph the interior you will need an admission ticket (around £27 for adults and £10.50 for children); book through stpauls.co.uk.

The Hill Garden and Pergola in Hampstead Heath was once the spectacular private garden of an early-20th-century manor, owned by a wealthy philanthropist with a passion for landscape architecture and garden parties.

Now public, it is a dreamlike setting of ruins, exotic flowers, and climbing vines, and one of the most beautiful spots in London for wedding, engagement, and romantic photography. Entry is free, but check current opening times before you visit as they shift through the year.

Another icon you should not miss, Tower Bridge is a movable suspension bridge over the River Thames. Despite its old-world look, it is relatively new, built in the late 19th century after a design competition.

At completion it was the largest and most sophisticated bascule bridge in the world. The bascules still open several times a day to let tall vessels pass, and locals say catching them open is a sign of good luck. There are plenty of strong vantage points: the Timepiece sundial sculpture at St Katharine Docks, Butler's Wharf on the southeast bank, and Tower Wharf on the north bank. For a symmetrical composition, shoot from London Bridge. You can also walk onto the bridge itself for long exposures of the moving traffic. Try sunrise, sunset, golden hour, blue hour, and night for the most dramatic results.

Last but not least, photograph the iconic Big Ben. It may surprise you that Big Ben is actually the bell inside the tower; the tower itself is Elizabeth Tower. Over the years, Big Ben became the catchier name that stuck.

There are several great spots for this London landmark. For the most photogenic angle, head to Parliament Square. On Great George Street you will find a line of red phone boxes that frame beautifully with Big Ben behind them. Westminster Bridge captures both Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and from the far side you can shoot long exposures of classic red double-decker buses streaking past. The South Bank offers more angles on both landmarks. Try daytime and night, when the clock faces are illuminated.

Cannot get enough of this photogenic city? Explore hundreds more London locations, with photos, tips, and exact positions, on the free PIXEO photo spot map, and here are a few runner's up for you to explore: