My Favourite London Photography Locations (And What Nobody Tells You About Them)
By Andrea Whelan – London Vacation Photographer
People ask me all the time: “Where should we shoot?” And honestly, it’s one of my favourite questions, because the answer is never just a single place on a map. The best location is the one that suits you, your family, your energy, your story. London is extraordinary, precisely because it gives you so much to work with. In fifteen minutes you can go from a grand Victorian park gate to a cobbled mews lined with wisteria. You can be under Big Ben at sunrise and eating lunch in Mayfair by noon.
After years of shooting across this city, these are the locations I genuinely recommend, the ones I know inside out, the ones I keep coming back to, and the ones I steer certain clients toward (and gently away from, depending on what they’re after).
Marylebone
Who I recommend this location for: Families, couples, maternity, personal branding – visitors wanting an authentic London feel.
The neighbourhood has a relaxed, village-like atmosphere while still feeling unmistakably London. Elegant Georgian townhouses, leafy streets, independent cafés and charming shopfronts create a beautiful backdrop that’s timeless rather than trendy. It works just as well for young families exploring together as it does for couples or older children who want photographs that feel natural and effortless.
I particularly love wandering along Chiltern Street, Marylebone Lane, with its characterful buildings and quieter pace, where the mix of architecture, cafés and boutiques gives us plenty of variety and colour without needing to travel far. The surrounding residential streets are equally lovely, with colourful front doors, classic brick facades and pockets of greenery that add texture to your photographs.
Practical notes: Baker Street, Bond Street and Regent’s Park are all within easy walking distance.
What makes it photographically special: One of the reasons I return here so often is that it’s incredibly versatile. Within just a few minutes’ walk we can create a gallery that feels varied, moving between elegant London streets, hidden mews, leafy corners and relaxed café moments if you’d like to stop for a coffee or ice cream along the way.
I’ve photographed countless family sessions in Marylebone, and it’s one of the locations I recommend most often.
Hampstead
Who I recommend this location for: Families, maternity sessions, couples and anyone looking for a relaxed, nature-filled setting.
Hampstead is one of my favourite locations for families who love nature but still want that unmistakable London charm. With ancient woodland, open meadows, winding paths and beautiful period houses, it offers a wonderfully relaxed setting that feels a world away from the city.
Hampstead Heath is incredibly diverse, so no two galleries ever look quite the same. We might wander through tall grasses, follow woodland trails, stop beneath magnificent old trees or enjoy the wide open views across London from Parliament Hill. The changing seasons make it a fantastic choice all year round, from fresh spring greenery to golden autumn leaves and crisp winter landscapes.
Just beyond the Heath, Hampstead Village brings a completely different feel. The cobbled streets, Georgian and Victorian houses, ivy-covered walls and independent cafés create a timeless backdrop that’s elegant without feeling overly polished. It’s perfect if you’d like your gallery to include both beautiful natural scenery and charming London streets.
I love photographing families here because the location encourages everyone to slow down. Children can explore, climb, collect leaves and simply enjoy being outdoors, while parents can relax knowing we’re not rushing between landmarks or competing with busy crowds. The result is a gallery that feels natural, joyful and full of genuine connection.
Practical notes: Nearest stations – Hampstead, Belsize Park, Gospel Oak and Hampstead Heath.
What makes it photographically special: Hampstead Heath is vast, so I always choose a route that suits your family and the season. If you’d like a little more variety, we can also include the picturesque streets of Hampstead Village, including a famous pub for a mix of greenery and classic London character.
Greenwich and Blackheath
Who I recommend this location for: Families, extended families, maternity sessions and visitors wanting a mix of London landmarks and natural surroundings.
If you’re looking for somewhere that offers both iconic London scenery and peaceful green space, it’s hard to beat Greenwich and Blackheath. Sitting side by side, they complement each other perfectly and are two of my favourite places to photograph families.
Greenwich Park is one of London’s most beautiful Royal Parks, with tree-lined avenues, sweeping views across the city skyline and plenty of open space for children to run, climb and explore. Throughout the year the landscape changes beautifully, from spring blossom to rich autumn colours, making it a wonderful location in every season.
Just a short walk away, you’ll find the elegant Georgian architecture of the Old Royal Naval College, the charming streets around Greenwich Market and the riverside along the Thames. Together they create a timeless London backdrop without feeling overly touristy.
Crossing into Blackheath, the atmosphere changes completely. The wide open heath feels calm and spacious, giving families room to relax and simply enjoy being together. It’s especially lovely for young children who want the freedom to run around rather than feeling like they’re posing for photographs. Blackheath Village is equally charming, with independent cafés, period buildings and quiet residential streets that add even more variety to your gallery.
One of the reasons I recommend this area so often is because we don’t have to choose between city and nature. Within a relatively short walk we can photograph among historic London architecture, beautiful parkland, open heath and quiet village streets, creating a gallery that feels wonderfully varied while keeping the session relaxed and unhurried.
Practical notes: Nearest stations – Greenwich, Cutty Sark DLR, Maze Hill and Blackheath.
What makes it photographically special: These are some of my favourite locations for longer sessions because we can easily combine several different backdrops without needing to drive anywhere. It also works brilliantly for families with children, as there’s plenty of space for little ones to explore naturally between photographs.
Westminster – Big Ben and Southbank
Who I recommend this location for: Families, couples, anyone wanting unmistakably London shots
I’ll be honest: Westminster is not somewhere I’d take clients who want something quiet and intimate. I’m happy to shoot there at any time but need you to know it’s busy, it’s tourist-heavy, and you spend a fair amount of time waiting for crowds to clear to get a good shot. But, and this is important, there is nowhere else on earth that gives you that feeling. The Thames at dusk. The London Eye reflected in puddles. There’s a real cinematic feel on the south side, in the right conditions. These are images that genuinely take your breath away, and my clients from overseas in particular light up when they see them. If you’re willing to get up for a sunrise shoot then you will be rewarded!
Early morning, I’m talking 7am at least, is transformative here. The light is exquisite and the crowds haven’t arrived yet.
The red telephone boxes are iconic and I do use them, but I’m selective, they need to feel playful and intentional, not like a tourist tick-box. When done well (especially with children), they’re magic. We don’t do queuing either, I know plenty of secret locations to get those iconic shots don’t worry!
My top tip for families with toddlers is to head to Victoria Tower Gardens South. It’s quieter than the bridge itself, you get stunning views of the Parliament buildings and the river, and there’s beautiful greenery to break up the stone backdrop. St James Park is close by too so lots of options for kids to let loose.
Buckingham Palace is close by but honestly, unless we’re getting there super early I wouldn’t suggest it. The vibe is essentially just crowds of people standing around and not great for my style of photography.
Practical notes: Westminster station gives you a proper show when you walk out the right entrance, Big Ben is towering over you and it’s mighty impressive! Time of day really matters here; midday in summer is genuinely difficult with crowds and harsh overhead light.
What makes it photographically special: Pure, iconic London drama. The scale, the architecture, the light bouncing off the Thames, the moodiness when a shower hits…
My honest take: I love it, I’ve photographed hundreds of families here so know the locations and the light like the back of my. hand. I do think people should look beyond having this as their only location. It’s London but there’s so much more to the city!
Tower Bridge & Borough Market Area
Who I recommend this location for: Families, couples
Walking from London Bridge Station, Tower Bridge usually surprises people. They expect tourist chaos and they get… this extraordinary Victorian Gothic structure that photographs like nothing else in the city. I know exactly where to position us to get the most from it, the angles, the light, the frames within frames that the architecture offers. This is very much a location where knowing the area makes all the difference. In Victorian times, Shad Thames, which is close by, included the largest industrial warehouse complex in London.
The Borough Market area is one of those places I bring clients who want something with a little more life and colour to it, the textures, the cobbled lanes, the Victorian ironwork overhead. Again, timing and knowing the right spots around the market is everything. Go at the wrong time and you’re fighting crowds like you’ve never seen before; get it right and the images look effortlessly alive.
Practical notes: There’s a 15 minute walk between Tower Bridge and Borough Market area but we’ll shoot along the way
What makes it photographically special: The combination of historical architecture (Tower Bridge and Shad Thames) and the textured, vibrant environment of the market area in such close proximity. You can get epic wide shots and intimate urban portraits within fifteen minutes of each other, when you know where to look.
Mayfair – Claridge’s, The Connaught, Royal Arcade & Beyond
Who I recommend this location for: Personal branding, couples, families who love that polished London aesthetic, luxury brand shoots
Mayfair is where I feel most in my element. There is nowhere else in London, possibly the world, that packs this much beauty, elegance, and photographic possibility into such a small area. I’m talking about: the epitome of Britishness, Claridges, with its stunning facade and holiday decorations, characterful architecture and establishments that ooze luxury, my favourite is the warm amber glow of The Audley’s exterior and the discreet grandeur of The Connaught with it’s surprise art installation. New Bond Street is perfection, and just for shopping, I adore how the light lands here reflected off the Georgian buildings.
I know this neighbourhood the way I know my own kitchen. I know which corner catches the best afternoon light, which doorways make the most extraordinary frames, which quiet streets look magical after rain. That local knowledge makes a huge difference.
Practical notes: Green Park or Bond Street tube is your station if not travelling by cab. Mayfair is best shot in morning of late afternoon when the light dips between the buildings and goes golden. Let’s avoid the New Bond Street shopping rush on Saturdays.
Insider knowledge: I’m all for popping into a cafe a or a pub for a quick refreshment, if we time it right we can get some gorgeous indoor shots too, if they staff are ok with it, they usually are!
What makes it photographically special: The density of beauty. Every corner offers something. The architecture, the planting, the shop fronts, it’s layered, it’s rich, and it photographs like no other neighbourhood in the city.
Greater London Parks – Richmond, Greenwich & Hackney Wick Woodland
Who I recommend this location for: Families, maternity, anyone wanting green, open, natural shots away from the city noise
Not all parks are created equal. Hyde Park is beautiful but overrun. Battersea has its moments. But for me, the three parks that consistently deliver are Richmond, Greenwich, and the wilder woodland areas around Hackney Wick
Richmond Park is breathtaking – genuinely one of the most beautiful places in London to photograph. The deer roam freely, the ancient oaks are extraordinary, and it has a wild feel in parts, I love that. It’s spacious enough that even on busy weekends you can find a quiet corner. It suits everyone: families who want something lush and natural, maternity clients who want something dreamlike, couples who want romance without the crowds.
Greenwich Park offers something slightly different – the famous view of the city skyline from the top (truly stunning for family portraits), and a combination of manicured and wild space that’s very versatile. There’s also a real sense of history here that I love.
Epping Forest is the wildcard, and clients who trust me to take them there are always converted. Tall grasses, dappled woodland light, almost no tourists – it has a completely different feeling from the royal parks. Painterly, romantic, and genuinely surprising for people who think they know London’s green spaces.
Practical notes: Richmond Park has good transport links from the main London stations and parking off the Richmond Gate and Roehampton Gate entrances. Greenwich Park is accessible by train (Greenwich or Maze Hill stations) and for Epping Forest, there’s plenty of parking.
What makes these photographically special: The chance to get completely different images, loose, natural, full of movement, from the more architectural London shots. Seasonally they’re extraordinary: blossom season in spring, golden leaves in October, frost in winter
Kensington & Chelsea
Who I recommend this location for: Families, maternity, personal branding, anyone who loves that quietly elegant London residential aesthetic
I’ve grouped these two together, but they both serve their own delicious aesthetic!
I particularly love shooting the residential streets around the King’s Road, near The Saatchi Gallery and west. In Kensington I tend to have my favourite spots that take in quiet, stunning residential streets and mews that lead us to Kensington Palace Gardens.
What makes Kensington and Chelsea photographically special: The palette, the elegance and sheer variety of streets that are available to us. The architecture, soft colours, the planting, the light reflecting off white facades — it’s inherently pretty, and it doesn’t take much to make images look genuinely beautiful here.
Practical notes: These are mostly residential areas – we approach it with respect for the people who live there.
The surprise factor: People assume the best streets here will be overrun with photographers and influencers. And sometimes it is. But I know when to go, which angles avoid the crowds, and how to make it feel like we have it to ourselves. That’s the benefit of having photographed somewhere hundreds of times.
Regent’s Park – York Gate Entrance
Who I recommend this location for: Families, couples, maternity, personal branding – genuinely versatile location.
Regent’s Park’s best-kept secret and one of my absolute favourites. Most people head straight to the main Outer Circle entrances, but York Gate – tucked along Marylebone Road gives you something a bit different: a beautiful, formal Georgian gateway, with stunning architecture close by, leading into one of London’s most photogenic parks.
Once inside, you have options: the formal rose gardens (spectacular in June) and June alone. We don’t want to shoot here in Winter. Instead we’ll head to St Johns Lodge Garden. I prefer to catch beautiful morning light along the tree-lined avenues, with plenty of logs for kids to climb! It never feels as hectic as Hyde Park. The light in the late afternoon here is incredibly soft and golden.
Practical notes: It’s a 10-minute walk from Baker Street tube and another 10 minute walk to Marylebone which I’ll mention later. For families with young children, the park has plenty of space to let kids run, which in my experience, always makes for better photographs. We’ll arrive early morning or late afternoon for the best light
What makes it photographically special: The combination of architectural detail in that area and lush greenery means I can shoot a range of looks within a tight area without moving far. It suits both relaxed, playful family sessions and more polished, editorial style images.
A Few Last Thoughts
If you’re trying to choose, here’s my honest shorthand:
Iconic London images: Westminster or Tower Bridge. Expect some logistics and and early start, but the results are undeniable
Natural and less central: Greenwich is relaxed and the images are quietly stunning.
Editorial feel: Mayfair or Marylebone
Young children: Regents Park or Kensington Gardens. Room to roam, low logistics, beautiful light.
Work With Me
Ready to choose the perfect location?
Every family is different, which is why I don’t believe there’s one “best” place to take photos in London. Some families love wide open parks where children can run freely, while others are drawn to elegant streets, hidden mews or iconic London landmarks.
If you’re planning a family session, I’d love to help you choose the location that suits your family best.
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