Westminster Family Photoshoot with a Toddler: Big Ben and Marylebone in One Morning

Andrea Whelan is a London family photographer based in Greenwich, South East London. She photographs families, newborns, maternity, and visiting families across London and beyond.

Family walking past a cafe with an orange striped awning on a Marylebone street

Can you fit Big Ben and a quieter neighbourhood into one family photo session, with a toddler?

The family had flown over from the US for a London holiday. So we met at their hotel near the London Eye. Then we hopped on the tube and finished on Chiltern Street.

Two neighbourhoods in one morning sounds ambitious with a toddler. In fact, it was the best decision we made.

Black and white photo of mum holding her son, with Big Ben sharp in the background
Little girl peering into a shop window on Chiltern Street in Marylebone

Starting on the South Bank


First came the big London views, because nobody flies this far to skip Big Ben. We wandered by the river while the kids warmed up. The older one held her little brother’s hand across an empty square. After that, he decided walking was overrated and asked to be carried.

Westminster Bridge gave us the classic shot, all four of them lined up on the wall. It gets very busy, but early in the day it’s much calmer. Meanwhile, the sky did that moody grey thing London does so well. I love it, and it suits my processing far better than harsh sun.

Cyclist riding straight past a family standing outside a shop on Chiltern Street


Taking the tube with a buggy


Next we headed down into Westminster station. Riding the tube is part of any London trip, so the camera came too. The escalators there are long, steep and a little dramatic. Of course, the kids treated them like a fairground ride.

For planning, the Jubilee line runs from Westminster to Baker Street in a few stops. Chiltern Street is then a short walk away. That makes it an easy hop, even with a buggy and a bag of snacks.

Family walking across Westminster Bridge with a buggy and Big Ben in the distance

Why Chiltern Street works for a Marylebone family photoshoot

Chiltern Street feels like a village tucked behind Baker Street. The shopfronts are painted in soft creams and deep greens, with striped awnings and window boxes. Better still, plenty of the shops open later in the morning. So we had quiet doorways and benches almost to ourselves.

We moved slowly from one shop to the next. There was a bench outside a menswear shop and a doorway full of pink flowers. We also found a hidden courtyard, green with plants. Then a cyclist rode straight through one family photo. It’s now one of my favourite frames.

Girl twirling in her dress while holding mum's hand beside flowering plants on a Marylebone street
Mum and daughter sitting on a shop step in Marylebone, both laughing

The in-between bits

This is the part I care about most. Big Ben is lovely, but the real stuff happens between the landmarks. Crossing the road hand in hand. Dad throwing the little one into the air under the leaves. Their son spotting a mint green scooter and refusing to leave it.

After a while, I stopped directing almost completely. Instead, I followed them down the street and kept up. At one point they stopped to chat with someone about their dog. Nobody minded, and I kept shooting.

Mum wrote me a lovely review afterwards. One line made my whole week:

“When we got the photos back there wasn’t a photo that I wasn’t in love with.”

That’s the goal, every time. The landmarks tell you where you were. However, the small moments show you who you were on that trip.

Family crossing Chiltern Street hand in hand during a London vacation family photoshoot
Dad holding his giggling son outside a Marylebone shop with a black and white striped awning

Planning a London vacation photoshoot

If you’re visiting London, try to book early in your trip. That way, a jet-lagged toddler has had a day or two to settle. Also, keep outfits simple. This family wore whites, soft blues and small florals, and they looked perfect against the pale stone.

Comfy shoes matter too, because we cover some ground. And please don’t worry about grey skies. They’re kind to skin, and nobody squints.

A Marylebone family photoshoot pairs well with a landmark or two, as this one did. You can see more of my family photography sessions in London on my main page or see this shoot in the same location. Or just tell me where you’re staying, and we’ll plan a route together.

I’ll leave the last word to this lovely family:

“If you’re on the fence this is your sign to work with Andrea- you won’t regret it!!!”

I couldn’t have put it better myself. Get in touch through my contact page and tell me a little about your trip.

Brother and sister grinning together on a wooden bench outside a London shopfront

  • Little boy and his dad admiring a mint green scooter parked on a Marylebone street
  • Family of four walking along the Thames riverside on the South Bank in black and white
  • Black and white photo of mum holding her son, with Big Ben sharp in the background
  • Mum cuddling her smiling toddler on Westminster Bridge with Big Ben in the background
  • Black and white photo of mum carrying her son as her daughter runs across a Marylebone street
  • Girl twirling in her dress while holding mum's hand beside flowering plants on a Marylebone street
  • Girl pointing down a long tube escalator while mum and her little brother follow behind
  • Family walking past a cafe with an orange striped awning on a Marylebone street
  • Black and white photo of mum and daughter holding hands against a dark Marylebone shopfront
  • Little girl peering into a shop window on Chiltern Street in Marylebone
  • Cyclist riding straight past a family standing outside a shop on Chiltern Street
  • Family standing by the Underground sign outside Westminster station during their London trip
  • Family of four sitting close together on a bench outside a shop on Chiltern Street
  • Family walking across Westminster Bridge with a buggy and Big Ben in the distance
  • Family crossing Chiltern Street hand in hand during a London vacation family photoshoot
  • Dad lifting his toddler high into the air while mum and daughter watch on a green Marylebone street
  • Dad holding his giggling son outside a Marylebone shop with a black and white striped awning
  • Family of four sitting on the wall by Westminster Bridge with Big Ben behind them
  • Mum laughing with her daughter outside a shop with pink flowers on Chiltern Street

FAQ

Got Questions?

Yes, it’s one of the easiest parts of London with little ones. The pavements are wide and the side streets are fairly quiet. Also, there’s always a bench or a doorstep for a quick rest.

Mornings work beautifully. Many shops open later, so doorways and benches are usually free. The light is softer too, especially on a cloudy day.

We can, and it gives you two very different looks. Big Ben and the river come first, then the tube across town. The Jubilee line links Westminster and Baker Street directly, so the journey is short.

Soft, light colours look lovely against the cream and stone buildings. Think whites, pale blues and small florals. Above all, choose comfortable shoes, because we walk quite a bit.

Light drizzle is usually fine, and grey skies are very flattering. For heavier rain, get in touch and we can talk it through. Covered spots like shop awnings can help too.

Starting near your hotel is often the easiest option for travelling families. Just let me know where you’re staying when you get in touch. Then we can plan a route that suits your little ones.

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