A black-and-white photo of a London train station from the top of The Shard HERO

Locations: Top 5 Photography Locations in London

Published 14 November 2024 by MPB

Planning a weekend photography trip to capture London? There are so many iconic locations in the UK capital, travel photographers really are spoiled for choice. Let’s look at five of the top locations and landmarks where you’ll be able to create instantly-recognisable imagery. The MPB team took the train up to London with a Leica Q2, Ricoh GR III and an all-inclusive pass from Go City. Read on to learn more.

A photo of photographer Ian Howorth, wearing a blue shirt, takes a photo of London’s Tower Bridge with the Leica Q2

1. Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is among the most impressive and beautiful bridges in the world—not to mention one of the best photography spots in London.

A slightly faded colour photograph of Tower Bridge and the River Thames, taken from the riverbank using a Leica Q2 — Ian Howorth | Leica Q2 | 28mm | f/8.0 | 1/3200 | ISO 800

Tower Bridge is open to the public and has a museum inside which includes a tour of the historic engine rooms and access to the glass walkway 42 metres above the River Thames.

A colour photo of the London skyline surrounding the River Thames, taken from Tower Bridge using the Ricoh GR III — Ricoh GR III | 26mm | f/13 | 1/60 | ISO 100

Inside, you can experience the spectacular glass floors in the high-level walkways and views of the River Thames. The glass floor gives you an incredible birds-eye view of London. Look down and spot those famous red London buses moving over the bridge while river vessels sail underneath. Definitely worth a visit!

A bird’s-eye photo of a red London bus driving along Tower Bridge as the river Thames rolls on beneath it, shot with the Leica Q2. — Leica Q2 | 28mm | f/6.3 | 1/640 | ISO 800

2. The Shard

The Shard stands at 310m [1017ft] as the tallest building in London. Using our GoCity Pass, we visited the viewing platforms on floor 69 and floor 72, where we were able to shoot 360-degree views of the city.

Person with cameras at the top of The Shard — Ricoh GR III | 26mm | f/2.8 | 1/1600 | ISO 250

Pretty much any time of the day, the views are fantastic—even more so at golden hour. Plus, the Shard also offers itself as a stunning subject to capture photos that have ‘London’ written all over them.

A black-and-white photo of London’s The Shard, with a building on one side and a statue on the other, with a large cloud filling most of the sky, shot with the Leica Q2 — Leica Q2 | 28mm | f/5.6 | 1/3200 | ISO 400

3. Tower of London

As a World Heritage Site, the Tower of London is one of the most popular attractions in the UK. It’s where you’ll find the famous Crown Jewels, see the iconic Yeoman Warders and can learn the history of this historic landmark.

A low-angle colour photo of the Tower of London against a cloudy grey sky, shot with the Ricoh GR III — Ricoh GR III | 26mm | f/2.8 | 1/800 | ISO 100

The Tower of London is a great destination to visit when capturing photos of the city. Passing through the huge stone walls is like stepping back in time. While you’re not allowed to take photos of the Crown Jewels, there are still plenty of things to photograph. Take time to capture the rich architecture, museum artefacts and chapels dotted around the grounds.

A colour photo of ancient stone arches surround the altar in the Chapel at the Tower of London, shot with a Ricoh GR III — Ricoh GR III | 26mm | f/2.8 | 1/40 | ISO 640

4. Elizabeth Tower

Elizabeth Tower is one of the most photographed buildings in the UK. The best time is during the golden hour, but you may need to get there early to get a good spot. Tripods are allowed, but be careful as there’s a pavement that runs along the Thames, and it does get busy, so you’ll need to watch your kit.

A colour low-angle photo of Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben against a cloudy sky, shot with a Ricoh GR III — Ricoh GR III | 26mm | f/2.8 | 1/2000 | ISO 250

A stroll over Westminster Bridge offers a kinder view. Rather than looming over you, the extra distance helps the tower appear gently over your shoulder.

A colour photo of the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, London, with a cloudy sky, shot with the Ricoh GR III — Ricoh GR III | 26mm | f/2.8 | 1/2500 | ISO 250

5. The London Eye

The London Eye, or the Millennium Wheel, is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It’s the tallest observation wheel of its kind in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the UK—with more than three million people visiting every year.

A colour photo of the London Eye and the River Thames shot with the Ricoh GR III — Ricoh GR III | 26mm | f/2.8 | 1/2000 | ISO 250

The best place to take photos of the London Eye is across the river and on Victoria Embankment. It’s also a much quieter spot.

Black and white photo of London skyline taken from above with the Leica Q2 — Leica Q2 | 28mm | f/8 | 1/500 | ISO 800

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This article is part of the MPB Guide to Travel Photography, our comprehensive look at the travel photography genre with advice, recommended camera equipment and interviews with some of the most exciting travel photographers today.

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