Places To Shoot in London: A Directory

Welcome to Faded Springs ‘Helpful Blogging Tips’ segment where previous installments ‘How to Find A Photographer’ and ‘ Blogger Programmes you should sign up to’ showed you how to both identify a blogging niche and create blogging and photographic opportunities that are well researched and suitable for your blog. Today’s helpful tips post focuses on places to shoot in London and if popular enough I will create an edition for all major UK cities to explore unique locations that are off the tourist track.

Finding a place or an event to shoot or review for your blog can be difficult, particularly in London which is crawling with tourist attractions. But if you are after something a little different then stay put as Faded Spring takes you through an alternative directory of places to shoot in London.

Street Art

Originating from the graffiti boom in the early 1980’s, street art has become an integral part of East London culture with areas such as Shoreditch santifying the legal use of street art as opposed to many areas where street art is illegal. Today street art can be found in every nook and cranny and is the perfect ‘alternative’ background to get your blog noticed.

Brick Lane

Not just a curry hotspot, Brick Lane features both comissioned murals and illegal art that adorns doors, floors and walls and has featured renowned artists such as Banksy and Stik. A microsm of London’s ethnic shifting patterns its art is influenced by the politics and social economic variants surrounding immigration and other surrounding issues.

Key Streets 

Heneage Street

Outfit: Sunglasses- Quay Australia, Shirt-Zara, Trousers-Topshop, Boots- Lily Lulu (all readers get 15% off with the code Ana15) & Bag-Lollipop.

 Hanbury Street 

Outfit: Hat-Asos, Turtleneck-F21, Waistcoat- Miian, Sunglasses-Market, Boots- Lily Lulu.

Fournier Street

Outfit: Hat-Asos, Sunglasses-Quay Australia, Trousers-Topshop, Boots-Lily Lulu.

 Illustration Done By Stik 

Brick Lanes Nearest Station

Aldgate East

Other Notable Streets: Fashion Street, Princelet Street

Hoxton

Hoxton’s art scene is less known than its counterparts ‘Brick Lane’ and ‘Shoreditch’ but don’t let that stop you as this is a breeding ground for art that rejects conformity and is ideal for budding street art enthusiasts.

Key Streets

Cremr Street

Outfit: Sunglasses- F21, Hat-Asos, Faux Fur Shrug & Turtleneck- Primark, Skirt-H&M, Boots-Lily Lulu

Shoreditch 

London’s capital of Street Art, Shoreditch is by far the best place to sight new and innovative street art. From tongue in cheek parodies of modern culture to powerful explorations of identity the street art holds true political meaning here.

Key Streets 

Great Eastern Street 

Outfit: Playsuit-Luxemme, Coat-Missguided & Boots- Public Desire

Illustration done by Otto Schade

Chance Street 

Outfit: Sunglasses-Market, Turtleneck-Miss Selfridge, Coat-Topshop, Skirt-F21 & Boots-Lily Lulu.

Illustration done by Flavio Solo

Outfit: Sunglasses- Quay Australia, Hat-Asos, Playsuit and Boots-Lily Lulu

Art by Cero

Other notable Streets: Turville Street, Redchurch Street, Liverpool Street, Egor Street and Whitney Street

Camden

Camden once famed for its large markets is now being taking over by the street art scene with illustrious artists such as Dan Kitchener drawing upon Camden’s eclectic scene.

Key Street

Camden High Street

Outfit: Shirt- Miss Pap, Waistcoat-Zara, Faux Leather Trousers-Topshop, Heels and Bag-Primark.

Art by Dan Kitchener

Other Notable Streets :Haven Street/ Camden Lock & Chalk Farm Road

Soho

Home to a large gay community Soho also has a hidden cove of street art that even the most skilled street art enthusiasts might find difficult to find.

Berwick Street

Outfit: Shirt & Shoes-Primark, Trousers-Topshop & Waistcoat-New Look.

Art by MRCenzone

Waterloo 

Featuring one of the most widely used skateparks in the UK, the skatepark culture has amassed a huge street art following with Leake Tunnel dubbed as ‘Graffiti Central’

Leake Street

Photo Credit David Gett

East Croydon 

A recent phenomenon, East Croydon is surrounded by key political art murals that are heavily featured on renowned institutions including ‘The Queens Gardens’ and is constantly changing.

Key Streets: ST Georges Walk, Katherine Street, Dingleberry Street, Ellis House and The Queens Gardens.

Outfit: Hat & Heels-Primark, Sequin Dress -Motel Rocks & Faux Fur Jacket-Berksha

Art by Dan Kitchener

Art Galleries & Mueseums

Art galleries might not seem like the obvious choice to shoot for your blog but whether you are conducting an art/lifestyle review or shooting outfits for your blog the minimalist space that an art gallery offers combined with the artistic backdrop makes for a pleasing aesthetic. Mueseums are a celebrated part of British cultural heritage and its artitecture combined with encompassing history makes it a great location to shoot in.Below I have selected key regions from each major London borough that would make the perfect shooting environment.

London Bridge 

Tate Modern 

The Tate Modern was opened in  2000 and features modern artwork including abstraction, minimalism, cubism and art pop making it the perfect modern art environment.

Photo Credit

Museum of London 

Uncoventionally urban for a museum the unique mix of urban and rural scenery creates a stark contrast to the Victorian and Grecian artitecture normally used by British museums. The Museum of London is the perfect accompaniment to your blog, especially you are patriotic or fond of British history.

Photo Credit Attractions Map

ST Pauls 

Tate Britain

If you are looking to fuse traditional art with a modern art space then Tate Britain is the perfect place to shoot in. Make like these passers by and stare longingly into an urban or martime scene to create a minimalist photo.

Charing Cross/ Embankment/Leicester Square 

National Gallery

One of the biggest selling points of using the National Gallery as a backdrop for blog posts is its clean minimalist artitectural lines and impressive portfolio of paintings from mid 14th century right through to the 1900’s.

National Portrait Gallery

The pictures housed in the NPG is of famous men and women throughout the centuries and is an ideal space to conduct product reviews. My tip is to place the object i.e. necklace in front of a painting and then overlay it with text formatting once you go into editing to create a ‘how to post’. I reccomend Whiteagram which you can find more information in my ‘ How to create picture perfect Instagram Photos’ post.

South Kensington  

The Natural History Museum

Home to dinosaurs, stuffed mammals and a butterfly garden The Natural History Museum in my view is one of the best attractions that London has to offer in terms of photo opportunities; from posing by the spiralling staircases too getting to know its pre-historical inhabitants The Natural History museum is ideal for bloggers of all niches.

The V&A

Home to the worlds largest centre of decorative art and design the Victoria and Albert Museum was founded in 1852 and houses 4.5 million objects. The combination of artitectural design and artistic interior makes the V&A a timeless location for haute couture shoots.

East London

Whitechapel Gallery

Situated next to Aldgate East Station, the gallery is home to some of the best and rarest art collections including Liu Wei political satirist and analytical thinker whose contribution to art often makes a commentary on consumerism and other post-modern issues. The perceptive comment on consumerism makes it the ideal location to shoot where your thoughts can become part of this living art process.

Stolenplace Gallery

Influenced by the prevailing East London’underground art scene’ Stolenplace gallery features renowned street artists D-Face & Eine which create a trippy, alternative backdrop that differs from traditional art galleries.

Nearest stations Shoreditch High Street & Liverpool Street

North West London

Hang Up Gallery

Featuring political artits such as Banksy at the forefront of their art gallery, the theme of sattire is continuous throughout the collection and is the perfect place to shot for gallery reviews and even product placement. You could make a comment on consumerism by photographing a luxury item and placing it next to a political Banksy original.

Nearest station Stoke Newington

Central London 

Lazarides 

If you want to shoot in an environment that collectively defies categorization then you have come to the right place. With a wide selection of contemporary street art influenced by a political movement against conformity why shoot next to a blank wall when Lazarides offers you a canvas to play with?

Nearest Stations: Oxford Circus & Tottenham Court Road

Historical

Westminister Abbey

Full of grandeur and splendour, Westminister Abbey is a largely Gothic church with spiralling turrets and arched doors. The Gothic influence makes Westminister Abbey even more beautiful and its contoured edges and surrounding greenery help create a contrast between urban and rural scenery.

Outfit: Dress-Asos & Heels-Dorothy Perkins

Tower Bridge 

The iconic bascule and suspension bridge has become synonmous with the image of London and makes it a beautiful location to shoot in even if you are a resident of London. Blur out the background to create an artistic effect for your photos.

Credit Preppy Fashionist

Crystal Palace Park and Gardens 

Romantic ruins are all that is left of Crystal Palace’s castle grounds but what a grand scene it still possesses. With its ivy entwined stone walls and crumbling foundations it is a backdrop worthy of being featured on your blog.

Outfit: Turtleneck- Pretty Little Thing, Suede Skirt-Miss Selfridge & Sunglasses-Stradivarius

Hampton Court

Eltham Palace

 Architecture 

Royal Exchange 

Founded in the sixteenth century as a centre of commerce the trapezoidal building clean symetrical lines is best shot with bursts of bright colours to juxtapose its minimalist design.

Nearest Station-Bank

Outfit: Hat- Asos, Sunglasses-Market, Coat- Fashion Bloc, Jumper-Missguided, Trousers-Primark & Boots-Lily Lulu.

London Bridge 

The Strand 

Urban, modern and undeniably cool The Strand’s glossy exterior will make any outfit or product look a million dollars!

Outfit: Sunglasses-Topman, Blazer-Dresslinks, Jumper- F21, Pleather Skirt-Miss Selfridge & Sandals-Zara

 Urban

London Bridge Market 

Using your subject as the focal point will create a fog effect enhanced by the woodmoke used by street food vendors.

Outfit: Hat- Asos, Turtleneck & Sunglasses-Primark, Skirt-AX Paris & Waistcoat- Miss Selfridge

 Southwark

The urban backdrop and bustling atmosphere of the tourist zone makes it rare to catch an uninterrupted photo opportunity. Look for backdrops that symbolize the heart of London and yet remain barely inhabited.

Outfit: Sunglasses-Quay Australia, Faux Fur Coat- Missy Empire, Co-Ord-Missguided, Watch- Elie Beumont & Necklace KLG.

 Oxford Circus/Mayfair 

Carnaby Street 

With its colourful houses and decorated walls Carnaby Street is a curious mix of luxury and quaint artitecture rolled in one making it a pleasant background to mix business with pleasure.

Outfit: Jumpsuit and Cardigan- Lily Lulu & Boots-Primark.

Tourist Hotspots 

China Town 

Rather than pose in the tourist infested lantern section- believe me I tried but I couldn’t get a good photo- walk towards Soho to explore brick backdrops with gated windows.

Outfit: Blouse & Shoes- Primark & Skirt-Topshop.

 Soho 

Soho is a walking photo opportunity with bars, street art and a warm cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Outfit: Coat-Topshop, Turtleneck & Mini-PLT & Boots-Primark.

 Westminister 

Luxurious, historical and aesthetically pleasing each photo taken in Westminister is a cultural exerience worth documenting.

Graveyards

Highgate cemetery 

The perfect backdrop for those who take alternative shoots seriously and would be even scarier at Halloween.

 Norwood Cemetery 

Explore the catacoombs but enter at your own risk by creating your own mini London Dungeons experience for your blog without making or spending a penny.

Parks and Gardens

Regents Park 

One of London’s royal parks Regent’s has several gardens and a bystand that overlooks its lush vegetation and rose gardens.

 Hyde Park 

We all know that Hyde Park is beautiful but why not create a secret garden shoot like I have below to create a sense of mystery?

Pop Ups 

Southbank Carousel

Outfit: Dress- Rare London, Faux Fur Coat- Primark, Bag-Best Have, Shoes-Public Desire

South Bank Cabins

Outfit: Sunglasses- Quay Australia, Faux Fur Coat- Berksha, Top & Skirt- H&M & Boots- PLT

*Please note there are other attractions that are suitable for shooting for your blog but I wanted a good selection of ‘unknown’ and mainstream hotspots that my readers would enjoy. Additionally all pictures that are not mine will be replaced with photos of me at a later date.