5 London Locations Away From Mass Tourism
London is one of the busiest and most visited cities on earth. Head over to any central location and you are sure to be greeted by crowds of tourists. Over the years I have found certain areas that don’t seem to get as much footfall. Don’t get me wrong, they can still get busy especially during peak summer, but nowhere near as bad as the usual spots such as The West End or Southbank. Below are some of those spots if you wish to get away from the stampedes on your next weekend in town.
Battersea
Battersea has undergone a lot of change and as of now is an amazing little spot to explore and relax. First and foremost you have Battersea Park. It is one of my favourite London parks. You can easily spend an hour or two getting lost there. Then you have the power station itself which is now a giant shopping centre. The shops are not what you’re here for of course, it is the beautiful view from the roof top. I say roof top, I meant chimney. Finally this place is full of restaurants to chose from. Once you’re done here either cross the bridge and head into Chelsea or follow the Thames back into the center.
Richmond
If you fancy something a little further out, then you can’t go too wrong with Richmond. You can still get the tube here, explore the high street and then head over to the river. The walk along the river is beautiful and a great spot for photos too. Of course I can’t leave out Richmond Park. You can easily spend an entire day walking round and exploring this enormous park. In some areas you can even feel like you’re not in London but on a hike somewhere remote. Add deer and other wildlife into the mix and this is a great place to visit.
Canary Wharf
If you fancy something more modern and clean, Canary Wharf is a solid choice. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea but I love coming here once a month or so. Because this is primarily a business district, if you come on a weekend, it will be extremely quiet. Weekdays are busier with workers but I don’t see too many tourists here. There is a great roof garden as well as plenty of walkways with abstract views of the architecture. Finally there is a gorgeous view of the city from the pier. Amazing for sunsets.
The City
The City includes quite a few spots with some of them being very touristy such as St Pauls. However there are other areas which don’t get as much footfall. Let’s start at the Barbican which is a housing estate but also an amazing art centre and a thoroughly great place to explore. There are many walk ways, a greenhouse, a huge square to chill out in and a gallery. Moving on I also suggest exploring the area around the Leadenhall building and the Square Mile in general. If you come on the weekend, you will have a very calm experience. Weekdays can get busy with workers but still not as bad as the west end.
North Side of The River
Finally if you fancy a walk along the river but don’t fancy dealing with the chaos that is Southbank on a Sunday, then head straight to the north side of the river. Specifically start at St Katherine Docks, then head past Tower Bridge (this bit will be hectic but it’s just briefly). Keep heading all along the Thames and although it is not as picturesque or full of restaurants and pubs, it is still a nice walk with around a 1/4 of the footfall. Eventually you will end up on the Victoria Embankment and it will get busier. It will be unbearably busy once you get near Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) but if you manage to get through it, carry on and it will die down again. Keep going and eventually you can end up opposite Battersea or even Hammersmith if you go far enough.
If you have found this brief guide useful, then may I suggest checking out my full London Photography Guide. It contains over 50 Locations with exact photo spot coordinates and much more. It is also the best and most direct way to support this blog.
