London is undoubtedly one of the best European city breaks, especially for those who love photography. The huge variety of locations, aesthetics, weather, and subjects will mean an endless supply of photo opportunities and a thoroughly good weekend away. In this blog, I will share what I believe is the perfect long weekend travel plan for London in the summer, and while this article is aimed towards photographers, it’s equally applicable to regular tourists too. Everything I share is based on a lifetime of living and shooting in this great city.

Best Time To Visit

London is great all year round; however, depending on what you want to get out of it, I might suggest skipping certain seasons. In the summer, there’s much more to see / do, and that’s when the city really comes to life. If you prefer to be outside as much as possible, I suggest visiting in May, June, or September. You have good weather, the least tourists, and amazing light. July and August are fine, just expect higher prices and bigger crowds.

Where To Stay

This really depends on which part of the city you want to focus on; however, given this is a short break, I would suggest being as central as possible to avoid wasting time on commuting. I would recommend staying somewhere near Covent Garden if you prefer the more chaotic West End, or somewhere near Bank if you prefer a cleaner, more business-like aesthetic. Not sure? Then stay in Temple to be right between these two contrasting parts of London.

Weather

While there is the stigma around grey, rainy days, the truth is that the weather is very varied and at times unpredictable. I am writing this in July. Yesterday it was 35C with blistering sunshine, and I’m pretty sure I got heat stroke. Today it’s a wet and windy 22C day. Tomorrow it will barely be above 15C. Next week back to 27C. Always pack for every occasion and bring an umbrella.

Safety

There are a lot of concerns around safety in London at the moment, especially with the rise of phone snatching. While this is true, I feel it’s slightly blown up on social media. In general, London is pretty safe in the central areas. I’ve never had a single issue despite living here most of my adult life, and being out shooting at least two times a week. With that said, there have been times when I crossed the road or put my camera away to be on the safe side. Of course, use common sense and don’t walk around with your phone out, don’t leave your bag unattended or out of sight, and always use a solid camera strap. Your gut feeling is important, and if you feel something is off, then take action. 99% of thefts can be avoided by using common sense and paying attention to your surroundings. With that said, I would avoid the East End at night. I would also exercise caution around Soho during the later hours when there are many drunk people around.

Attitude to Photography

Attitude to photography is very relaxed here. Photography is a widely accepted hobby, and in almost all public locations, you won’t face any issues. Like with all photography, learn how to read the room and sense if people are comfortable with your presence or not. It’s worth noting that some public areas are in fact privately owned, for example, Canary Wharf. This means that even though they look like normal public areas, they will have private security patrolling them. Sometimes they might ask you why you’re taking photos; however, very rarely would they ask you to stop.

Camera Gear

A 24-70mm zoom is all you need in London, and it will cover every possible scenario. If you prefer primes, I think a 35mm is a perfect focal length for this city. 50mm can also be great if you prefer a tighter focus on your subjects instead of bigger scenes.

London Photography Guide

If you’re finding this blog useful, and want more detailed information such as exact locations, and a deeper dive into each area, may I suggest checking out my in-depth London Photography Guide. Over 160 pages of everything you need to know about shooting in this city. It’s also a live guide, meaning you will get free updates for life.

The London Photography Guide

Day 1

The first day will focus on the West End. Characters, gritty streets, fantastic light, and plenty of details to shoot. The below list is in no specific order, and you can reorder it depending on your schedule, preferences, location, and weather. The more of these you can hit, the better.

Covent Garden
Chinatown
Soho
British Museum
Trafalgar Square

Given the long days, you might find yourself done by early afternoon. Assuming the weather is good, I suggest taking a train (or boat) to Battersea Power Station, and then walking all the way to Shad Thames, just on the other side of Tower Bridge. It’s a long walk and can take anywhere between two and four hours depending on how often you stop. However, it’s 100% worth it.

Day 2

The second day will focus on The City, the financial and business part of London. Expect traditionally dressed people, timeless architecture, a clean aesthetic, amazing light, and plenty of opportunities for fine art-style photography. The below list is in no specific order, and you can reorder it depending on your schedule, preferences, location, and weather. The more of these you can hit, the better.

Bank
Barbican
St Paul’s
One New Change
Square Mile

It’s very likely that you will be done by early afternoon, so I suggest heading towards St Katherine Docks and walking along the north side of the river until you reach Westminster. This walk will take you between two and three hours depending on how often you stop. You will get to see a less touristy side of London but one with amazing views and fewer crowds. It’s more industrial and gritty, which is a great contrast to the south side of the river.

Once you get to Westminster, grab the Uber Boat all the way to Canary Wharf. If you arrive during golden hour, I suggest hanging around the riverside for an amazing city view during sunset. If you still have an hour or two, then venture into Canary Wharf for a look. It can easily be its own mini city within a city, and includes many shops, restaurants, rooftop gardens and activities.

Extra Day

If you happen to have an extra day in town, I suggest taking it easy, as I’m sure you will be a little tired from the previous long days. For the final day, focus on a couple of parks and the quieter side of London.

Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens
Mayfair
Holland Park
Kensington / Chelsea

Bad Weather

While I hope you have pleasant sunshine throughout your stay, the reality is that in the UK anything can happen. So if the weather is less than ideal, below are a few things you can do. Some of these will need booking in advance, and some will not be free. Please check ahead of time.