A Photographer’s Lifestyle Guide to London, UK

London is the capital of the UK and is one of the most famous cities in the world. It’s a place where history, architecture, culture and art all come together to create a truly unique experience. You can explore the Houses of Parliament, the iconic “Big Ben” clock tower, take a stroll along the River Thames, admire the huge London Eye or visit the many museums, art galleries, cafes and street markets in the surrounding areas. You could spend a lifetime exploring this fantastic city, so we’ve created a helpful guide which showcases our community’s favorite spots.

Start your journey at the Barbican Centre in East London and you’ll instantly be struck by the brutalist architecture of the building and the neighboring Barbican Estate. This is the perfect backdrop for a group shot or urban portrait, so popular in fact that you might even see a photoshoot in action on your trip. Take a short walk to the Barbican Conservatory, the second largest conservatory in London to see over 2,000 species of plants and trees. Photo by monopo_london

Silk St, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS, UK

Spitalfields Market: Just a few stops from Barbican tube is this famous indoor market full to bursting with cafes, shops, independent stalls and a food hall that serves a wide range of culinary delights from dumplings to dosas. Wander the surrounding streets and you’ll find many public sculptures dotted around including elephants, goats and the famous Dogman and Rabbitwoman sculpture by Gillie and Marc. Photo by neja

65 Brushfield St, London E1 6AA, UK

East London is the place to discover graffiti and street art. Explore the back streets and the areas around Shoreditch High St Station for a free art experience. Head along Brick Lane, once you hit the bridge you’ll see one of the latest Banksy pieces that popped up over the summer too! Photo by neja

Brick Ln, London, UK

Rapid Eye Darkroom: Stock up on LomoChrome films and book yourself a darkroom session. Just around the corner, stop off for a coffee at photobookcafe where you can browse their photo book collection and visit their gallery space.

79 Leonard St, London EC2A 4QS, UK

Great Eastern St: Look up – you’ll see the iconic disused tube trains hidden on the roof of Village Underground. Photo by neja

Great Eastern St, London, UK

London Graphic Centre, Covent Garden: A huge two-story store just on the edge of Seven Dials that stocks supplies for artist and designers. You’ll find paints, pens, bags, sketch books, some beautiful stationary and a dedicated corner for your favorite Lomography gear.

16-18 Shelton St, London WC2H 9JL, UK

A short walk away from Soho is the iconic Liberty’s building, a famous luxury department store that is famous for its mock-tudor facade and whose interior was made out of two ships! Head inside for some designer retail therapy of the highest order, see some exclusive Liberty fabrics or explore the flower stall by the entrance, the perfect location to create some interesting double exposures. Photo by adamscott

Regent St., Carnaby, London W1B 5AH, UK

Carnaby St: Once famous for being a hub of activity in the swingin’ 60’s, Carnaby St is still the must-visit location for a shopping spree and it’s a great place for street photography and portraits. Close by is Kingly Court, an unusually shaped three-storey venue filled with restaurants and cafes with an outdoor courtyard in the middle. Photo by koduckgirl

Carnaby St, London W1F, UK

The Photographers’ Gallery: A great place to see some of the most innovative photography exhibitions in London. Stop off at their cafe and head down to the basement to visit their fantastic shop, which stocks a huge selection of films, cameras and photobooks. Photo by jschussler

16-18 Ramillies St, London W1F 7LW, UK

If you’re a fan of shooting neon signs, Soho is the place for you! Try Berwick St and Brewer St for some great shop signs. Photo by nigalraymond

Berwick St, London, UK

Have you ever wanted to explore a new city and find all the best hidden locations and hotspots to feed your analogue passion? Well, we’re here to help you! We’ve pulled together some of our community’s most loved museums, meeting places, photography spots and must-visit processing labs and shops in London to give you the perfect guide to this great city through the eyes of an analogue enthusiast. All these recommendations have been approved and verified by Lomographers.

Museums, Art, Photography and Culture in London

We’ve curated a list of our favorite museums, art galleries and cultural landmarks in London to give you an exhaustive guide to the best creative hot-spots to visit on your trip.

Tate Modern – Bankside, London
Discover paintings, sculptures, installations and photographs from international, modern and contemporary artists at one of London’s most revered gallery spaces.

Design Museum – West London
London’s best museum for contemporary design. We recommend visting the regular exhibition documenting the history of iconic design objects. They have a great shop and cafe too.

The Photographers’ Gallery – Soho
Located in the heart of Soho, The Photographers’ Gallery showcases contemporary photographers past and present. There is also a cafe and shop for meetups and shopping.

Street Photography & Lomography Film Community Scene in London

The wealth of knowledge and experience that comes from the Lomography Community is simply unrivaled. In this section we share some of our community’s top-tips about the city of London. This includes their favorite locations for visiting and photographing, and some invaluable tips on shooting in analogue. We will also showcase some of our most inspiring London-based LomoHomes and Partners.

St Dunstan in the East Church garden
An old church destroyed by WWII, its remains still stand in a hidden location at the heart of London. A very tranquil place, perfect for unusual, gothic photos.

Cutty Sark
A tea clipper ship from 1869 on the edge of Greenwich. Explore the history of this amazing vessel while shooting with a wide or panoramic lens. Visit Greenwich market whilst you’re in the area or test out your long exposure skills by walking the Greenwich Tunnel which goes right under the Thames!

Columbia Flower Market
On Sundays in summer, this East London road is transformed into a flower market which is perfect for shooting medium format or street photos while enjoying live street music and lots of color. There are plenty of local shops including a Japanese record shop, many coffee spots and some old English pubs.

Coal Drops Yard
In the newly regenerated Kings Cross area, this is the place for coffee and shopping with great architectural photography opportunities. It often hosts markets and events, close to Central St Martins and The Standard hotel.

Barbican
The Barbican is a music venue that hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theater performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. The building itself is famous for its Brutalist architecture and is a popular spot for taking portraits.

Brick Lane
You’ll find an abundance of street art in and around Brick Lane, you might even spot a Banksy if you look very carefully! It’s a free art gallery for counter culture art – great for double exposures or quick and simple street snaps. Hungry? Then pop into one of the many curry houses or into the famous bagel shops, but be prepared to queue.

Canal Walk to Broadway Market
Start at Kings Cross and walk along the canal to Broadway Market, a quaint collection of Victorian style shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants that will make you feel like you’re a world away from the city. Capture London’s old industrial revolution and finish your walk soaking up the sights. Visit on a Saturday for the famous market full of fresh fruits & veggies and craft stalls. Don’t forget to check out Donlon Books, an independent shop full of folklore, art, design and strange occult books.

From top left to bottom right: photos by ehmahh, nickpage and angeline_chen

Anything missing?

Got a favorite photo gallery, hidden photo spot or local tip we haven’t covered in this city guide? Help us make this the best analogue travel companion! Send your suggestions to travel@lomography.com and we’ll take a look.

Explore Stunning Photos from This City Amongst 17+ Million of Photos Uploaded

Tips from Lomography Magazine

East London Photowalk with Rajat from London Film Photography
2021-07-13 #people

We talked to Rajat Srivastava, owner of the London Film Photography group about the latest Photowalk in East London and shared some results from the day taken using the LomoChrome Metropolis film.
1 16
The Story of CINÉ-REAL with Liam Saint-Pierre and the Lomography CN 400 120 film
2020-11-25 #culture

We talked to Liam Saint-Pierre who set up CINÉ-REAL, the only film club in the UK to exclusively play films in 16mm format. His nephew Orrin Saint-Pierre photographed them in Ümit & Son, the shop where the story began, using some rolls of Lomography 400 CN 120 film.
1 16
The Saatchi Gallery
written by neja on 2011-01-22 #places

The Saatchi Gallery is London's no. 1 and no. 2 most visited art exhibitions in 2009. If you're an art lover or if you're looking for a new way to spend your time, art galleries such as the popular Saatchi Gallery is a great way to experience culture and immerse yourself in beautiful art.
4 10
A Day Out With monopo and The LomoChrome Films
written by alexgray on 2023-12-10 #gear #people #places

In this article we meet the members of creative agency monopo and see the stunning and playful results from their day spent experimenting with our LomoChrome films at the Barbican Estate in London.
1 7
Event Recap: Parallax Coop X Photofusion LomoApparat Lomowalk
2024-11-27 #news #partners

Lomography UK teamed up with Parallax Coop and Photofusion for a special Lomowalk in Brixton with the LomoApparat. In this article we hear from some of the participants about the day and see their fantastic results!
1 7
Exploring London With Katherine Connolly and a Fisheye Camera
2023-08-01 #gear #news #places

Katherine Connolly has been shooting various hotspots and landmarks of London with a Fisheye One camera and talked to us about the importance of having a creative outlet.
1 6
Hampstead Heath, London
written by neja on 2008-11-29 #places

London might be a megapolis with the population over 12 millions of people, but it is also one of the greenest cities you can ever find. It is full of parks, marshes, woods and so on. Hampstead Heath is one of the London's biggest treasures. It is a massive park on the hills, with ponds for nudists, people in bikinis and all sorts of ducks and swans. It is favorite destination for parents with children, kite flyers and dog walkers, not to count the tourists and fans of the spectacular views.
2 4
The London Eye, Millennium Wheel, London
written by spendospend on 2009-11-16 #places

The London Eye (Millennium Wheel), at a height of 135 meters (443 ft) it is the largest Ferris wheel in Europe,
2 2
Analogue Road Trips with Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian and the LomoApparat
2025-02-05 #news

London-based artist, filmmaker & designer of extreme experiences Nelly Ben Hayoun - Stépanian has been documenting her adventures using the LomoApparat & talked us us about life as an entrepreneur, her projects with NASA and the LGBTQ+ community and how analogue photography fits into her busy life.
2
Making a Moment: J.Y. Huang and a Study of Motion
written by alexgray on 2025-06-12 #gear #people #making-a-moment

Lomographer J.Y. Huang (@clausumcollection) mostly chooses to focus on documentary and street photography in his analogue practice, but today he shares with us a rare studio shot and tells us why capturing it was a “special experience.”
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Past Photography Events & Exhibitions

Light Leeks Exhibition
2025-06-15 · London, United Kingdom

@londoncameraproject and @ajphotography2130 are pleased to announce that they will be collaborating for an exhibition featuring pictures from the participants in the London Camera Project photo walks as well as the wider film photography community in the UK. Bring a handful of printed photographs to exchange at the print swap or a roll of undeveloped black and white film to be processed during the Zone Imaging film developing workshop.
More Info
HENRI CARTIER BRESSON – Film & Photo Culture Club Talk
2025-05-30 · London, United Kingdom

Join eARTh space on May 30, for an in-depth exploration of Cartier-Bresson’s groundbreaking approach to photography. Understand Cartier-Bresson’s unique perspective and photographic style and explore his iconic works and the philosophy behind the “decisive moment.” Bring your curiosity, questions, and enthusiasm. Drinks and snacks included in the tickets.
More Info
LomoApparat LomoWalk with London Graphic Centre

A Lomography Hang Out
2025-04-05 · London, United Kingdom

Join us on April 5th for a special LomoWalk around Covent Garden where you’ll get to test out some creative photography skills with the LomoApparat 35 mm camera. There will be a lucky-dip mix of Lomography films available to use and you’ll be shown how to load the camera and given some valuable tips on shooting double exposures, long exposures and utilizing the added close-up and Kaleidoscope lenses available. Film processing thanks to filmprocessing.co.uk.
More Info
Lomography 110 Lomowalk in Soho with The Photographers’ Gallery

A Lomography Hang Out
2024-07-06 · London, United Kingdom

Lomography and The Photographers’ Gallery have teamed up for a special Lomoschool Lomowalk dedicated to 110 film. You’ll get the chance to shoot with one of the many Lomography 110 cameras available, either the Diana Baby, Fisheye Baby or our new Lomomatic 110 camera. Each participant will borrow one camera and will be given a roll of LomoChrome Purple 110 film. We will walk around the streets of Soho and Piccadilly Circus capturing the city using this colour shifting pocket film. Your photos will be developed by filmprocessing.co.uk. Participants will also get 10% off in the Photographers Gallery Shop. Places are limited.
More Info
Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In
2024-03-21 – 2024-06-16 · London, United Kingdom

Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In looks at two of the most influential women in the history of photography. Both photographers live a century apart and both explored portraiture in innovative and creative ways. Photo Credit: Sadness (Ellen Terry), 1864 by Julia Margaret Cameron, Albumen silver print, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles.
More Info
Peckham 24
2024-05-17 – 2024-05-26 · London, United Kingdom

The 8th Edition of Peckham 24 will explore photography’s multi-layered relationship to history through the curatorial theme, BACK TO THE FUTURE. The artistic programme will bring together diverse perspectives that blend the past, the present and the future via the lens of history. Exhibitions and events will showcase the work of innovative lens-based artists reflecting on themes of memory and personal histories, as well as the work of artists who take moments from the past as inspiration to re-stage, re-imagine or re-think existing narratives.
More Info

Lomographers From This City

neja
28,811 Photos · joined 2008-05-07
Hi, my name is Julia, I am a photographer, art historian and founder of NEJA's Art Walks.com, a bespoke provider of art-related experiences in London. I have been a member of Lomography community fo …

Get in touch with me for: Film Swaps, Development & Printing Sessions, Sharing My Hobbies, Sending Postcard Prints, Road Trips & Casual Hangouts
porkchopsandy
4,740 Photos · joined 2009-06-12
Hi, my name is Sandy. Welcome to my ☀Lomo Home☀
fafascinado
4,384 Photos · joined 2010-07-28
Analog photography lover from Barcelona currently living in London. www.xavierboldu.com
anafaro
880 Photos · joined 2010-07-15
My mission: to save analog photography one exposure at a time.
malcolm_tremain
3,161 Photos · joined 2018-03-04
Photographer, printer, writer from London I make images from available light and available inspiration. Sometimes there is neither but I can …
ihave2pillows
2,419 Photos · joined 2011-03-09
My Guru --> http://www.lomography.com/magazine/310644-meet-our-lomoguru-ihave2pillows My LomoChrome Purple Review --> http://www.lomography.com/magazine/270862-lomochrome-purple-xr-how-to-get-that …
sandkorn
1,059 Photos · joined 2008-07-04
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in …
whilethemusiclasts
4,066 Photos · joined 2023-03-14
the_dude_abides
2,198 Photos · joined 2009-09-04

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