Help with Street Photography in London

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Jason
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Hello,

I've been toying with the idea of visiting London later this year for a little bit of street photography, if I do it would probably be a last minute decision if I can find a reasonable hotel for a night in a good location.

A train from Cardiff to London doesn't take too long (approx 2 hours) so I would hope to arrive between 09:30 and 11:00, this would allow a few hours to walk around and then head to the hotel, perhaps heading out in the evening and then having most of the following day to wander around as well.

To be honest I've never liked London but I've not visited for 12 years or so, admittedly every time I've visited it's been work related and it's just been stressful not knowing London and rushing to get from A to B... so I'm hoping to get some location ideas so that I can plan everything out.

I've actually got Brian's book in the post so this may give me some additional info and ideas;
https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/street-photography-book.641649/

I believe the train would drop me off at Paddington which makes me wonder if I could wander towards Soho taking in a few locations on the way, if so then I guess Soho might be a good central location to find a hotel(?) as I wouldn't really want to pay more than £150 for a room (I wouldn't want to opt for any deals with an evening meal or whatnot).

If I were to walk I guess it would be;

Paddington -> Marble Arch -> Oxford Street -> Oxford Circus -> Soho

That's just because I've looked on Google Maps, so there's probably a number of streets either side of Oxford Street to investigate (I noticed The Photographers Gallery pop up in one section).

Other locations that have popped up are Brick Lane (looks a little way over to the east of the current locations), Piccadilly Circus and perhaps The British Museum if passing (just to look in some of the camera shops to be honest).

If anyone has any suggestions of locations and hotels in a good rounded location, I don't want to spend too much time on travelling then I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank You,

Jason
 
Hi Jason

I wouldn't stress too much about which areas to visit - there's plenty of scope everywhere you look.

I'd probably give Oxford St / Circus a miss as it's just too crowded. As is Camden Market, IMHO. I strongly recommend Soho (get into the back streets) and probably the South Bank (Tate Modern is a great place to try some different street photography). If you're there on a weekeday, try the City (Square Mile). Brick Lane is good but avoid the Sunday crowds - and neighbouring Shoreditch even better. Brick Lane is only 15 mins on the central line from the West End (head for Liverpool St tube station).

Knightsbridge can be great - especially around Harrods and Sloane St, also Chelsea (Kings Road)

Photographers' Gallery is definitely worth a visit and Soho is just behind / to the east of it.

Good luck!

Brian
 
Thank you for the info Brian, I'll add them to the list and check out the locations on Google Maps.

Jason
 
Jason,
I regularly travel from West Wales into London by train (takes considerably longer than two hours though). Hotel wise, if I want something cheap and central for work I usually use Tune Hotels, most often the one one Praed Street about 5 mins walk from Paddington station. Tune operate the RyanAir business model with twin or double rooms from as little as £50 per night (all ensuite and air conditioned), but if you want WiFi, TV, toiletries, etc there is menu pricing to add them in. You even pay a supplement if you want a window room rather than a basement. Exceptionally clean and safe I highly recommend them. They also have hotels near Westminster and Liverpool Street (which is convenient for Brick Lane, Shoreditch and Spittalfields Market.

The whole of London is one potential photo opportunity. It's worth looking to see what is on before you go - Mod scooter festivals, vintage fairs, free music events, etc.

Have fun.
 
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Good video, thank you for the link, I'll check out the others when I have time.

I'll check out Tune, it looks promising for that price as I'll probably just throw a few things in a back pack with a couple of rolls of film and head to London.

Thanks for the info.
 
I know you're doing street photography but just a word of advice. If you happen to take a tripod with you then be aware of some areas in London that are a pain in the backside. Security will move you on:

1) Westminster Bridge to London Eye is private property. Everytime I have been harassed there!!!
2) In front of City Hall
3) St Katherine's Dock
4) The area near to Liverpool Street station where all the offices are. Can't remember the name off-hand but they were very rude.

In all of them you could easily get away with hand held shots but as soon as you stick up a tripod then expect to be questioned.
 
Take the tube to Oxford Circus, come out at exit 5. Turn right , walk up to Boots and turn right down steps into Ramilles St for the Photographers Gallery (there is a Roger Mayne exhibition on from 3 Macrh-11 June)

After PG come out and turn right, to end of street and cross Gt Marlborough St and into Carnaby Street. Walk up Carnaby st and look out for Kingly Ct on the right (can be some interest in there going up on the balconies) Exit Kingly Ct back into Carnaby St and straight across into Broadwick St follow up to junction with Berwick St and turn right for Berwick St Market. At the end go into Walker Ct and then turn either right or left on Brewer St (right will take you down to Lights Of Soho, coffee shop and neon lights shop), left will take you to Wardour St from there, you can walk down and find some of the alleyways around Soho. You can work your way up and down, Old Compton St, Dean St, Frith St, Greek St and Romilly St are all worth exploring.

Cross Shaftesbury Ave and into Chinatown, Gerrard St, Newport Place, Newport Court and Lisle St which will bring you back to Wardour St.
 
Good info both, I think I'll have to print that off and create a little pocket guide to follow as a rough guide.

I hope to be there at the end of March so hopefully I can make that exhibit.

Thank You
 
I'd also suggest wandering along the South Bank of the Thames to Southwark; you can get some great snaps in Borough Market and around Southwark Cathedral, More London and Hays Galleria. A nice combination of business people & more causal tourists amongst old & very modern architecture (The Shard is near Southwark Cathedral). In fact, there are a couple of Premier Inns in Southwark that have prices around the £80 mark. You are walking distance to everywhere around the West End, & a tube ride from Camden Market, so it could make a good base.
 
I'd also suggest wandering along the South Bank of the Thames to Southwark; you can get some great snaps in Borough Market and around Southwark Cathedral, More London and Hays Galleria. A nice combination of business people & more causal tourists amongst old & very modern architecture (The Shard is near Southwark Cathedral). In fact, there are a couple of Premier Inns in Southwark that have prices around the £80 mark. You are walking distance to everywhere around the West End, & a tube ride from Camden Market, so it could make a good base.

I think this area is a good suggestion. However, it is usually congested - mainly with tourists - and you may find that some of the back streets of Southwark will be productive.
 
I agree, southbank, soho and borough market are great, while in soho I would also suggest heading to china town and I have actually got a few nice shots next door in Leicester Square. You are allowed to take photos inside the British Musuem and there is a nice photography cafe near by
You might also want to check out shore ditch for the street art back drop
 
Thanks for the info Laura, I was planning to head to a few camera shops near the british museum so it'll be a bonus to head in there as well.

Plenty of places to try to squeeze in.
 
Are you from Cardiff Jason? I'm always on the look out for fellow local street photo geeks :)
 
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Hi Robert,

I'm more towards Pontypridd but head to Cardiff as it's the best option from my local area, do you often head to Cardiff for street/city pictures?
 
Hi Robert,

I'm more towards Pontypridd but head to Cardiff as it's the best option from my local area, do you often head to Cardiff for street/city pictures?
Yeah i've tried heading in most Saturdays this year i'm from Barry although i went into Bristol this Saturday. It must me the time of year but its dead in Cardiff and Bristol. Give us a message if you in town.
 
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Will do, I've been thinking of heading to Bristol but the cold seems to be keeping people away right now so I might save that trip until spring.
 
yeah it was 3 degrees on sat and -9 with the chill factor!
 
If you want to do some candid portrait photography, Trafalgar Square is a great place to go as it's mostly tourists who are all taking photos of their own or just walking around taking in the sights, and hardly anyone notices you with your camera. If you're ever in London for a few days, try and add the Brick Lane area to your itinerary; lots of people dressing interestingly, plus the bonus of some good street art. And Portobello Road can be good for street photography and antique/bric-a-brac stalls.

I see that the South Bank and Borough Market have both been mentioned. It's worth knowing that The Queen's Walk, which starts on the South Bank near Westminster Bridge, goes all the way along the Thames past Borough Market and right down to Tower Bridge. The whole area is good for street photography as well as some nice river and architecture shots.
 
Thanks Garry, the South Bank looks a good option and I would also hope to get to view the Tate ~ So much to see over such a short period.
 
Thanks Garry, the South Bank looks a good option and I would also hope to get to view the Tate ~ So much to see over such a short period.

If you're there between 15 February and 11 June, the Wolfgang Tillmans exhibition may be worth a look. Though not exclusively street photography, his work is thought to be ground-breaking and extraordinary (not everyone will agree but, nevertheless, it's worth seeing).
 
I hope to be visiting during the latter part of next month so I'll hopefully get to see it, I enjoyed reading your book as well Brian.
 
After reading this thread I thought I'd see how cheap you could travel and stay in London for a night. I searched for a month today megabus up from Cardiff one night in a hostel dorm then return next evening for a grand total of £14.50! It's quite astonishing really. Whether you'd get any sleep in the dorm is another thing mind.
 
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Well it does depend on what type of street work you want to do,Having been born and lived in London during the 50,s,60,s and 70,s,it is now a completely different place.

On Saturday it is hopeless for photography in all the well known places,just to many people,however if you what a mix of street people and architecture then that is possible on a Sunday.

Start in the morning at Brick Lane market,you will not be out of place with a camera and then walk into the City of London and you will have the place to yourself with great buildings and almost empty streets.After that you can walk down to the river a take the delights of the views from the north side to the south and then cross the millennium bridge to the south side for the opposite perspective.

You will have a cracking day with wonderful photo opportunities.

Good luck.
 
I would probably visit during the week, I have time booked off work in March so if the weather looks good it will be a last minute decision.

That is a cheap trip at £14.50 although I don't think I would be able to handle a bus journey.
 
I would probably visit during the week, I have time booked off work in March so if the weather looks good it will be a last minute decision.

That is a cheap trip at £14.50 although I don't think I would be able to handle a bus journey.
I can't see the train being much better and will cost you £40 at least.
 
Just had a look on Megabus, the average time seems to be around 3hrs 40/50mins whereas a train is around 2hrs ~ I really couldn't stick sitting on a bus for that long to be honest.
 
Just had a look on Megabus, the average time seems to be around 3hrs 40/50mins whereas a train is around 2hrs ~ I really couldn't stick sitting on a bus for that long to be honest.
Is it? I thought the train was longer than that. I thought it was just over an hour longer
 
They seem to have times listed between 3hrs 30mins to 4hrs 30mins with the average just below 4hrs, I can't comfortably sit for more than an hour or two or walk for more than two hours or so without having a good sit down/coffee break.

An idiot in a transit van ran me down in Cardiff the Christmas before last so still recovering from that :police:

Average train times seem to be around 2hrs 7mins so much better for me.
 
From someone who is primarily a London Street photographer, I would suggest these places above all else:

Borough Market - A gold mine for candid portrait street photography
South Bank (also next to borough market) - Is a fantastic long stretch full of characters and architecture
Portobello Market - Another gold mind for candid portraits, and some great vintage camera stalls
Camden Market - Converted stables. Be mindful, as you will find more objections here than anywhere, but the alternative lifestyle makes for great photos
Brick Lane - Another vintage market, but a lot of the off shoot roads have fantastic street art and unusual buildings. The people are friendly

Avoid Oxford street, you won't find much of interest unless you are shooting people with selfie sticks or less interesting subjects in general. The only reason I can think that people suggest Oxford street is because of the older buildings- which are great. For people and day-to-day life I have always found it the least uninspiring. you have to go to the gritty places if you want to get more usable shots IMO.

A side note, if there is a demonstration going on at Trafalgar square, jump on a bus and go to the top. You get some great crowd shots when stuck in the traffic!
 
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