London Central London - Itinerary?

gramps

gramps

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Hoping that those with knowledge of central London can give me some pointers please. :)
I'm planning to travel up to London on Saturday and will, (hopefully!), arrive at Paddington Station around 9am - then it'll be the old guy verses the underground! :eek:
My hips and knees aren't the best so I normally top out after a walk of about 5 miles, although on my recent visit to Birmingham I did 12 miles - I don't think I could comfortably manage much more.
There are a number of areas that appeal to me for 'street' photography, such as:-
  • Camden Town
  • Brick Lane
  • Borough Market/Maltby Market
  • China Town
  • The City
Bearing in mind the walking limitations, my unfamiliarity with the underground and needing to be back at Paddington by around 7:30, what do you think would be a reasonable, unhurried itinerary for me to work to from the list above?
 
Looks fairly reasonable, you may not make all of them though and i'd concentrate on probably brick lane, camden, borough and china town as the city is a ghost town on the weekends.

From Paddington you can easily get to Brick Lane and the City via the Elizabeth Line in about 20 minutes or so, either getting off at Liverpool Street (for the city) or Whitechapel (for Bricklane). You can also get to China Town if you get off at Tottenham Court road and walk down a bit (or take the Northern Line charing cross branch south to Leicester square). From here you can also head north to Camden.

For borough market you'll need to jump on the bank branch of the northern line and head south of the river to London Bridge or borough stations. You could go here after Camden as the camden northern line station serves both branches.
 
TheTimeChamber said:
Looks fairly reasonable, you may not make all of them though and i'd concentrate on probably brick lane, camden, borough and china town as the city is a ghost town on the weekends.

From Paddington you can easily get to Brick Lane and the City via the Elizabeth Line in about 20 minutes or so, either getting off at Liverpool Street (for the city) or Whitechapel (for Bricklane). You can also get to China Town if you get off at Tottenham Court road and walk down a bit (or take the Northern Line charing cross branch south to Leicester square). From here you can also head north to Camden.

For borough market you'll need to jump on the bank branch of the northern line and head south of the river to London Bridge or borough stations. You could go here after Camden as the camden northern line station serves both branches.
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Very helpful, thank you. (y)
 
I might like to suggest an alternative area: around Smithfield. Logistically it would be straightforward for you, Elizabeth line from Paddington to Farringdon. I must admit I haven't used the Elizabeth line myself yet, but I believe it is interesting in its own right and should be easier for aged hips and knees (and I count myself in that category).

A short walk from Farringdon takes you to Smithfield. You have the Market itself; St Bartholomew's Hospital and church; Wallace Memorial; Postman's Park; Charterhouse Square; Barbican Estate and probably other places I have forgotten about.

It's an area that gets somewhat overlooked, but I have been enjoying Slow Horses recently, where it features prominently.

As to the areas you ask about, sadly I have less experience in those.

Good luck!
 
Boots said:
I might like to suggest an alternative area: around Smithfield. Logistically it would be straightforward for you, Elizabeth line from Paddington to Farringdon. I must admit I haven't used the Elizabeth line myself yet, but I believe it is interesting in its own right and should be easier for aged hips and knees (and I count myself in that category).

A short walk from Farringdon takes you to Smithfield. You have the Market itself; St Bartholomew's Hospital and church; Wallace Memorial; Postman's Park; Charterhouse Square; Barbican Estate and probably other places I have forgotten about.

It's an area that gets somewhat overlooked, but I have been enjoying Slow Horses recently, where it features prominently.

As to the areas you ask about, sadly I have less experience in those.

Good luck!
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I’ll check that area out, thank you. (y)

Looks like the market is closed on Saturdays.
 
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Maybe some areas to add to your list:

  1. Holborn (There are some nice looking old buildings here especially during sunrise/sunsets)
  2. Barbican (like mentioned above, really cool and different!)
  3. Westminster (I also often walk around here, nice cars, buildings and just general street scenes)
 
3hanbester said:
Maybe some areas to add to your list:

  1. Holborn (There are some nice looking old buildings here especially during sunrise/sunsets)
  2. Barbican (like mentioned above, really cool and different!)
  3. Westminster (I also often walk around here, nice cars, buildings and just general street scenes)
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Thanks, I'll add those to my investigation. :)
 
I'd sack off the city - it would be dead at the weekends.

With the list you have in the first post, you could waste time tubing between locations - the benefit of that is you save your legs a little. So swings and roundabouts

Borough Market has been heaving each time I've been recently - great if you don't mind crowds.. if you do mind crowds then you can skirt the perimeter. Great for lunch time food

I would say, there is a lot of phone thefts going on in London at the moment- so take care and enjoy
 
benc98 said:
I'd sack off the city - it would be dead at the weekends.

With the list you have in the first post, you could waste time tubing between locations - the benefit of that is you save your legs a little. So swings and roundabouts

Borough Market has been heaving each time I've been recently - great if you don't mind crowds.. if you do mind crowds then you can skirt the perimeter. Great for lunch time food

I would say, there is a lot of phone thefts going on in London at the moment- so take care and enjoy
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I guess there are a few places I just want to see/experience and the opportunity to sit down in between is a bonus! :)
I'm not a great phone user so it's more likely to come out while I'm having coffee than be at my ear while walking on the pavement (I think bike/e-bike/scooter are the weapons of choice atm). "Heaving" isn't my idea of joy but could provide some opportunities.
 
All the places you mention are going to be busy. In my opinion Borough Market is now just nasty touristy busy with inflated prices with a similar opinion to Camden Market but as you say may present opportunities for people / street images, more so Camden. Both get real busy especially on a Saturday. As soon as you get a street or two away from Borough and if you are happy just to meander along you'll find lots to see. If you do get to Camden it can be an interesting walk down through to Shoreditch (especially if you like a church or two) or along Regents Park Canal.

I prefer City during weekends as, as others have said, it is far less busy and there is lots to see and you'll actually be able to see it.
 
Tulipone said:
All the places you mention are going to be busy. In my opinion Borough Market is now just nasty touristy busy with inflated prices with a similar opinion to Camden Market but as you say may present opportunities for people / street images, more so Camden. Both get real busy especially on a Saturday. As soon as you get a street or two away from Borough and if you are happy just to meander along you'll find lots to see. If you do get to Camden it can be an interesting walk down through to Shoreditch (especially if you like a church or two) or along Regents Park Canal.

I prefer City during weekends as, as others have said, it is far less busy and there is lots to see and you'll actually be able to see it.
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Thanks, all good info to think about before making a final decision. (y)
 
Soho and leicester square usually have lots of people, also Covent Garden, I've seen some .... Errr.... Excentric, yes that works people there.
 
swanseamale47 said:
Soho and leicester square usually have lots of people, also Covent Garden, I've seen some .... Errr.... Excentric, yes that works people there.
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Yes I think that area is going to get into my amended itinerary, thanks Wayne. :)
 
No one's mentioned the South Bank yet, but given how many miles long that is, you might want to skip it this time round. Also, the best day for Brick Lane is a Sunday. There are people there, and some market stalls, but fewer of each as Autumn progresses. Plenty of street art, though.
 
Paddington > Bond Steet ... short walk to Marble Arch, meet the marchers as they assemble

LINK

The protest is planned to gather at Marble Arch at 1.30pm, then march to Trafalgar Square with the route given as down Park Lane, Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly, ...
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Piccadilly is a good place to head for. It's next to Chinatown > Leicester Sq > Convent Gdn.
 
I was going to say check if there are any protests on. Then check what they are. Some will be photographically interesting, some less so. Some will be risky to be too involved with. If you are going to get involved, it is good to have a Bust Card with numbers and advice as to what to do if you are arrested or detained. A quick google

Trafalgar Sq can be a good hunting ground, depending on what is going on there. There are bylaws for Parliament Sq and Trafalgar Sq, which are aimed at professional photographers, not amateurs, so it is best to behave like an amateur :D
 
Pound Coin said:
check if there are any protests on. Then check what they are. Some will be photographically interesting, some less so. Some will be risky to be too involved with. If you are going to get involved
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Protesters are there to be seen, be counted, they would be disappointed if there was no one about taking photos.
 
d00d said:
Protesters are there to be seen, be counted, they would be disappointed if there was no one about taking photos.
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Whilst many protests are just noisy, some can become rowdy with things being thrown ... not necessarily hitting the intended target.
I think it's a judgment call, with someone of my age being more sensible/cautious than courageous!

At the moment I am leaning toward starting off at Borough Market (hopefully quieter early) then toward Millennium Bridge, Waterloo (Graffiti Tunnel?) and on to Westminster to make a judgment call, (actually looks like a 12 noon start from Whitehall, according to protesters Facebook etc links).
From there I'll take in the area around Chinatown, Piccadilly Circus and Soho before shooting off across the city to Brick Lane.
Anything else will depend on time and light (and legs of course!) before getting back to Paddington.
Of course it could all change on the day! :LOL:
 
gramps said:
Whilst many protests are just noisy, some can become rowdy with things being thrown ... not necessarily hitting the intended target.
I think it's a judgment call, with someone of my age being more sensible/cautious than courageous!

At the moment I am leaning toward starting off at Borough Market (hopefully quieter early) then toward Millennium Bridge, Waterloo (Graffiti Tunnel?) and on to Westminster to make a judgment call, (actually looks like a 12 noon start from Whitehall, according to protesters Facebook etc links).
From there I'll take in the area around Chinatown, Piccadilly Circus and Soho before shooting off across the city to Brick Lane.
Anything else will depend on time and light (and legs of course!) before getting back to Paddington.
Of course it could all change on the day! :LOL:
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That's a fair walk. You'll be tired when completed.
 
gramps said:
Equipped with www.tubestation.uk I will be testing my contactless card on the little yellow circles wherever there is an opportunity. :)
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Citymapper is a great app as it will give you all the transport options AND the walking directions between for example the tube station and your final destination.
 
d00d said:
Protesters are there to be seen, be counted, they would be disappointed if there was no one about taking photos.
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Funny you should say that - I was doing some street photography in Oxford a few weeks ago, and there was some student ceremonies / protests happening and some of the students were wearing or waving protest attire like the Palestinian flag or the scarf. A few of the students approached me and asked me to delete the photos / not post them on social media because they didn't want to be recognized, they were worried it might get back to their employers. and they would lose their jobs.. cancel culture eh ;)
 
Like with all street, you've got to spend a minute or two weighing up the situation. Do I want that pic? what are the risks? etc. Personally, I do street in London and wouldn't want to do it anywhere else. I go to demos, and although I feel totally confident on my home turf, the west end, I tend to end up taking pics of the women and children ;) . Something out of context to the cause.

Looking forward to seeing what you get up to @gramps, you are fitting a lot in, I wouldn't attempt half that in a day.
 
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d00d said:
I wouldn't attempt halt that in a day.
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Ah well, it wouldn’t be the first time I took on too much! :LOL:
It might be a good lesson in slowing down a bit.
Anyway I’ll endeavour to enjoy the day (even though it looks like the only day rain is expected!).
 
gramps said:
Yes I think that area is going to get into my amended itinerary, thanks Wayne. :)
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Last time I was there a chap in a suit wearing a tinfoil hat was walking past me in the crowd. Sadly I'd just meet up with my mate and put our gear away to meet our other halfs. I was gutted, what a cracker of a shot it would have made.
 
3hanbester said:
  1. Westminster (I also often walk around here, nice cars, buildings and just general street scenes)
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Westminster, especially the bridge is one of my least favourite parts of London, there is some excellent architecture but for me, it's ruined by the number of tourists that seem to lack any awareness of their surroundings, then there is the cup and ball scammers and the dodgy food retailers that prey on said tourists.... to me, it's as bad as Leicester Square.

I actually saw someone buy a hotdog from one of the vendors on the bridge last week, presumably he spent the rest of the day glued to the toilet!
 
Well a very disappointing day starting with a cancelled train!
London itself must have been the only place in the UK today that had persistent, albeit mainly light, rain and the light was awful.
Stupidly I changed an exposure setting on both of the Ricohs before I left and coupled with mistakenly changing shutter speed on the GRiiix without realising it part way through, made a pigs ear of the day!
I never did get to Camden or Brick Lane, or for that matter Borough Market - I spent too much time waiting at Whitehall for the protest, which for the early part was outnumbered by Police and ready-made banners. I did however visit Soho, Chinatown, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, South Bank (inc the skate park), Tate Modern and the area around St Paul's and the city.
I'm shattered but more than anything, disappointed in myself! :(
On the plus side it gives me an excuse to make another visit.
 
Sorry to hear that not all went to plan. I find it amazing that after so many years taking photos I can make such stupid mistakes and so relieved to hear that others also manage to have a duff day from time to time. Hopefully you get something worthwhile in post?
 
gramps said:
Well a very disappointing day starting with a cancelled train!
London itself must have been the only place in the UK today that had persistent, albeit mainly light, rain and the light was awful.
Stupidly I changed an exposure setting on both of the Ricohs before I left and coupled with mistakenly changing shutter speed on the GRiiix without realising it part way through, made a pigs ear of the day!
I never did get to Camden or Brick Lane, or for that matter Borough Market - I spent too much time waiting at Whitehall for the protest, which for the early part was outnumbered by Police and ready-made banners. I did however visit Soho, Chinatown, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, South Bank (inc the skate park), Tate Modern and the area around St Paul's and the city.
I'm shattered but more than anything, disappointed in myself! :(
On the plus side it gives me an excuse to make another visit.
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What a shame. But - as you say, gives you an excuse for another visit - and you'll have an advance idea about the areas now!
Tulipone said:
Sorry to hear that not all went to plan. I find it amazing that after so many years taking photos I can make such stupid mistakes and so relieved to hear that others also manage to have a duff day from time to time. Hopefully you get something worthwhile in post?
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I once went out on a project. The theme was 'fire and smoke'.

I'd just finished a huge and complex piece of work, ending with a 70-page report and about 600 pages of appendices. It was all about a stone track in my area - and so I thought I would take the report and burn it in the middle of the track whilst taking a photo of it burning with fire and smoke. Almost an 'installation' rather than just photos.

I prepared carefully - report, matches, a small wind-break, two lenses, and ND filter to better capture smoke, tripod, rucksack (it was a mile walk), spare batteries, spare SD card, infra-red remote control. Got up early and drove 45 minutes to the site - then walked in for about 25 minutes. Quite a nice morning - all looking good.

Unpacked all the stuff to take the photos. Spot what is missing from the list above! Yes - the camera......

So, had to get my wife to take a photo with her old phone. It came out 'ok', but not quite what I was planning!
 
gramps said:
Well a very disappointing day starting with a cancelled train!
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If you're not already aware, since your train was cancelled, you will be entitled to delay repay,, given you said you'd be arriving into Paddington, I'm guessing you'll have used GWR, if so, click the link below to go to their Delay Repay page...

GWR DELAY REPAY
 
gramps said:
Well a very disappointing day starting with a cancelled train!
London itself must have been the only place in the UK today that had persistent, albeit mainly light, rain and the light was awful.
Stupidly I changed an exposure setting on both of the Ricohs before I left and coupled with mistakenly changing shutter speed on the GRiiix without realising it part way through, made a pigs ear of the day!
I never did get to Camden or Brick Lane, or for that matter Borough Market - I spent too much time waiting at Whitehall for the protest, which for the early part was outnumbered by Police and ready-made banners. I did however visit Soho, Chinatown, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, South Bank (inc the skate park), Tate Modern and the area around St Paul's and the city.
I'm shattered but more than anything, disappointed in myself! :(
On the plus side it gives me an excuse to make another visit.
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Gutted things didn't work out as planned for you Roger :(
 
Well I have to say that some of the comments here were absolutely right, even with the option of the Tube, the itinerary was far too ambitious.
It has made me realise that I am far too mobile when I go on my photowalks and I need to seriously slow down and concentrate on areas rather than seeing and shooting everywhere!
I do notice that many photowalk workshops concentrate on a specific area and that's clearly much more sensible and, on reflection, what I should have done.
Anyway I did rescue some photos and put them on my youtube channel for anyone interested enough to want to check them out. :)


Will be going back before too long. :)
 
If those are your howlers, trust me, it could have been worse!

I had not considered putting a video of stills on YouTube. How do you do that?
 
Tulipone said:
If those are your howlers, trust me, it could have been worse!

I had not considered putting a video of stills on YouTube. How do you do that?
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Thanks :)
I use davinci Resolve and drop them one by one into the timeline (though you can drop them all at once if you wish).
I looked at Resolve a few years ago and couldn't make head nor tail of it but after watching a couple (literally) of youtube videos have got the hang of the basics. :)
I also now have a DJI Action 5 Pro and sometimes do POV videos with photos but POV can be unpredictable. :)
 
nice slide show - i think the one with the person with the old fashioned bellows camera was my favourite - i have done a couple of recent 2 day london trips and i did not realise just how much it offers for photography compared with other uk cities
 
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