London London advice for a Northerner

jpgreenwood

jpgreenwood

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Ive never really been, but as ive grown into photography, it has its appeal. I am more interested in street and architecture photography in the city, so would be looking for geometric shapes, light and shadow, street, and night time cityscapes.
Canary Wharf looks good.
I have no interest in sights and the usual touristy stuff like Buck Palace, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben etc. .
More mono, contrasty type stuff..

Secondly, transport and where to stay. I have an electrci car and have found an Airbnb that has free parking, but its south of Canary Wharf (around Mudchute park i think). Maps are confusing so i have no idea where it is, how for it is or how easy it is to get to a railway or tube station. Its cheap!!

www.airbnb.co.uk

Home in Greater London · ★4.53 · 1 bedroom · 1 bed · 2.5 bathrooms

Isleofdogs10mins2 DLR Big Ensuite room+freeparking
www.airbnb.co.uk www.airbnb.co.uk

Finally, getting around London. I have no clue how the transport network works so would be looking at the cheapest way to get around.
Thanks Marra.
 
jpgreenwood said:
Finally, getting around London. I have no clue how the transport network works so would be looking at the cheapest way to get around.
Thanks Marra.
Click to expand...

Public transport in London - use your debit or credit card to touch in and out as you travel around and the system (all trains/tubes/buses/trams) will work out the cheapest fares for you. I would suggest you set up a TFL (Transport For London) account incase the system gets confused (does happen sometimes) and you can keep an eye on your travel history

oyster.tfl.gov.uk

Contactless and Oyster

Official online shop for Oyster card. Order your Oyster card travelcard, check Oyster card prices or top up Oyster Pre Pay.
oyster.tfl.gov.uk oyster.tfl.gov.uk

There is a train station (Docklands Light Railway) at Mudchute will take you to the centre of Canary Wharf in about 10 mins in one direction and across (under) the Thames to Greewich the same time in the other.

Looking forward to seeing some of your photos, you'll have a great time

David
 
1. Make sure you do tap in and out every time on the tube and buses - otherwise it thinks you have evaded fares and charges you a lot.
2. Don't stay down in the tube too long, there's a 'minimum time' before they again think you have evaded the fares or are just riding the tubes to keep warm.
3. You will spend far more than you expect to - everything is much more expensive down there.
4. Don't expect anyone to smile or say hello like they do up here. Cliche I know, but true nonetheless. The upside is that no-one looks at what you are doing, and are fairly used to photographers.
5. Take plenty of water, and comfortable shoes - you can walk miles without knowing it, and suddenly you're exhausted!

London is brilliant for street photography. Try Camden area and Shoreditch - plenty of graffiti / markets and so on. Canary Wharf is great if you like modern stuff. But quite a long way into the centre of the city, so take that into account when going out. Get out in the evening as well, you can get some super pictures along the Thames in particular. The DLR runs till after midnight except on Sundays - so plenty of time. I know you said you're not interested in the touristy stuff - but round St Pauls is a great mix. And pop up the Monument as well for some great aerial-type shots. Also, try inside some of the mainline stations - especially Kings Cross.
 
I have just come back from London last weekend and do a regular walking route starting from Tower Hill over Tower Bridge along South Bank then over Westminster Bridge along Whitehall to Trafalgar Square through to China Town and finish off in Soho. Although it may no be good in terms of contrasty architectural stuff but there is plenty of good street photography opportunities. Another area I visit often is Brick Lane and Shoreditch if you like the more grimy graffiti filled streets and it's a bit of a trendy area for hipsters
Canary Wharf is a private estate. I am not saying that you can't photograph there but be aware that the place is full of security guards who if you are unlucky can hassle you. The same goes for around the Gherkin and Lloyds buildings. I have been stopped plenty of times being told I can't do this and that. One other suggestion is The Barbican which if you like brutalist architecture is an interesting place to visit and take pictures of.
Other than that London is a brilliant city for photography and one of my favourite places to visit.
 
I once spent 4 hours in the london subway. Getting off trains and getting on new ones. And no one said nothing to me until I asked. I was totally lost too. If you have a tripod strapped to your backpack or dress nice Bodian no one will ask you that.

My advice is to try around the Tate museum. There is a popular arch there that a lot of photographers take pictures of near a bridge near the museum and the parliamentary building. Across from it. There are also a lot of pubs. Some just go around to see how many pubs they can photograph lol.
 
Walking along embankments can show you where the interesting architectural stuff is. Check out Leake street near Waterloo station for street art and interesting people.
 
1dmouse said:
I have just come back from London last weekend and do a regular walking route starting from Tower Hill over Tower Bridge along South Bank then over Westminster Bridge along Whitehall to Trafalgar Square through to China Town and finish off in Soho. Although it may no be good in terms of contrasty architectural stuff but there is plenty of good street photography opportunities. Another area I visit often is Brick Lane and Shoreditch if you like the more grimy graffiti filled streets and it's a bit of a trendy area for hipsters
Canary Wharf is a private estate. I am not saying that you can't photograph there but be aware that the place is full of security guards who if you are unlucky can hassle you. The same goes for around the Gherkin and Lloyds buildings. I have been stopped plenty of times being told I can't do this and that. One other suggestion is The Barbican which if you like brutalist architecture is an interesting place to visit and take pictures of.
Other than that London is a brilliant city for photography and one of my favourite places to visit.
Click to expand...
Thats my fav walk when I'm in London.
 
If you've not been before, then I 100% advise you to book on a workshop with Mark Fernley.. he does the light / shadow architectural street photography and it's the perfect way of getting to know and to be at the right locations at the right time.
 
There is so much to do, especially at night but I will come to that....

Daytime suggestion is to walk from St Katherine's Pool (near Tower Bridge) and walk via Limehouse towards Canary Wharf, you get lots of old and new. Greenwich is a place a lot of people I know have gone to but I haven't (even though I live in Richmond).. Paternoster Square near St Paul's is great, you can do a lot with the vents.

Night-time - there is a lot a streets around London Bridge and Waterloo that look great at night. Columbia Road and Jones's Cafe (that might be nearer Shoreditch) and Thead Street, Bleeding Heart restaurant at Hatton Gardens, Amen Corner, a lot of nooks and crannies with the old fashioned gas lights are dotted around still....the area around St Bartholomew's and Smithfields market has a lot to offer too, like Cloth Fair.
 
Don't forget there are several free roof top and high up observation galleries in London which will mean you don't have to pay a fortune to go up the Shard.

22 Bishopsgate https://horizon22.co.uk/

The Sky Garden https://skygarden.london/

The Post Building https://postbuilding.com/features/roof-garden

The first two are booking only - but free - will need ID and to go through airline style security

The Post Building is walk up, but still need ID

D



5D4_4023_1500.jpg

View west from Horizon 22 at sunset November 2023
 
Just to point out that on the Buses (and Trams) you only touch in. You do not touch out or you may get charged more. The reason is that bus journeys are a standard rate and do not depend on distance. Make sure that you use the same card each time whenever you travel and an automatic daily cap is applied.
 
Citymapper is a great app for finding your way around and choosing your preferred modes - bus, tube, foot etc.
 
If you take multiple bus journeys in one hour, not sure how much the maximum is, you pay one fare. After the hour the next fare kicks in when you tap in again. So if you travel on bus 1 for 50 mins and jump on another within 10, you pay no more....

The one and only thing I can give credit to our Mayor for.
 
Shad Thames area is modern and old at the same time. Near enough to Brourgh Market. Patanoster Square as previously noted can be nice the Patanoster is my " regular pub" not that I go to a pub often. Near St Paul's is Carter lane, well worth a wander. I led a photowalk in that area a little while back and there are little streets and squares no one really visits other than those who work there. People are friendly and if you need directions/help just ask someone. I'd avoid driving in London I'd if possible even if it means taking the train from a computer town.
When are you planning your trip?
 
Ive still not arranged my London trip yet but hoping to visit within the next 2 weeks.
Ive watched a few Youtube photographers and Bank looks good. Thinking of Leadenhall market, St Pauls, Lloyds building etc, Bank, Millenium Bridge, and that area.
Is that feasible in one day?
Im fine on my feet and can probably work out the tube and an all day pass. I dont really want to do busses.

If i get the train down, to Kings Cross, where is best to stay, where i can do that area on day one, stay over, and then maybe Westminster, or Canary Wharf, or something else, day 2, and then head back to Kings Cross for late evening train home. Cheap hotels are fine as long as theyre clean and safe, and a safe walk to a tube station in the dark. I dont want to pay more than £100 a night.
 
It’s a struggle getting anywhere for £100 a night in London. I’ve been using the Premier Inn Hubs which can be good value
 
Can you find an Airbnb that works for you?
 
jpgreenwood said:
Thinking of Leadenhall market, St Pauls, Lloyds building etc, Bank, Millenium Bridge, and that area.
Click to expand...

I do something like this route every trip and its easy in one day, or even part thereof

Canary Wharf is great too, I've organised a few group trips there. Just contact them and ask for a Pass and then the security leaves you & your tripod alone :)

Have fun
 
Dave Goodier said:
I do something like this route every trip and its easy in one day, or even part thereof

Canary Wharf is great too, I've organised a few group trips there. Just contact them and ask for a Pass and then the security leaves you & your tripod alone :)

Have fun
Click to expand...
Many thanks. Who would i contact please?
 
Right, Im all booked up.
Arriving this Sunday (17 Nov) around midday, into Kings cross.
I then want to head to Bank as that's my first day focus. Leadenhall Market, Fenchurch120, Lloyds building and surrounding area, Millenium Bridge and St Pauls area, Southwark tube station.......
and ive got a Travelodge in Bank Central for £61 one night.
Can i get the tube from KX to Bank? Northern line? is this a train or tube?
Or is it walkable?

Ive now got no idea what to do on day 2. Westminster maybe? I need to be back at KX by 6:00pm for my train home.
I dont want to stray too far as its my first visit and im on my own.
 
I found tubestation.uk great for finding my way around the tube. :)
 
Well that’s me done in the big smoke. Absolutely loved it. I made a list and practically got every shot I wanted. Yes they’re the usual shots but the weather was a bit drizzly at times so I didn’t get as much street photography as I wanted. Only used the tube a few times as I found walking just fine.
I took my M43 Olympus E-P7 with 14-42 kit lens, a 7.5mm fisheye and a 45mm F1.8 prime. I found myself using the fisheye the most. With the kit lens being used for some LE photos with a screw on ND filter. The 45 was for street photography mainly as it’s too restrictive for city scapes as its equivalent 90mm. Can’t wait to go back and see the rest.
 
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