What must I photograph in London

elektro

elektro

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Oleg
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Hi, mates. Happy New Year!
I'm going to visit London for 4 days (It'll be in the end of February).
So I need some advice. I have no idea how I should plan my short journey.
My problems are:
1. I don't know what interesting places are and where they are? I mean exterior and iconic views
2. I don't know what kind of transport would be better to use, especially I need to know of numbers of buses and to know where I can find them?
3. Where in the center of London can I have some cheap lunch?
4. What of interesting places near London are?
5. My funny English, but unfortunately no one can help me with it :bang:

I'll be glad to hear any ideas!
:wave:

p.s my place of staying http://maps.google.ru/maps/place?so...W5+9NR+United+Kingdom&cid=8363374602039411532
 
Be polite to the PCSO's when they demand to see you pics. :D

You will get some proper advice soon.;)


Oh and Happy New Year.
 
Your going to be spoilt for choice for things to photograph, there's that many iconic views and buildings your heads gonna be spinning. :)
When we go the Tube is usually our method of getting about, but don't be afraid to walk, you miss so much when on the tube.
There's no need to spend a fortune on food either, most pubs do good bar meals, again you'll be spoilt for choice.

Hopefully somebody on here that lives in london can give you more advice.
 
Perhaps somebody can point me something interesting that is hided from foreigner eyes...
I don't know what :shrug:
Hey, Londoners, be brave, tell me about your preferred places, areas and things
 
Well you have had 45 views of your thread, maybe there are not from London. You could ask the mods/admin to move this in to the general Talk Photography section, it would get seen by more members. There are plenty of London members.
 
the south bank is a good place to walk and shoot lot of people and architecture but i'm not 100% on tripod use
 
foggy4ever said:
Well you have had 45 views of your thread, maybe there are not from London. You could ask the mods/admin to move this in to the general Talk Photography section, it would get seen by more members. There are plenty of London members.
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Don't worry, if nobody of Londoners finds my thread, I will find something interesting without any plans. It can be enthralling as well...
 
david1701 said:
the south bank is a good place to walk and shoot lot of people and architecture but i'm not 100% on tripod use
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1. Please, correct me if I'm wrong. I understand your words how 'you can't take pictures everywhere in London'
BTW, I almost always use my monfrotto.

2. What is the south bank?
 
fabs said:
Oleg, I'm going to move this to Talk Photography for now.

The South Bank is and area on the River Thames in central London and is usually full of interesting people to photograph as well as the London Eye.
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Why can't I use the tripod there?
 
I am most certainly not a Londoner, but I used to live there when I was young & visit the place all too often :); it hasn't changed much since then.

Depending on what you like to see and shoot?

Fancy cars and People? Head to Mayfair. You will see Enzo, Phantom, SLR, McLarens, TVR, all within minutes of walking around and down Bond Street.

Iconic London? Walk along Bayswater into Hyde Park towards Marble Arch. If this is Sunday, then you will have a glimpse of Speakers' Corner. Head up into Oxford St. a very busy Western shopping street. This is a very cosmopolitan part of London; I sometimes wonder if there are any true Londoners here :shrug:. Walk until you get to Oxford Circus, there make a right turn into Regent St. heading towards Leicester Square. You will pass Hamleys (the worlds' largest toy store, you must see, go in and get yourself a real toy). Leicester Square, I think its' depicted in every single James Bond movie? From there walk down Lower Regent Street until you get to Trafalgar Square. Shame you can no longer feed the Pigeons there. Very iconic. From there head towards the Embankment, you will see Big Ben (well the tower with the big clock) and loads of interesting buildings. Cross over the river and head towards the London Eye, and from there towards Tate (it's a new museum, very interesting). From there cross back over the Millennium bridge and head towards Covent Gardens.

This should take you about 6 hours walking. It's great fun. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

On another day, I'd do the same walk but instead of going into Oxford Street (from Marble Arch); I'd head down Park Lane, towards Hyde Park Corner, and from there towards Belgrave Square (another area with posh cars littering the streets), towards Sloan Street, and then to Harrods. No visit to London would be complete with out a visit to Harrods.


As for eating, what do you like? Me, I love McDonalds; people say its' junk food, I believe it is prime time best food you can get for your money :p. But on a serious note, what do you really like and what sort of budget are you looking at? There are endless places all over London, ironically, one of the best Fish & Chips I've had was in Soho (Soho is a district in London, it will be on your left hand side as you walk from Oxford Circus towards Leicester Square).


I know that most of the names I've mentioned may not be known to you; but use Google map to get a picture of the area, streets, etc. and you will see it all too clearly, I hope.
 
Elecktro,

Let us know the dates when you are over and I'm sure some of us would be very happy to meet up with you and show you some of the places to go for togging :)

Lots and lots to choose from. For example :

- There are lots of street markets e.g. Camden market, Spitalfields Market, Leadenhall etc.

- Lots of parks e.g. Greenwich (whee there is also the observatory)

- Lots of modern buildings e.g. City of London, Canary Wharf etc.

- Obviously historical tourist buildings (but best done early morning at weekends)

- The London Eye as already mentioned.

- Street photography around central London (you can do most of this on foot)

To answer your question about travel, the easiest way to travel around is by underground train. You can buy a ticket called a 'Travelcard' each day, which for one price will let you have unlimited travel for the day on the underground (and buses).

Regarding eating, it isn't cheap in the centre of London but there is an enormous choice from snacks to meals. You can get cold and hot takeway meals too from many shops.

Hope that gives you a start...
 
elektro said:
1. Please, correct me if I'm wrong. I understand your words how 'you can't take pictures everywhere in London'
BTW, I almost always use my monfrotto.

2. What is the south bank?
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mostly everywhere is good, trafalgar square and a few other spots you need a permit for anything 'commercial' and by that they mean with a big camera

A lot of coppers and security people dislike tripods, I bow to others wisdom on this as I've never had one out

The south bank is the south bank of the Thames clikcy you can walk along a massive path and there are a lot of restaurants and galleries and street artists and stuff about, quite a good walk is the national theater to the tate modern (thats something I remember doing.

I'm sorry I'm a bit vague I live 300 miles a year and usually get about a weekend a year in London to get in a play and have a looksie
 
Defiance said:
Elecktro,

Let us know the dates when you are over and I'm sure some of us would be very happy to meet up with you and show you some of the places to go for togging :)

Lots and lots to choose from. For example :

- There are lots of street markets e.g. Camden market, Spitalfields Market, Leadenhall etc.

- Lots of parks e.g. Greenwich (whee there is also the observatory)

- Lots of modern buildings e.g. City of London, Canary Wharf etc.

- Obviously historical tourist buildings (but best done early morning at weekends)

- The London Eye as already mentioned.

- Street photography around central London (you can do most of this on foot)

To answer your question about travel, the easiest way to travel around is by underground train. You can buy a ticket called a 'Travelcard' each day, which for one price will let you have unlimited travel for the day on the underground (and buses).

Regarding eating, it isn't cheap in the centre of London but there is an enormous choice from snacks to meals. You can get cold and hot takeway meals too from many shops.

Hope that gives you a start...
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I feel a London meet coming on. :D

david1701 said:
mostly everywhere is good, trafalgar square and a few other spots you need a permit for anything 'commercial' and by that they mean with a big camera

A lot of coppers and security people dislike tripods, I bow to others wisdom on this as I've never had one out

The south bank is the south bank of the Thames clikcy you can walk along a massive path and there are a lot of restaurants and galleries and street artists and stuff about, quite a good walk is the national theater to the tate modern (thats something I remember doing.

I'm sorry I'm a bit vague I live 300 miles a year and usually get about a weekend a year in London to get in a play and have a looksie
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I can only speak for Trafalgar Square, but you're perfectly fine with a DSLR there. You will only get stopped if it is quite clearly a commercial shoot. So many tourists have DSLRs now, it would be impossible for security/police to even try and stop them.
 
This website covers transport in London.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/

To help interpret it, the underground trains are also called 'The Tube'. This is the best place to start on this website and i'd recommend downloading the Tube maps. Travel by Tube is also much less complicated than trying to navigate by bus :)

The website also covers the river boats which are also an interesting way to travel and see the city from the River Thames.
 
Wail said:
I know that most of the names I've mentioned may not be known to you; but use Google map to get a picture of the area, streets, etc. and you will see it all too clearly, I hope.
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I really thank you for your extensive guide, Wail!
Today, I'll have seen it inside the Google map by all means.
I'm glad to hear such trifle as feeding the pigeons at Trafalgar Square.
(Why can't I feed them now?)
It's very interesting to know such trifles like that.
 
Not much help with locations, others will know better :) , but I would recommend a Daily travel card in London which allows unlimited Bus and Tube (underground) travel for the day, much cheaper than individual tickets.
 
Hi Elektro, your close to the middle of London at Earls Court, the list of landmarks near you is huge... you have Kensington just down the road which is home to the Natural History Museum (stunning building that will blow your mind) and many other places of interest including Hyde Park and the hundreds of sights surrounding it.

I'd suggest you jump on the tube train at Earls Court and travel east into the West End (get off at Charing cross maybe - walk across the bridge to the South Bank maybe)...get yourself a 'one day' travel card (they are done by zones so have a look at which zones you need to pay for on the maps inside the tube station) ...about £4-£6 .

You'll find endless opportunities for classic London views around Charring Cross as Fabs says, (Trafalgar square, Parliament, The South Bank etc); as you will with all tube stations going all the way across to the City of London and Tower Bridge and then onto the East End and the Docklands. All of that area just north of the river is fabulous and full of photographic opportunities...as is the opposite side of the river. You wont be disappointed with anything within these areas… following the river bank east from Earls Court will provide a fascinating day out photographically as well..


Food is expensive, very....their are no cheep restaurants, hotels can be reasonable though, but not cheep. There are McDonald’s around which but its not really food hey....I suggest for a proper meal you head to the south side of the river, walk south and find a back street 'working mans' cafe well away from the tourist areas. ..their is a fabulous Italian cafe at the junction of Union Street and Southwark Bridge Road (just follow the bridge south) large meals, great price and yummy delicious.


:) :thumbs:
 
Should be fine with a tripod on the South Bank. You may even be ok in places like the National Theatre as it's a public building- worth checking first though, and only photograph the building (ie not the artwork or people).

As a foreigner you are no more likely to get stopped by police or security but if you do get stopped it would probably help if you had a small printed portfolio of your own images to back-up your photographic claims. I do this for night photography and it's saved lots of time and discussion over the years.
 
houses of parliment, london eye...
get down to bank, as your not far from central london, liverpool street, loads of cool architecture there...

primrose hill park gives great views of london as the peak of the park is quite high... so you could get some good city type shots.

all the normal buckingham palace etc... oxford street... so much to take pics of, just enjoy it :)
 
Hi Electro- As said by Fabs ( Marc) If you let us know the dates of your trip I am sure some of us could meet up with you, to make sure you see all the sights of London. Rob
 
fabs said:
I feel a London meet coming on. :D



I can only speak for Trafalgar Square, but you're perfectly fine with a DSLR there. You will only get stopped if it is quite clearly a commercial shoot. So many tourists have DSLRs now, it would be impossible for security/police to even try and stop them.
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DO IT

and I bow to superior wisdom on that point also ;)
 
When we went last year for Mrs Pumpy's 40th we got on the Regents Canal towpath and walked to the Camden markets, a lovely walk if the suns out and yer get to see stuff yer wouldn't normally see.

Just picking up on the DSLR thing, its never occured to me that using a DLSR would be a problem, is it just the security thing or is there other issues with using em???
I'm saying this because when we go in May I intend to take mine.
 
MrPumpy said:
When we went last year for Mrs Pumpy's 40th we got on the Regents Canal towpath and walked to the Camden markets, a lovely walk if the suns out and yer get to see stuff yer wouldn't normally see.

Just picking up on the DSLR thing, its never occured to me that using a DLSR would be a problem, is it just the security thing or is there other issues with using em???
I'm saying this because when we go in May I intend to take mine.
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There's no problem at all with using a DSLR in London.
 
I've never had any problems with SLR in London. If anything the police were always more than accommodating and cheerful.
 
fabs said:
There's no problem at all with using a DSLR in London.
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Cheers.... What if you use it badly like i do though. :)
 
Oleg, I have a hotel for you, recommended by somebody who uses it. Would you email me with your email address. I am not at home at the moment and I am on a friend's pc. Hanne
 
the main attractions i think can be reached on foot...from no 1 london...hyde park entrance on picadilly right round to trafalgar square then the strand then back through to houses of parliament, westminster churches and the palace

lots of stuff along the riverbank...
 
Thank you very much indeed, mates!

Defiance, your links are very usefull for me!

David Rufus, I promise to walk along the South bank

Graham Clarke, I knew about existing of travelcards and I heard somewhere what if I and my wife have 2 travelcards we have to pay only for one of us if we get any of museums...
Maybe I'm wrong

Marc, When I go along the south bank I'll try to find and photograph these interesting people which you meant.
BTW, why do you think I'll have to face lots interesting people there?

Adam, If I get you right you meant each travelcard is used only in 2 nearest zones. For example, I can't buy the travelcard in Heathrow and use it for travelling to the center of London?

Andrew, Ok, I'll use my foreigner status to the fullest.

Fuzed, I'll see some information about these places.

Rob, your suggestion is our sweetest dream!!! There is just one shag, I think you'll be very disappointed to meet two Russians who almost don't speak English. I can write and read (because my dictionary is my power), but I can't speak unfortunately at all.
 
elektro said:
Adam, If I get you right you meant each travelcard is used only in 2 nearest zones. For example, I can't buy the travelcard in Heathrow and use it for travelling to the center of London?
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yes you can Oleg. Zone map here.


Six zones in all , if your travelling in from Heathrow (far left) to the centre then you need a card for all zones.

The rule is, the travel card must cover all the zones in which your travelling. If you try and get off at a station outside of the zones you've chosen then they will fine you and you'll have to pay the extra zone charges as well

Earls Court appears to be just on the boarder of zone one, so it looks like you may only need pay for one zone from their into the centre.

I’m not sure of all the ticket types but it will be the usual thing.
One way only
Return
Days travel pass

Pick a ticket and pick how many zones your going to cover, that’s it.

:)
 
Marion38 said:
Oleg, I have a hotel for you, recommended by somebody who uses it. Would you email me with your email address. I am not at home at the moment and I am on a friend's pc. Hanne
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I've sent the email to you. And I'd be glad to meet you in London!!!
Maybe your friend, who driving the bus, would show us your city from his red 2floor bus?
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
yes you can Oleg. Zone map here.


Six zones in all , if your travelling in from Heathrow (far left) to the centre then you need a card for all zones.

Earls Court appears to be just on the boarder of zone one, so it looks like you may only need pay for one zone from their into the centre.
Click to expand...

My ability of understanding English is less than it has to be, so I don't comprehend how the travelcard operates and what kind of the travelcards are.
 
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