April 6, 2026
London is such a photogenic city, filled with some of the best Instagram spots and photo opportunities in the world. Let’s be honest, whenever we see a colourful door or an incredible vista our first thoughts are usually of capturing it to share on social media.
Best Instagrammable spots in London
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With over 144 million images attached to #london on Instagram, it’s clearly not just me who can’t put the camera down when wandering picturesque streets just looking for the next perfect Instagram spot.
If you’re planning a trip to London this guide will take you to all the cool, quirky, and photogenic spots in the city. It will help you spend less time seeking out secret photography Instagram spots and instead allow you more time to enjoy the capital.
Here are my best London Instagram spots:
BUILDINGS
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of the most iconic buildings in London. A striking mixture of Gothic Revival and twelfth-century Romanesque-style architecture, it makes a spectacular backdrop for photographs. During the Christmas period, it also twinkles with lights and has an ice rink for extra Instagram points.
Bursting with wonders from dinosaur fossils, a 25-metre blue whale suspended from the ceiling, and a rock as old as the solar system to name a few things. With free entry, it’s also a great place to visit if you’re travelling on a budget.
READ MORE: Discover Real London on a Black Cab Taxi Tour
Check out the location here.
Somerset House
Somerset House is a grand neo-classical building sitting between the Strand and the River Thames. The pretty 18th-century courtyard, surrounded by a popular arts centre and various restaurants and cafes is the heart of the building. Admission to Somerset House is free, but you will need a ticket for some exhibitions and events.
Check out the location here.
Shakespeare’s Globe
On Bankside sits Shakespeare’s Globe an incredible reconstruction of the open-air playhouse designed in 1599, where many of Shakespeare’s plays were performed.
Read More: 7 Reasons to Visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
There is no theatre in London like the Globe. Watching a play outdoors in a structure held together with 600 oak pegs and a circular thatch roof is an amazing experience.
Check out the location here.
Instagrammable STREETS of London
Warren Mews
Ensure you seek out the architecturally beautiful side streets and mews of London, I promise your Instagram feed will be very thankful. The dark grey brickwork and colourful parked bikes outside Warren Mews make it a housefront not to miss. The cute little houses inside will also have you strolling up and down the charming cobbled paths.
Check out the location here.
READ MORE: Places to Avoid In London
Neals Yard
One of the most aesthetically pleasing alleyways in London. Neal Yard in Covent Garden is filled with vibrant shop fronts, cafes and restaurants. Tucked away in the heart of London, it’s a beautiful little oasis of calm with a big splash of colour. Easy to see why it’s so Instagrammable.
Check out the location here.
Chalcot CRESCENT AND SQUARE
The pastel ice cream-coloured houses in Primrose Hill near Regents Park are a guaranteed Instagram hit. For bonus location points, this is also the street where Paddington was filmed.
Check out the location here.
Princelet Street
This popular Georgian terrace in Spitalfields is no longer a home but rented out for events or film and photoshoots. Its shabby pinkish-red crumbling facade with shutters evokes a vintage feel that is screaming to be captured.
Check out the location here.
Book: Private East London Walking Tour with a Local
Markets
Leadenhall Market
Dating back to the 14th century, this beautiful cobblestoned covered market in the City of London was the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone. The striking Victorian facade along with ornate roof provides photographers with plenty of creative opportunities.
Check out the location here.
READ MORE: 5 Hidden Gems to Discover in London
Camden Market
Camden Market is a mecca for vintage clothes, stylish jewellery and quirky shops. The eclectic markets is full of photo opportunities and should be for sure high on your list of London instagram spots . One not to miss is a colourful canopy of umbrellas in The Stables Market.
Check out the location here.
Book: Discover Camden with a Local Host
Apple Market, Covent Garden
Once a fruit and vegetable market dating back to 1654 and also well known as London’s red-light district in the 18th century. The area has been through some major transformations. Its current guise is a shopping centre. The central building dates back to 1980 and has a craft market called the Apple Market.
Covent Garden is a beautifully vibrant area full of pubs, bars, shops, restaurants, and all kinds of entertainment. There are plenty of one-off installations dotted around the Piazza for photo opportunities. At Christmas, it sparkles with magical lights and is the perfect addition to any Instagram grid.
Check out the location here.
Read More: Best Family-Friendly Places to Visit in London’s West End
Instagrammable RESTAURANTS in London
Dalloway Terrace
This beautiful restaurant is an amazing Instagram spot. The decor in the outdoor heated terrace changes with the seasons. During autumn it’s covered in a riot of colourful autumnal leaves and winter brings ferns and snowy florals. I love it as a brunch destination. Don’t miss it on a trip to London.
Check out the location here.
Hutong
The upscale Chinese restaurant sits in the clouds on the 33rd floor in The Shard. Think red lanterns with silk curtains, beautiful oriental decor, and the most spectacular panoramic city views.
Enjoy the delicious dim sum and northern Chinese cuisine against a beautiful backdrop.
Check out the location here.
Alto by San Carlo – Selfridges
A chic rooftop restaurant at the iconic Selfridges offers the best in alfresco dining with its Italian plates and irresistible cocktails. Enter through an instagrammable lemon tree tunnel, onto a terrace with a retractable roof covered in foliage and more citrus trees. You’d be forgiven for thinking you were dining in a trattoria in the Italian hills.
Check out the location here.
CAFES
Gods Own Junkyard
If you love things neon, this is the place for you. Gods Own Junkyard is a psychedelic paradise of exquisite vintage signs and neon paraphernalia. The Instagram photo opportunities are endless, it’s free to enter, has a cafe and everything you see is for sale.
Check out the location here.
Read More: Beyond the Big Smoke – Things to do in Walthamstow Village
Biscuiteers
Head to Notting Hill for the paper-like facade of Biscuiteers Biscuit Boutique and Icing Cafe. An iconic London Instagram spot.
Check out the location here.
Host Cafe
Love cafes? St Mary Aldermary Church is now home to the Host Cafe has to be on your coffee shop list. Enjoy a coffee and a bite to eat in an ornate gothic church built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1704. Coffee with a slice of spiritual style.
Check out the location here.
SHOPS
Pollocks Toy Museum
This museum and small toy shop housed in two atmospheric historic buildings in London’s Fitzrovia has a colourful green and red facade. The evergrowing plant pots outside just add to its ‘gram stakes and is a MUST visit added London Instagram spot.
Check out the location here.
Berry Bros & Rudd
Berry Bros & Rudd is Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant established back in 1698. The impressive black grade II* listed building with its tall ornate windows and old-school charm make it very photogenic. Although it’s not just about looks they hold over 5000 wines, a brokering exchange, and two Royal Warrants.
Check out the location here.
Angela Flanders
The original awarding-winning artisan perfumery can be found in the heart of East London on the famous Columbia Road. The boutique selling perfumes, candles, and home fragrances is fashioned to look like Victoria-era shop. Cameras on standby!
Check out the location here.
Algerian Coffee Stores
This century-old global coffee and tea store first opened its doors in Soho in 1887. The charming red exterior with its striped awning lends itself perfectly to Instagram.
Check out the location here.
The Old Curiosity Shop
Capture an Instagram photo outside one of the oldest shop premises in central London built around 1567. There’s no evidence it actually inspired the Charles Dickens novel of the same name. Although Dickens did live in nearby Bloomsbury and was known to have visited the shop.
Today it’s a shoe shop, but no ordinary shoe shop. Japanese designer Daita Kimura creates unique handmade shoes in the basement workshop and the shop is full of his avant-garde and eccentric creations.
Check out the location here.
Burlington Arcade
The world’s first shopping arcade opened in 1819 and runs parallel to and east of Bond Street from Piccadilly through to Burlington Gardens. Filled with high-end retailers, be sure to admire its historic and architectural design.
Check out the location here.
One New Change
Another shopping centre but this time modern in looks and clad in glass mirror-like walls. The west entrance of One New Change offers one of the best perspectives of St Paul’s Cathedral. Capture the beautiful dome framed and reflected perfectly by the glass tunnel.
Check out the location here.
Hotels
St Pancras Renaissance
St Pancras Renaissance hotel is just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside with its splendid Gothic Revival exterior. Famous for its grand double staircase, it even featured in the Spice Girls ‘Wannabe’ music video.
The red tapestry wallpaper, ornate windows and elaborate ceiling art creates a truly unique backdrop for your Instagram photos. Walk down the stairs and you’ll leave feeling like a princess.
Check out the location here.
Read More: Dine Under The Star-Case at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
The Landmark London
The Landmark London is one of London’s most iconic hotels in fashionable Marylebone. Its Winter Garden is the heart of the hotel with the majestic glass-roofed courtyard taking centre stage. The huge space is filled with towering palm trees, lush plants, black balustrades, and street lamp-style lights. All helping to create the indoor/outdoor feeling. A worthy backdrop and a must for anyone looking for the perfect London Instagram spot.
Check out the location here.
The Mandrake
An eclectic boutique hotel in Fitzrovia with a vibrant interior and carefully curated private art collection offers a gorgeous hidden little suntrap in central London. It feels more like you’re stepping into a forest than a terrace.
Jurema is an award-winning outdoor space surrounded by a lush, evergreen sanctuary of hanging passionflower and jasmine plants, rattan-style furniture, cosy cushions, and private cabana-style dining. Be ready for your jungle photoshoot.
Check out the location here.
VIEWS
St Paul’s cathedral from Millenium Bridge
London is definitely not short of stunning backdrops. This view is top of the creative photoshoot pile. Standing at the start of the Millenium Bridge outside the Tate Modern you can frame historical St Paul’s Cathedral hovering at the end, as you look down the modern glass and steel suspension bridge over the River Thames.
Check out the location here.
Book: St Paul’s Cathedral Entry Ticket
Sky Garden
London’s highest public garden can be found in a building known as the Walkie Talkie. Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with magnificent city views surrounded by a glorious urban jungle. There are restaurants and bars to enjoy too. Easy to see why it’s an Instagram hot spot.
Entry is free, but visitors need to book a slot in advance on the Sky Garden website. Head up at sunrise for the best light and no crowds.
Check out the location here.
Read More: Fenchurch Restaurant – Sky Garden
Madison Rooftop
Located on top of One New Change is Madison rooftop bar. Another spot with epic views of St Paul’s Cathedral and the city skyline. The rooftop is accessible to the public without the need to actually enter the rather expensive bar.
Check out the location here.
The Shard
The Shard, London’s tallest building stands 309 metres tall and offers the most photogenic views over London. The entrance ticket for The View from The Shard which is breathtaking comes at a price.
Read More: Enchanting Peter Pan Afternoon Tea at Aqua Shard
Another option is to head a couple of floors below to the Aqua Shard cocktail bar where the views are practically the same. The only difference is you enjoy the views with a drink in hand.
Check out the location here.
Book: London: Top 30 Sights Walking Tour and The Shard Entry
Primrose Hill
Climb to the top and enjoy views of the entire London skyline. The view spans from east London, through Canary Wharf and the City of London, to Westminster and the West End, as far as west London.
Located to the north of Regent’s Park and London Zoo, Primrose Hill is 65 metres above sea level. It’s a backdrop your Instagram feed would adore.
Check out the location here.
Book: Private Tour: From Camden to Primrose Hill with a Local
BOOK A INSTAGRAM LONDON TOUR
And if you want to ensure you don’t miss the hot London Instagram spots on your next visit, why not book an Instagram London tour
Book: London: Scenic Instagram Tour
or your own private professional photoshoot
Book: London: Professional Travel Photo Shoot
Love to know your favourite London Instagram spots. Let me know in the comments box below.
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