London is a beautiful city. It’s full of history, art, delicious restaurants and also great Instagram spots! There’s no shortage of photo inspiration in London, but it’s a huge city and it can be overwhelming trying to hit the top Instagram spots in one trip. This guide to the top Instagram spots in London will help you with that! Here are the best Instagram spots in London and tips to capture the perfect shot.
Peggy Porschen
The Tower Bridge
Peggy Porschen
PEGGY PORSCHEN
If you have an Instagram account, chances are you’ve seen images of this pretty pink storefront. The front door of Peggy Porschen, a London bakery, is all over the ‘gram. The bakery decorates their storefront with a beautiful, ornate display each season. The traditional Peggy Porschen door decor is something with flowers, but I’ve also seen a mushroom and a polar bear theme during various seasons.
The go-to shot at Peggy Porschen is standing in front of their door, capturing the beautiful display. But what you may not know is there are actually two Peggy Porschen locations in London! The storefront you see most commonly in Instagram photos is that of the original location in the Belgravia neighborhood. This is the first Peggy Porschen to open in London and it is very small. The second, newer location, is in the Chelsea neighborhood. Here you’ll find a larger bakery and cafe. This location is decorated as well, but if you want the traditional Instagram shot, head to the original in Belgravia (pictured here).
Peggy Porschen in Belgravia is located on a busy street corner. The sidewalks are not that wide, so make sure to bring a wide angle lens. This is a well known Instagram spot, and I’ve heard stories of girls lining up to get their photos taken. I went on a weekday right as they opened and was the only person there!
THE TOWER BRIDGE
The Tower Bridge is an iconic landmark and one of the most famous historic sites in London. It is often mistakenly referred to as “London Bridge” but the real London Bridge is a few blocks down (and not nearly as photogenic!). The Tower Bridge is a must-do in London.
My favorite Instagram photos of this landmark are taken on the bridge or with the bridge in the background. The tricky thing is how busy and popular this location is. It’s nearly impossible to find the bridge empty… but I have a hack for you! Cross the bridge and go to the side across from the Tower of London (this is another huge landmark and you can’t miss it! You’ll know if you’re on the right side or not). Here you will find a low cement wall that’s along the river, and you can position yourself on or in front of the wall and get a great shot of the bridge without anyone else in it!
Sketch
Colorful Mews
The Churchill Arms
SKETCH
Sketch is a beautiful restaurant in London that’s known for its afternoon tea. There are a few different dining rooms in Sketch, but the one you’ve probably seen all over Instagram is the pink room, The Gallery. The Galley serves afternoon tea and reservations are highly recommended. If you want to get some photos of this beautiful pink room without other patrons in it, I have a tip for you. Make a reservation for the first time slot of the day (11:30a when I visited) and arrive a few minutes early. The staff at Sketch will let you walk around and check out the other dining areas while you wait for The Gallery to open. Once it opens at 11:30 you’ll be the first one in and can snap some photos as you walk to your table! (pro tip: don’t forget to check out the super cool and futuristic bathroom!)
COLORFUL MEWS
London is full of charming little streets called mews. Mews is British name for a line of carriage houses with living quarters above them. These mews were built to house horses and coachmen that belonged to wealthy families who lived in nearby mansions, but now they are sought after real estate. The mews streets are made of cobble stone, are narrow and are full of charming facades, with many of the houses being brightly colored.
Most of the mews can be found in the neighborhoods of Notting Hill, Chelsea and South Kensington. My favorite is called St. Luke’s Mews, and it just so happens to be the location of a famous scene in the movie Love Actually! Number 27 (the pink house) is the setting of the cue card love proclamation scene. The owner of that house knows he has an Instagram famous spot on his hands and put out a box to collect a small donation for the homeless in exchange for photos. This street is usually pretty quiet so taking pictures at any time of day is fine. Keep in mind that since it is a residential area be respectful, quiet and quick. And make a donation if you want to pose in front of the pink house.
THE CHURCHILL ARMS
The Churchill Arms is a pub that’s beautifully decorated with live plants and flowers all over its facade! It’s a gorgeous building that is a unique sight to see. This is a pretty easy location to take photos at, you just may have to wait for the sidewalk to clear to get a shot without anyone in it. Patience is key here, and when you’re finished head inside and have a pint. Fun fact, The Churchill Arms doesn’t serve fish and chips like traditional pubs, it’s a Thai restaurant!
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