Instagram is not only a great way to share your photos with friends. It’s an excellent way to satiate wanderlust while travel is limited.
Are you here in London and want to get the best ‘make my friends jealous’ photos? Or are you dreaming of a trip to London? Either way, these are (in my opinion) the most instagrammable places in London.
Peggy Porschen
This very-pink and very cute bakery is adored by lifestyle bloggers. But whether you dress to match the decor or simply want to enjoy delectable cakes, make a reservation here. I’d like to think that after ten years of Peggy Porschen in London, the cakes are appreciated as much as the pinkness.
Hashtag: #PeggyPorschen
Address 1: 116 Ebury Street, Belgravia, London SW1W 9QQ
Address 2: 219 King’s Road, Chelsea, London SW3 5EJ
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British Museum
Obviously, the British Museum has an abundance of photo-worthy objects to see. But the most Instagrammable view is of the Great Court. This is the largest covered public square in Europe. The lines and symmetry of the glass and steel tessellated roof can help create outstanding images. The Reading Room is in the centre of the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court (to give it its full name). While the museum opened in 1759, the Great Court was only covered over like this in 2000.
Each pane of glass is unique because of the undulating curvature of the roof. Go up the stairs just inside the main entrance to get this view over the impressive space below.
Hashtag: #BritishMuseum
Address: Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG
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Notting Hill
This chic west London neighbourhood has plenty of spots where you’ll want to take a photo. From the brilliant white stucco townhouses to the pastel-coloured traditional mews houses, it is clear that the residents here love their homes. St Lukes Mews is a particularly adorable cobbled street.
It can be hard to resist pulling your phone out to snap a gorgeous house but do remember that there are people who live here and they don’t want a full-on photoshoot on their doorstep. (That pink house on St Lukes Mews with the mint-coloured bicycle outside has been seen rather a lot on the ‘gram.)
Hashtags: #NottingHill or #StLukesMews
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Neal’s Yard
Hidden-away behind Neal Street, this Covent Garden courtyard is bursting with vibrant colour. You have to go out of your way to find it but once there, you can get some wonderful photos of the colourful buildings. There are cafes and restaurants with some outdoor seating for takeaways. You can find a hairdresser and a few shops including the well-known Neal’s Yard Remedies store for natural well-being products. If you prefer cheese pics then Neal’s Yard Dairy is on Short’s Gardens. And do look up over the Holland & Barrett store on Short’s Gardens to see the Covent Garden Water Clock.
Hashtag: #NealsYard
Address: Between Shorts Gardens and Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9DP
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Mariage Frères
The walls covered with huge black tins of tea… The purple entrance to the light-filled main shop area… The colourful teapots on display… The upstairs white ornate balcony… The exquisite treats to enjoy with outstanding tea… It’s hard to choose what is best. But, if you like tea (and I do, a lot!) this place is like heaven. I visited Mariage Frères when it opened in 2019 and found it totally enchanting.
Hashtag: #MariageFreresLondon
Address: 38 King St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8JS
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St Paul’s Cathedral from One New Change
One New Change is a glass building right opposite the glorious St Paul’s Cathedral that offers lots of photo opportunities. It’s essentially an office block and shopping centre but ignore all that and turn around to see Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. On the ground level, you get these glass walls framing your view of the domed wonder. But get the lift up to the free Roof Terrace and you can look across to the domes in more detail.
Hashtag: #OneNewChange
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Queen’s House Greenwich
This 17th-century delight has photo opportunities in the collonades at the sides as well as the symmetry at the front. You could climb the hill in Greenwich Park to get the view over the top of the Queen’s House and across the Thames to the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf. Or head inside and get some pics on the gorgeous Tulip Stairs.
Hashtag: #QueensHouse
Address: Romney Rd, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF
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The Churchill Arms
Whatever the time of year, The Churchill Arms pub in Notting Hill is always covered in flowers. Inside you’ll find Churchill memorabilia and Thai food being served. (This was the first pub in London to serve Thai food.) The reason for the name is that Winston Churchill’s grandparents were regular visitors in the 1800s.
Hashtag: #ChurchillArms
Address: 119 Kensington Church Street, Kensington, London W8 7LN
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Shoreditch Street Art
There are other areas of London with quality street art but Shoreditch is literally covered so you’ll get some great shots. Head to Redchurch Street and its side roads, near Shoreditch High Street Overground station, as there are some huge whole-wall backdrops for your snaps. Ebor Street has darker walls with Ben Eine slogans and Chance Street has a colourful wall by Mad C.
Hashtags: #LondonStreetArt and #Shoreditch and #EborStreet
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God’s Own Junkyard
Where do old neon signs go? It’s here as God’s Own Junkyard is a neon wonderland. This Walthamstow industrial estate also has a brewery and gin palace so it’s quite the weekend summer evening destination. For daytime visits, there’s a decent cafe with impressive homemade cakes.
Hashtag: #GodsOwnJunkyard
Address: Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall St, Walthamstow, London E17 9HQ
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Kings Cross Light Tunnel
This tunnel is simply a route to and from the underground station but it has this cool lighting. Kings Cross Light Tunnel is one of Europe’s longest light walls. Don’t be surprised if you meet others taking Instagram photos here too.
Hashtag: #KingsCrossLightTunnel
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Portobello Road
From the pastel-coloured houses to the bustling street market, Portobello Road is iconic. Alice’s Antiques on the corner of Denbigh Close featured in the Paddington movies. It’s a proper curiosity store which makes for excellent photos.
Hashtag: #PortobelloRoad
Address: Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London W11
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Barbican Conservatory
This is quite the unexpected find as it’s like a full-on jungle at the top of an arts centre. Palm trees… tropical fish… Barbican Conservatory has it all.
Hashtag: #BarbicanConservatory
Address: Silk Street, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS
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Liberty London
This luxury department store is perfect for photos inside and out (although outside pics give you more time to pose without annoying shoppers). The Tudor-Revival style building, with ship’s timber cladding, looks older than it is as it was built in the 1920s. It’s also next to Carnaby Street where the classic street name arch is worth a photo too.
Hashtag: #LibertyLondon
Address: Regent St, Soho, London W1B 5AH
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Sky Garden
The Sky Garden is an impressive covered rooftop space in the City of London. You’ve got those views across to the south of The Thames, directly opposite The Shard. Plus the views across London from the other sides too. Every visit is like walking through a photoshoot as everyone wants to pose on the long stairs either side and on the balcony with the impressive backdrop sights.
Hashtag: #SkyGarden
Address: 1 Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF
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