Best Pre Wedding Locations London

Best pre wedding locations London

As I do quite a few pre wedding shoots in London I often get asked about the perfect locations.

Well, to start with I’m going to talk a little about the timing. Last time I googled London has a population of just over 8 MILLION people. That’s a lot. Not to mention the tourists which flood the streets in the summer and autumn… So timing plays a part on pre wedding shoots. With sunrise and sunset being the best times – or the quietest times with the best light.

I tend to schedule London pre wedding shoots for week days, because as you might imagine the weekends are chaotic.

With that in mind here are my top 10 locations for London pre wedding shoots.

St Paul’s Cathedral

It’s pretty rare that I come to London and don’t stop my St Pauls Cathedral. It’s an iconic building in London (with an amazing history.) Whilst security is pretty tight there are some top spots on each side of the building. I love the columns, the flagstones and the gardens and it’s a great spot for sunset.

Paternoster Sq

This is probably my favourite spot – a modern sculpture that can get some great light if you time it right. It is a bit of a 1 spot wonder, and there are only so many photos you can take here – but it’s a it different and looks great.

Embankment+Big Ben

As maintenance work is being carried out on Big Ben and the houses of parliament it’s not a great choice as a backdrop. With scaffolding it’s a bit of an eyesore at the moment. That said I don’t think it looks ‘that’ bad but most people don’t bother these days which is understandable.

Millennium Bridge

Sometimes I visit the bright and sometimes I give it a miss. I’ve been here at 6am in the morning and there are still people who use the bridge to run and get to work early. It’s not my favourite spot because it is incredible busy, but if you can go on, and under the bridge to get some great views of the river thames.

Shoreditch

I’ve done a few shoots in Shoreditch and there is no doubt it’s a very unique backdrop. It’s pretty busy so shooting in the streets often means waiting for the right moment. The graffiti and old buildings and cars make it worth a visit if you have time and want something a little different. Princelet Street is a great option.

Regent’s Park

I think this is my favourite park for shoots in London. Warning, it can require a permit (£125 for a hour) if you wear a wedding dress or have a lifestyle shoot here. You can find out more about the permits required for Royal parks here. But with the boating lake, bandstand, bridges and extensive grounds there is plenty to see. There are often lots of flowers and blossom trees in the spring.

Primrose Hill

If you visit Regents Park then you aren’t far from Primrose Hill. Not only are there some beautifully coloured houses around but you get a view right across London. Not great on a cloudy day but with a little sunshine it’s worth stopping by.

Hyde Park & The Rose Gardens

A little chaotic at weekends but Hyde Park is also a nice spot if you want some greenery and a more romantic setting. As with Regents Park you may need a permit (£125 for a hour) if you wear a wedding dress.

King’s Road

There’s a beautiful little street, just off of the King’s Road filled with beautifully coloured houses. They are quite similar to those you can find in Primrose Hill or Notting Hill. But this little street is quite quiet and perfect for a quick stop. The amount of opportunities are limited a little but they are quite different to all of the other photography spots in London

The Mall & St James Park & Buckingham Palace

I really like the Mall and it’s worth a stop. St James Park and Buckingham Palace all make for a great backdrop. While there can be a lot of people it works well from certain spots and doesn’t look too busy.

Tower Bridge

The best time to take photos at Tower Bridge is at 6am in the morning. Not only is the light stunning but it’s the only time in the day that it won’t be busy. Also, with heavy security operating from 7am-7pm you are restricted to some pretty average locations. You can take photos on the bridge (which is my favourite spot) but it is obviously quite busy. It’s a great spot for sunset too but it’s a highly touristy with a few hundred people also taking photos, eating, drinking and lying on the grass.

St Dunstan in the East: Ruined church

St Dunstan in the East is a ruined church, open to the public. There is no roof (so plenty of light!) and lots of arches, trees and steps. I’ve chosen this spot as it’s a little different and doesn’t require a permit to take photos in. I would say that it can be a little busy at times but if we are in the area it’s worth stopping by. As with most of my locations this choice is a little different from anything else.

Leadenhall Market

As with most spots in London this place can get pretty busy! But the architecture is really unique and there are some great spots that are a little bit different to the rest of London. Light is good and if the weather is poor then it’s ideal because it’s undercover.

Baker Street Station

This is a one stop shop, but if you’re visiting Regents Park via the tube then this is right next door. Amongst the maze of different tube stops there’s an old authentic tube station with really interesting lighting. I have to thank one of my couples for finding this! There aren’t too many angles I can take in this spot. But if you like this photo it’s well worth a visit to get something different from all of the outside locations in London.

Paddington Station

This one is a little bit strange, but I’ve done a few shoots here (just 20 minutes each) and it’s often a great place to start. With quite a few quiet platforms, privacy, cover from rain and beautiful light it’s a great place to start shoots.

Obviously not the most glamorous spot in London but unique non the less.

Peggy Porschen & Belgravia

I seem to visit this cake shop quite a lot! It’s very instagramable and looks amazing in photos. That said there is often a queue out of the door so visiting it out of season, or at the end of the day is wise.

The Belgravia district is also a nice spot for London street photos. It’s classic, well kept and not too far from The Mall.