London Secret locations in London

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Hello everyone,

I live in London and am new to photography.

Are there any secret/ good locations in London.
 
Where in London are you and what do you like to photograph
 
What do you mean by secret?
 
There are plenty. Not so secret but places like Rouppel Street and Thead Street are great locations AT NIGHT, Columbia Road and streets just one road away from the Thames...

There are books about walking tours etc that go to places most people are unaware of. Just to say there is no shortage of information of 'interesting' places to photograph....

The Thames Walk for St Katherine's Dock to Canary Wharf is a good place to start exploring...
 
welshwizard645 said:
There are plenty. Not so secret but places like Rouppel Street and Thead Street are great locations AT NIGHT, Columbia Road and streets just one road away from the Thames...

There are books about walking tours etc that go to places most people are unaware of. Just to say there is no shortage of information of 'interesting' places to photograph....

The Thames Walk for St Katherine's Dock to Canary Wharf is a good place to start exploring...
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Thank you for the recommendations I’ll check them out :)
 
DinkyDarwin said:
Where in London are you and what do you like to photograph
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Around central London are is where I’m aiming for.
As oppose to secret, I am looking for a places which you may not come across when walking around London for street photography
 
You could always try looking around for an old book called "A Photographer's Guide to London" by Kevin MacDonnell (ISBN 0 7045 0510X). Amazon currently claims to have several copies available starting from £1.50.

MacDonnell was a freelance who specialised in seeking out out odd and unusual subjects and wrote several books full of such stuff. I like a lot of his photography as well.
 
When we are out of lockdown keep an eye out on the meeting place section
Every few months a few of us have a wander around central London to some of the less well known spots
Too many to list here, next one will be from Kings Cross to Regents Park mainly via the Regents Canal
Stopping off at a few of the more interesting spots along the way and for some lunch.
 
Café in the crypt next to St Martin in the fields, cup of tea sitting on someone’s tomb.
Climb the 311 steps of the Monument tower, get to the top and take a picture of the longest spiral staircase possibly in the country.
Temple Church, Tombs of Knights Templars and a great building to photograph.
Leake Street Tunnel Graffiti
Kelly Street Camden, brightly painted houses
Thames tunnel to Greenwich
Richmond Park
Higate cemetery
Leadenhall Market, but that was used in a Harry Potter film so gets busy at times.

Loads of places to go in London, I live here and have been to all the places above.
My top two are Richmond Park and Higate cemetery but that’s North London.
 
DinkyDarwin said:
Café in the crypt next to St Martin in the fields, cup of tea sitting on someone’s tomb.
Climb the 311 steps of the Monument tower, get to the top and take a picture of the longest spiral staircase possibly in the country.
Temple Church, Tombs of Knights Templars and a great building to photograph.
Leake Street Tunnel Graffiti
Kelly Street Camden, brightly painted houses
Thames tunnel to Greenwich
Richmond Park
Higate cemetery
Leadenhall Market, but that was used in a Harry Potter film so gets busy at times.

Loads of places to go in London, I live here and have been to all the places above.
My top two are Richmond Park and Higate cemetery but that’s North London.
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Thank you that was just what I wanted :)
 
Theres a few interesting places if you go along the south bank. One of my fav walks was tower bridge to the south bank then follow that bank to westminister, then up whitehall to Traff square then Leicester square and covent garden. I used to get a ton of pics on that walk, but that was before lockdown. No idea what londons like now. (it was a nice walk at night too, and a few pubs... :)
 
DinkyDarwin said:
Café in the crypt next to St Martin in the fields, cup of tea sitting on someone’s tomb.
Climb the 311 steps of the Monument tower, get to the top and take a picture of the longest spiral staircase possibly in the country.
Temple Church, Tombs of Knights Templars and a great building to photograph.
Leake Street Tunnel Graffiti
Kelly Street Camden, brightly painted houses
Thames tunnel to Greenwich
Richmond Park
Higate cemetery
Leadenhall Market, but that was used in a Harry Potter film so gets busy at times.

Loads of places to go in London, I live here and have been to all the places above.
My top two are Richmond Park and Higate cemetery but that’s North London.
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Cough cough Richmond Park is south of the river....
 
I have several books which I've used to find interesting places.

"Secret London" by Andrew Duncan.
"Secret London an Unusual Guide" by Rachel Howard and Bill Nash.
"London's Hidden Secrets" Vol 1 & Vol 2, by Graeme Chesters and David Hampshire.
Useful website: "Secret London" who also host walking tours of places of interest.

My personal interest involves walking the Thames Path, alongside the river.
I've walked the Thames path all the way from Richmond to Greenwich (not all at one time!) and I find views of the river endlessly fascinating.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
You could always try looking around for an old book called "A Photographer's Guide to London" by Kevin MacDonnell (ISBN 0 7045 0510X). Amazon currently claims to have several copies available starting from £1.50.

MacDonnell was a freelance who specialised in seeking out out odd and unusual subjects and wrote several books full of such stuff. I like a lot of his photography as well.
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Seems to be some demand generated for that book now, cheapest one is £4.89. Unless you want a new for over £1000!!!
 
Brian G said:
I have several books which I've used to find interesting places.

"Secret London" by Andrew Duncan.
"Secret London an Unusual Guide" by Rachel Howard and Bill Nash.
"London's Hidden Secrets" Vol 1 & Vol 2, by Graeme Chesters and David Hampshire.
Useful website: "Secret London" who also host walking tours of places of interest.

My personal interest involves walking the Thames Path, alongside the river.
I've walked the Thames path all the way from Richmond to Greenwich (not all at one time!) and I find views of the river endlessly fascinating.
Click to expand...

Living in Richmond I should take advantage of fewer tourists to walk this route.....once the lockdown eases..
 
welshwizard645 said:
Living in Richmond I should take advantage of fewer tourists to walk this route.....once the lockdown eases..
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At one time I was working near Hammersmith during the week and staying in Teddington so my commute took me across the Richmond Bridge. Nice in the early summer mornings before the traffic picked up.
 
welshwizard645 said:
Cough cough Richmond Park is south of the river....
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Yes it is but Higate Cemetery is not, that's what I meant by saying it's North London.
Actually one thing I forgot to add was when the football is back on taking your camera to a London derby before and after the game is always good for a few street shots. They can get quite interesting.
 
welshwizard645 said:
Living in Richmond I should take advantage of fewer tourists to walk this route.....once the lockdown eases..
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I've never found the Thames path to be crowded even before the "lockdown" Away from central London it doesn't seem to be much of an attraction to tourists.
I tend to regulate my sections of the Thames path by convenient access to a tube station at either end.
From Richmond, the next easily accessed station is Gunnersbury, which is some distance from Kew Bridge.
From Richmond to Kew Bridge on the south side is a fair distance and the views are not very spectacular, perhaps marginally better if the tide is in.
Probably more interesting to cross the river and walk along the north bank.
You can then stop at the "London Apprentice" ale house at Isleworth, if that's your interest, and there is also Syon Park on the north bank.
There's also the point where the Grand Union canal meets the Thames at Brentford.
I've not walked the north bank along this route, so I don't know what the access to the Thames path is like.
 
Some great suggestions here (and some I’ll have to have a look at myself!)

Definitely get a copy of Kevin MacDonnell’s book. It’s a great read and his work is outstanding.
 
LC2 said:
So are Rouppel and Thead Streets. ;)
It's worth pointing out not to expect to get people free shots on Rouppel during the rush, it's a very popular cut through.
It's a good place for shots of old Citroens too.
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I've been on these two streets (short stone throw from Waterloo east) after pubs have closed. You can get car-free shots with careful framing, I've not seen any old Citroens, only an old Morris Minor.

Here are my night time shots:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/welshwizard645/albums/72157706179724104
https://www.flickr.com/photos/welshwizard645/albums/72157681951511060
https://www.flickr.com/photos/welshwizard645/albums/72157663217755183
 
welshwizard645 said:
I've been on these two streets (short stone throw from Waterloo east) after pubs have closed. You can get car-free shots with careful framing, I've not seen any old Citroens, only an old Morris Minor.
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Really? That's odd (unless he's moved in the past few months).
I walked down Rouppel street twice daily for about 11 years (until Jan 2020) and as far as I can tell the chap has:
1xSM
1xDS Estate (normally with a wheelbarrow strapped to the roof).
1xDS Saloon
2xBX
and a BMW motorbike.

They would generally be between the Kings Head and the bakery on the LHS of the road.

The SM & DS' from 2011:

CIMG2198 by Tim White, on Flickr

CIMG2197 by Tim White, on Flickr

CIMG2196 by Tim White, on Flickr
 
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LC2 said:
Really? That's odd (unless he's moved in the past few months).
I walked down Rouppel street twice daily for about 11 years (until Jan 2020) and as far as I can tell the chap has:
1xSM
1xDS Estate (normally with a wheelbarrow strapped to the roof).
1xDS Saloon
2xBX
and a BMW motorbike.

They would generally be between the Kings Head and the bakery on the LHS of the road.

The SM & DS' from 2011:

CIMG2198 by Tim White, on Flickr

CIMG2197 by Tim White, on Flickr

CIMG2196 by Tim White, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Well spotted Tim, those old Citroens are real classics, nothing else like them
I had to cut short a visit to Paris and missed out on a look round here
https://www.citroen.co.uk/about-citroen/our-brand/heritage
Had a slot booked, but just ran out of time, sent an apology and intended to go back this year, then...............................
 
LC2 said:
Really? That's odd (unless he's moved in the past few months).
I walked down Rouppel street twice daily for about 11 years (until Jan 2020) and as far as I can tell the chap has:
1xSM
1xDS Estate (normally with a wheelbarrow strapped to the roof).
1xDS Saloon
2xBX
and a BMW motorbike.

They would generally be between the Kings Head and the bakery on the LHS of the road.

The SM & DS' from 2011:

CIMG2198 by Tim White, on Flickr

CIMG2197 by Tim White, on Flickr

CIMG2196 by Tim White, on Flickr
Click to expand...

I’d not seen the SM on any of my visits, or the DS. Having learnt to drive in a 2CV6 I like Citroen’s and wouldn’t miss either car.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
You could always try looking around for an old book called "A Photographer's Guide to London" by Kevin MacDonnell (ISBN 0 7045 0510X). Amazon currently claims to have several copies available starting from £1.50.

MacDonnell was a freelance who specialised in seeking out out odd and unusual subjects and wrote several books full of such stuff. I like a lot of his photography as well.
Click to expand...
I just bought a S/H copy of this book. Only a couple of quid for a nearly mint copy (I think the postage cost was nearly as much as the book.)
I must say it's a little disappointing. Just 126 pages and not exactly profusely illustrated with a mix of colur and B&W images, it's presentation is as dated as it's content, and I certainly wouldn't say any of the locations were odd or unusual - in fact I already have photos of many of them
From 1986 is it's an interesting record of how things have changed in London in such a relatively short time. It's the sort of book that makes me want to get out and visit the same location today, but I find many of the images lacking imagination.
It is nice to see St Paul's before the millennium footbridge and the Cutty Sark without it's glass enclosure, but in all, as a photographic guide it's rather disappointing.
As for paying £1000 for a copy, ROFLMAO!
 
Brian G said:
but I find many of the images lacking imagination.
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Each to his own. I've always rather liked Kevin MacDonnell's style, without feeling any desire to emulate it.
 
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