London through a photographer’s lens
1. Westminster Bridge (Looking at the London Eye)
Capturing the London Eye using a long exposure transforms it from a Ferris wheel into a breathtaking, solid wheel of neon light.
Why it works for long exposure: If you set your exposure to match the rotation of the Eye (or at least capture a good portion of it), the moving pods blur into a continuous ring of light. Plus, a long exposure completely smooths out the constantly moving waters of the River Thames below.
Best time to go: Blue hour or at night when the Eye is fully illuminated and spinning.
How to get there: Take the Jubilee, Northern, or Bakerloo line to Waterloo station and walk 5 minutes to the bridge, or take the District, Circle, or Jubilee line to Westminster station for the opposite side of the river.
2. Piccadilly Circus
If you want to capture the chaotic, vibrant energy of London, this is the spot. It is the quintessential location for traffic light trails.
Why it works for long exposure: By setting up your tripod near the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain (the Eros statue) and using an exposure of 10-20 seconds, the iconic red double-decker buses blur into dynamic ribbons of light sweeping through the frame, contrasted against the bright, sharp advertising billboards.
Best time to go: Late evening. You want it to be dark enough for the light trails to pop, but early enough that traffic is still heavy.
How to get there: Take the Piccadilly or Bakerloo line directly to Piccadilly Circus station. Emerge from the station and you are right in the middle of the action.
3. The Millennium Bridge (Looking toward St Paul’s)
This location stays on the list, but the technique completely changes the vibe.
Why it works for long exposure: The bridge is notoriously bouncy and packed with tourists. Using a 30-second to 1-minute exposure (with an ND filter during the day) blurs the moving pedestrians into ghostly, ethereal figures while keeping the sharp, metallic leading lines of the bridge and St Paul's Cathedral perfectly crisp. It also creates dramatic cloud streaks over the dome.
Best time to go: Windy days for cloud movement, or twilight to capture the bridge's illumination.
How to get there: Take the Central line to St Paul's station and walk 5 minutes south, or the District/Circle line to Blackfriars and walk east along the river.
4. Canary Wharf (The Docks & DLR Tracks)
For a sleek, futuristic, and highly architectural take on London, head east to the financial district.
Why it works for long exposure: You have two great options here. You can shoot the towering skyscrapers reflecting in the docks (a long exposure turns the water into perfectly smooth glass), or you can point your camera at the elevated Docklands Light Railway (DLR) tracks to capture the light trails of the driverless trains weaving through the modern architecture.
Best time to go: After sunset on a weekday. The office buildings will be fully lit from the inside, creating a stunning glowing skyline.
How to get there: Take the Jubilee line or the DLR directly to Canary Wharf station.
5. Tower Bridge from the North Bank
It wouldn't be a London list without Tower Bridge, but the north bank offers the best stationary vantage point for long exposure.
Why it works for long exposure: Setting up near the "Girl with a Dolphin" fountain allows you to frame the bridge perfectly. A long exposure will turn the Thames into mist, streak the clouds above the turrets, and—if you time it right—capture the colorful light trails of passing river cruises or the HMS Belfast moored nearby.
Best time to go: Blue hour. The sky retains a deep blue hue that perfectly contrasts with the warm, golden floodlights illuminating the bridge.
How to get there: Take the District or Circle line to Tower Hill station. Walk south past the Tower of London for about 5 to 7 minutes until you hit the river pathway.
