My favourite locations for family photography in London
There are no end of wonderful locations for family photo shoots in London. I have a few personal favourites in my local area and throughout London, but still have so much more to discover. I’d love to know if you have any little gems near you!
Hampstead Heath
The Heath is huge and offers several locations in one. There is so much to explore, with some stunning scenery, sweeping views of London, play areas for the kids, trees to climb, even ponds to swim in if you are brave enough. There is such a great atmosphere, especially in the spring and summer - even when it gets busy there is plenty of space for everyone to chill out with a picnic and a bottle of rosé. In the autumn the colours are incredible, especially as the light gets soft and golden in the late afternoon. And in winter there is nothing like a brisk walk on a sunny day with the frost glistening. It’s a real privilege to live close by and I’ve enjoyed many a weekend walk with friends and family. Unsurprisingly I think it’s an awesome place for photography and definitely a good option whether or not you are a local.
Kenwood House
Adjacent to the Heath, Kenwood House is an awesome place to visit and offers some great backdrops for family photos. I especially love the columns at the back of the main building, where it can be fun to play hide and seek and get some creative portraits of the children. The run of trees and ornate park benches leading up to the House provides some shade in the summer with sparkling light in the background. And a short walk down to the stream and the little bridge leading to the Heath is also a choice spot for pictures.
West Hampstead
I was delighted to discover Mapesbury Dell on a recent winter shoot in West Hampstead, my local area. It has a gorgeous garden, which the birds seem to love, and I can’t wait to see it in the spring. It also has a fantastic playground which the two girls in these pictures just didn’t want to leave. They were having so much fun they forgot all about the camera, which helps me get more natural and dynamic pictures (see my blog for more of these!).
The Royal Parks
I think all the parks in London are amazing - we’re so lucky to have so much open and green space in the city. You might say the Royal Parks are the crowning jewel (!), with some astonishing landscaping, flowers and wildlife. Some of them are so big you can make a whole day out of it, whether you want to admire flower gardens, boat on a lake, play sport, enjoy a lazy picnic or just stroll and take it all in, there really is something for everyone. For family photos they are ideal for a combination of documentary photography - simply capturing you all having fun together, and relaxed portraits - taking advantage of the colours and interesting backdrops. I recently blogged a shoot in and around Regent’s Park - you can read more here.
Epping Forest
To get the best of English countryside, just a short and easy journey from the city, Epping Forest is a great choice. It’s full of character, with beautiful, thick woodland, green spaces and meandering paths to explore. I was lucky enough to visit in early autumn on a bright sunny morning for these pictures, meaning we had a gorgeous combination of low-soft light, reds and browns of the leaves on the ground, with some green still in the trees. There are also lots of interesting, historical places to visit nearby if you want to make a day of it, such as Waltham Abbey and Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge.
RAF Museum Playground
Quite a random find, but honestly one of the best playgrounds I’ve been to in London (and I’ve done a few 😂). The museum itself is huge fun and incredibly interesting and educational - it’s well worth a visit if you’re on the lookout for things to do with kids (or adults!) in London. The playground is just outside, with a great little cafe in between so you can grab a coffee and let the kids run loose! It has aviator-themed stuff for them to play on, including model airplanes and fuselages, as well as the traditional climbing frames, slides and swings. I was so pleased I had my camera on me for these pictures - see my blog for more of these :)
