This guide is for you if you want photographs of yourselves in London, taken by someone who knows what they are doing, and you are working out when and how to book it. It covers the decisions that make the pictures: the time of day, what to wear, what to do if it rains, the Horse Guards timetable, and how to plan a proposal without giving it away.
Choose the time of day for the light
The walk lasts three hours and covers about three kilometres, all on the flat, with a lot of standing still. The route runs from Big Ben and Parliament to Westminster Bridge, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall, and ends in Covent Garden. Your photographer orders it on the day by the light and the crowds, so the time you book is the biggest choice you make.
Two things to weigh when you pick a slot:
- People in the background. Westminster Bridge and Trafalgar Square are rarely empty. If fewer strangers in the frame matters to you, say so, and the photographer can time the busiest spots for the quieter moments.
- The light at the end. The last stretch is Covent Garden. If you want the river and the clock tower in soft, low light, look up the sunset time for your date and plan the session so it ends around it.
Tell us which of the two matters more to you when you book.
Plan around the Horse Guards
The route passes Whitehall and the Horse Guards, and their timetable is worth knowing, either to catch it or to avoid it.
- Two mounted sentries guard the Horse Guards entrance on Whitehall from 10:00 to 16:00, and they change every hour. Outside those hours, there are no horses at the gate.
- On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays the King's Life Guard changes at 11:00 on Horse Guards Parade, after riding from Hyde Park Barracks. On Saturdays and Sundays there is an inspection at 11:00 instead.
- Every day at 16:00 there is a dismounted inspection, after which the guard goes off duty for the day.
Crowds gather for all of these, and the Household Division warns that pickpockets work the area. If the guard is part of the picture you want, book a time that reaches Whitehall before 16:00. If you would rather have the street quieter, tell your photographer and the order changes.
What to wear
There is no other preparation, so this is the part worth thinking about. A few points from what works on this route:
- Plain colours over busy patterns. The backgrounds here are already full: grey stone, red buses, crowds. Solid colours keep you the subject.
- Coordinate, do not match. If you are a family or a group, pick two or three colours that sit well together rather than identical outfits.
- Shoes you can walk in. Three kilometres is not far, but it is three hours on your feet. Bring smarter shoes in a bag if you want them for a few frames.
- A layer for the bridge. On Westminster Bridge you are out over the river. A coat that looks good in a photo beats one you take off for every frame.
If it rains
Rain does not have to spoil the pictures. A clear umbrella photographs well, and wet pavements reflect the lights and the buses. The market building at Covent Garden gives cover at the end. If the forecast is truly bad, remember you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before, with a full refund.
Changing the route
The standard route is the Westminster set, but it is not fixed. Notting Hill, Tower Bridge and St Paul's are the swaps people ask for most. Ask when you book, so the photographer can plan the walk and the meeting point. If you have a place that means something to you, a street where you met or a building from a film, tell us that too.
Planning a proposal
A lot of people book this walk for a proposal. It works because the photographer is already part of the day, so nobody wonders why there is a camera. A few things make it go smoothly:
- Tell us beforehand, when you book or by message, not on the day in front of your partner.
- Agree the spot and a signal with the photographer, who will be in position and discreet.
- Think about the time of day. A quieter moment gives you a cleaner picture and a little privacy.
- Keep the ring somewhere you can reach without searching every pocket.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits couples, families and small groups of up to eight. The price is fixed for the session, however many of you come, which makes it good value for a group. It suits a first visit, when you want the landmarks in your photographs, and a last day, when you want something to take home.
- Small children. The walk is flat, but three hours is long for little ones. Bring snacks and plan a break.
- Someone who dislikes the camera. Posing and framing guidance comes as you go. If one of you is shy, say so at the start and ask for more candid shots and fewer set poses.
- You want a tour of the sights. This is a photography session, not a history tour. For that, our central London tour is the one.
For other ways to spend a day here, see our guide to day trips from London. If you are planning a proposal in Ireland instead, our article on a proposal shoot in Dublin covers that city.
Questions people ask
Where exactly do we meet?
At Westminster, by Big Ben. We send the exact spot and the photographer's number when you book.
How many photos do we get, and when?
A full edited gallery rather than a fixed number, at full resolution, by email, usually within three to five days. Prints and albums are not included, but the files are yours to print.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Booking the walk
Pick a time for the light you want, decide what to wear, and tell us about any change of route or a proposal in advance. The rest is on the London photography walking tour page, where you choose your date and book.
