Going to London

[marcr1230]

I'm going to London this week for work
Any must see exhibits? Suggested locations for street photography?
Any good camera stores worth visiting?

Thanks

 

[chris000]

One of the best second hand gear outlets is 'Aperture' in Museum Street, always worth a look, they have a cafe as well and internet access.

A couple of hundred yards north from there is the British Museum, which takes an age to walk around BUT the Great Court is a good place for 'Street' photos. It's a former courtyard which has been covered with a glass roof and is usually full of interesting folk. Photography in the Great Court is allowed and entrance is free - there is a sign asking you to make a donation but it isn't compulsory if you don't want to.

Have a good trip.

 

[lxmike]

If in london you should visit Greys of Westminster, probably the best Nikon ,shop, in the world and has a fantastic classic rangefinder section

 

[filmfan]

Good street photography at the Camden Locks market (I guess all of Camden High St.)-- Lots of "interesting" people in this area to photograph.

 

[Steveh]

For exhibits, I think the Irving Penn exhibit at the national portrait gallery (Trafalgar Square) is a must see - some absolutely superb portraits and the quality of the vintage silver prints was a revelation to me. The gallery is open until 9 on Thursday and Friday nights, 6.00 the rest of the time. The Tate Modern (just across the river from St Pauls) is always worth a visit as well, as much for the architecture as the modern art. I'd agree with Chris on the British Museum - you can't visit without taking this shot, there's a special hole in the upstairs wall for photgraphers:

and there are Aperture and a few more camera shops in the area as well.

The Photographer's gallery (Ramillies Street, off Oxford Street) seems to between exhibitions at the moment but has a great bookshop if you like photobooks - they also sell a huge range of Holgas/Dianas/pinhole cameras if that's your thing.

If you're working in the City, or even if not, the area around Spitalifields (Liverpool Street tube station) is very photogenic - huge bank buildings, restored 18th century houses, the Bangladeshi area around Brick Lane, super trendy bars etc.

Have fun!

 

[thegman]

The Classic Camera is a short walk from Aperture. The Classic Camera is pretty expensive, but they have most Leica models in very good condition. Aperture is great too.

 

[umcelinho]

thegman said it well. both shops are really good. There is also Red Dot cameras.

an interesting place to go is hampstead. a few stops on northern line after camden town. lovely area, hampstead high street and its alleys are adorable, and there is a good crèpe stand in a corner. go up the street in this corner and you'll reach a camera shop that has lots of used goodies (i've seen even a pentax auto 110 there, cute!). they had a bucket of expired film and sold for a quid each roll. i got tons 🙂 even infrared! also the station is close to hamstead heath, a very lovely park, barely urbanised.

 

[wgerrard]

You can spend days in the British Museum, and photography is allowed everywhere.

"Street photography" is available everywhere in London. It's full of streets. If this is your first London visit, you'll find about a zillion people on Oxford Street. Take the Tube to Westminster Station, get out and gawk at Parliament and Big Ben. Then, walk across Westminster Bridge, turn left, and , shazam, you're on the South Bank. Keep walking by the crowds at the London Eye along the Thames and turn back when your feet hurt.

Take the Tube to Leicester Square. Go walkabout in Covent Garden, or in Chinatown, or Soho. Stop into Foyle's and buy a bunch of books.

That's two days.

London is a great place to combine tourism, walking, and photography.

 

[Andy Kibber]

For street photography, I'd say any street market. For cameras, Chris is right. Check out Aperture on Museum Street. Have fun!

If you're interested in photography books, there are a number of great places. I'd have to do some searching around to find names and addresses. If you want 'em let me know.

 

[marcr1230]

On my way to Airport
London next stop , great unpronouncable volcano ash cloud not withstanding
taking the MP, 35mm 2.0 ZM, 8.5 cm 2.0 Nikkor with Amedeo adapter
thanks for the advice guys!

 

[mrisney]

I'm here now, thanks for the suggestions, There is Brick Lane in Hoxton as well, Like the suggestions for shops, keep them coming.

 

[marcr1230]

I made it to London and even got a fly by of EyjafjallaJokull:
Pordon the poor quality it was an iPhone

 

[John Lawrence]

Another good shop worth visiting is R G Lewis, the oldest London Leica store, who can be found here:

http://www.rglewis.co.uk/

They usually have a good selection of interesting gear. Another place worth having a look at is Richard Caplan:

http://www.richardcaplan.co.uk/

Richard Caplan have been long established dealers and I have to say for used Leica equipment in London (or indeed the UK) their prices are very keen.

Have a good time.

John

 

[johannielscom]

I'm going to London this week for work
Any must see exhibits? Suggested locations for street photography?
Any good camera stores worth visiting?

Thanks

Best area for shooting street is between Trafalgar Sq. and the British Museum, there's lots of small streets, theatres etc. there. And, Aperture is near the British Museum, you can buy camera in the front (shop) and talk camera in the back (coffee shop)!

Enjoy your stay!