A map of must see places (and photo spots!) around London

I have spent a ton of time traveling in and around London over the past decade and a half and one of the questions I receive the most is, “what should I see while I’m there?”

First, London is a city you can explore for years and still stumble across new pubs, sights, walks and bakeries every single time. The “top 10” lists of things to see will also always be there — Bond St., Picadilly, Harrods, I could go on. But that’s not what this post is about. This post is to share some of my favorite places and where to get that perfect photo of your time spent abroad.

I have spent the past couple of years adding pins to the below map, color coded by neighborhood. There’s something for everyone — photo spots, walks, pubs, coffee, markets, where to watch a football match, etc.

I hope you enjoy it and if you want a TL;DR version of my all time favorites, keep scrolling.

In no particular order:

Richmond (black pins)

Richmond is the “country feeling” getaway you need while only being a short tube ride from London proper. Ted Lasso may have made this perfect little village a household name, but behind that, it has the perfectly quaint town, the River Thames Towpath and King Henry’s Mound which provides a view all the way to St. Paul’s Cathedral on a clear day.

Hampstead (light green pins)

Similar to Richmond, Hampstead provides a peaceful getaway to the north of London for a quiet walk through the heath and/or trying to spot the latest celebrity who has moved into the neighborhood. You can’t go to Hampstead without trying the crepe stand — it’s worth the wait.

Kensington and Chelsea (maroon pins)

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is probably my favorite area of London to stay and to shoot photos. A convenient tube ride from Heathrow, it’s an easy center point for your stay in London. Walk through Kensington Palace Gardens (no photos allowed!) to see how the royalty of the world live, head to the Churchill Arms (one of Britain’s most famous pubs) for a pint, or grab a reservation at Da Mario (a Princess Di staple).