15+ Not to be Missed Breathtakingly Beautiful Places in London!

Last Updated on 19th July 2026 by Sophie Nadeau

This post may contain affiliate links. Please check out my privacy policy and disclosure for more information.

London is a vibrant city not to be missed on any trip through England, even if you’re ‘not really a city person‘. After all, there are plenty of quirky corners and small pockets where you can truly get away from it all. So whether you love art, architecture, or drinking oodles of tea, here’s your guide to 15 beautiful places in London you won’t want to miss on any trip to the UK capital city!

Most beautiful places to visit in London

Daunt Books

Specialising in travel tomes, Daunt Books is located in the heart of Marylebone and has been in business for a couple of decades. Located in an Edwardian building which was also used as a bookstore over a hundred years ago, the bookshop comes complete with several of the original fittings; skylights, oak detailing and all!

Peggy Porschen Parlour

Pretty in pastel pink, Peggy Porschen may well be the cutest coffee shop in all of London (although you come for the decor and not necessarily the food- it is a little pricey!) Head to the cake emporium earlier in the day and midweek(if possible) to get the best selection of cakes, as well as an outdoor table. The rise of Instagram means that the cute café is incredibly popular!

St Paul’s Cathedral

No guide to Instagrammable London would be complete without at least a quick mention of St Paul’s Cathedral, which is in the heart of an area known as the City of London. Topped with pineapples (no, seriously!), the Cathedral is iconic Christopher Wren architecture at its best and has dominated the London skyline for over 300 years.

Once the tallest building in London, it’s a ‘must see’ attraction in central London, both for its interior and exterior! Though you’ll have to pay to step inside this grand ecclesiastical building (unless you’re visiting as a worshipper), the ornate ceilings and intricate carvings make the cathedral well worth a visit.

St Dunstan in the East

Of all Christopher Wren masterpieces dotted throughout London, the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral may well be the architect’s most famous project. But what many don’t know is that just nearby, there are the remnants of another of Wren’s ecclesiastical buildings, an ancient former place of worship which is easily one of the best hidden gems of London…

During WWII, St Dunstan-in-the-East was heavily bombed during the Blitz. Following the war, the decision was taken to transform the empty shell into an oasis of green in the heart of the city. Today, the garden is a peaceful place to relax, surrounded by sky-high skyscrapers, and even many locals don’t know about it!

Millennium Bridge

If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, then you may well recognise Millennium Bridge, a suspension pedestrian bridge linking the heart of the City of London to nearby attractions such as Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Tate museum.

Elsewhere in the area, you’ll soon discover quirky London attractions such as the Ferryman’s Seat and the Thames foreshore (where mudlarking is oh-so-popular). 

This steel bridge is best viewed under morning light, and if you head to the structure earlier in the day, you’re likely to find it filled with fewer tourists than later on in the day!

For a greater glimpse of Harry Potter in London (and the chance to snap some more London Instagram photos), consider booking a Harry Potter walking tour like this one. And if you’re a true Harry Potter fan, then this Warner Brothers Studio Tour and Transfers is a can’t be missed visit!

The Thames Foreshore

Although the Thames Foreshore, littered as it is with debris from millennia worth of London inhabitation, may not be the first place that springs to mind when conjuring up images of the most beautiful places in London, the mystery behind the place means that it makes the list.

Spanning both sides of the mighty River Thames, the foreshore is a treasure trove of ancient coins, palaeolithic tools, and all manner of historical artefacts. Each day, millions of pieces of forgotten items wash up on the beaches of the Thames, and those who go out to scout its sandy stretches are known as ‘mudlarks’.

Read more: A self-guided walking tour of London.

Leadenhall Market

One wander through Leadenhall Market and it feels like you’ve stepped back in time, right into the very middle of well-to-do Victorian London. Dating all the way back to the 14th-century, Leadenhall is one of the oldest markets in the capital, and its covered skylight filled dome dates back to the 19th-century.

This makes Leadenhall Market the perfect place to snap photos of a historical side of the city that few ever get the chance to see. Best seen during the weekend when crowds are at their fewest (this area is predominantly populated by city workers), the market was also the filming location for ‘Diagon Alley’ in some of the Harry Potter films!

The Sky Garden

Free to visit and high up in the sky of the city, the Sky Garden is easily one of the prettiest spaces in London and is a great alternative if you don’t want to fork out for the steep prices that come with a trip up the Shard.

At the top of the Sky Garden, you’ll also find several restaurants and bars, perfect to catch up with friends or enjoy a romantic outing. Please note that while the Sky Garden is free, you have to book tickets in advance, which can be found on the SkyGarden Website here!

Read more: A visit to the Sky Garden & Walkie Talkie Building.

Notting Hill & Portobello Road

The vibrant and pretty area of Notting Hill is all pastel coloured houses and candy façades. Every weekend, an outdoor market along Portobello Road is said to be the largest antiques and vintage fair of its kind in the world.

There, you’ll find all manner of sporting equipment, old cameras, and vintage clothing for sale, among other treasures you won’t find in any high street chain store! The market is also home to some great food stalls (look out for the French sweets stand!)

Read more: Notting Hill Filming Locations.

Houses of Parliament

The term ‘going to see Big Ben’ is a little misleading because unless you get special permission from your MP (and you’re a UK resident), you can’t actually see Big Ben!

That’s because Big Ben is actually the name of the Bell housed in the Elizabeth Clock Tower. Nevertheless, head to the Houses of Parliament for an iconic London snap, or simply if you love Gothic architecture!

Kynance Mews

Best seen in the wisteria season when purple trails down the houses and the crowds are fewer than in the summer, Kynance Mews is one of those must-see London attractions for any photography lover. Mews streets are dotted throughout the London landscape and were once where horses were housed when the city ran on horsepower.

Today, the stables have since been converted into housing and the addresses are some of the most exclusive in London. Due to the rise of its popularity on sharing sites like Instagram, Kynance Mews is best seen in the morning midweek when tourists are at their fewest (luckily, that’s also when the light is at its best)!

However, when you do go, even if there are other tourists around, you still won’t be disappointed by the mews road’s beauty! Other pretty mews streets worth visiting are those of Bathurst Mews, St Luke’s Mews (the pink house there featured in Love Actually) and Cornwall Mews South.

Read more: Kynance Mews & the Wisteria Season.

Garden at 120

Of all the beautiful London Instagram spots, one of the most iconic is that of the Garden at 120. Tangibly close to the Sky Garden’s Walkie Talkie building (and close enough even to catch a glimpse of the silhouettes of those wandering along the space’s impossibly high balcony), the Garden at 120 is London’s newest sky top offering.

All open space, glass panelling, and 360-degree bird’s eye views of London’s cityscape, including that of Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, and plenty of other iconic London viewpoints. Best of all this fantastic Instagram place in London is completely free to visit!

Covent Garden Apple Market

Just south of Oxford Street, somewhere between the Thames and the Theatre District of the city, Covent Garden and its surrounds are best known for the wealth of shops and eateries in the area.

Best seen earlier in the day when the light is at its best and crowds are at their lowest, the covered Apple Market is easily one of the most beautiful spots in Central London and was designed by Inigo Jones.

The Queen’s House, Greenwich

In the heart of Greenwich (home to the UK’s official Meridien line), you’ll find the remnants of Kensington Palace. Housed within them, there’s a special set of stairs known as ‘the Tulip Stairs’. This staircase is the oldest set of self-supporting stairs in the UK and dates back centuries.

The pretty geometric shape they form is well worth a look, as is the rest of the Queen’s House impressive furniture and paintings collection. Oh, and entry to the former palace is free- bonus! 

Nearby, the Prime Meridian can be found at the Greenwich Observatory (more details on how to visit can be found here), while the National Maritime Museum is the largest of its kind in the world and is free to visit.

St Bartholomew the Great

Dating all the way back to the 12th-century, its hundreds of years worth of history make St Bartholomew the Great the oldest church in London. First founded as a priory and situated in an out of the way location, St Bartholomew’s was founded in 1123 and is filled with beautiful stained glass windows and ecclesiastical artefacts. If you’re an avid follower of church history, then this is a must-see destination!

Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden, Borough of Camden

Since the rise of social media apps such as Instagram, Neal’s Yard hasn’t had a moment of quiet. What was once a small and secluded alcove, hidden from the rest of the shops in Covent Garden by two small passageways, has since become a go-to hub for young people. Once in Neal’s Yard, you’ll find the world-famous brand Neal’s Yard Remedies flagship store, as well as several cafés and open-air bars.

Read more: The Hidden Courtyard of Neal’s Yard.

Monument to the Great Fire of London, Fish St Hill, London EC3R 8AH

Of all the beautiful places in London, the Monument to the Great Fire of London (near a tube station of the same name), is located amidst a sea of grey buildings in the heart of the City of London. Constructed between 1671 and 1677, the towering column has 311 steps to the top, costs less than a fiver to go up (that’s £5), and offers 360-degree breathtaking views over the city.

Read more: Monument to the Great Fire of London.

Richmond-upon-Thames, Southwest London

Of all the beautiful places in London on this list, Richmond-upon-Thames, once a village away from the hustle and bustle of London life in its own right, is where you should go if you want a break from the city. Home to plenty of pretty flower shops and stunning properties such as the National Trust property of Ham House, Richmond is filled with small pubs, and secret green gardens.

Read more: A quick guide to Ham House.

Biscuiteers, 194 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2ES

Located a few streets over from the world-renowned Portobello Road market, Biscuiteers is a go-to destination for all sweet tooths. As its name suggests, the café and cookery school is dedicated to all things biscuit related and is a must visit on any coffee shop tour of London. Nearby, Farmgirl Café serves the prettiest speciality hot beverages in the capital and is also worthy of a visit.

Word on the Water

Hands down, the most ‘Instagrammable’ bookstore in London is not on dry land, but instead on the water. Situated close to Kings Cross, the beautiful Word on the Water bookshop touts itself as ‘London’s only book barge’. 

The bookshop is set against the backdrop of a former 1920s Dutch barge that has since been converted into a storefront. New and used books can be found in abundance both above and below deck.

Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP

Often mistakenly called ‘London Bridge,’ Tower Bridge truly is a feat of Victorian civil engineering. Constructed between 1886 and 1894, the structure has since become an iconic symbol in the London skyline.

What you may not know, however, is that for a moderate fee (between 5 and 15 pounds depending on what you want to experience), you can go up onto the top of the bridge for a unique view over the city. Of all the beautiful places in London you must visit, this is easimy one of my favourites.

Read more: An Instagram guide to London. 

A historic pub

Of course, no trip to the UK capital would be complete without snapping at least a quick photo of a British pub or two. From themed pubs to taverns dating back centuries (and housing Roman ruins and old jail cells in their basements), there’s no shortage of quirky and unique drinking establishments to photograph.

Some of my favourite historic pubs in London include Ye Olde Chesire Cheese (yes, that’s really its name!), the Churchill Arms (covered in flower pots and pretty displays during any given time of the year) and the Sherlock Holmes (an ode to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous literary character).

Enjoyed reading about the most breathtakingly beautiful places in London? Pin it now, read it again later: