The Best Graduation
Photo Spots in London

Big Ben itself sits right on a busy roundabout, so we don't shoot from directly underneath it — we work from Westminster Bridge or the quieter Victoria Tower Gardens just south of Parliament for a cleaner background. If it's raining, we duck under the arches near Westminster Pier. And since the London Eye and St Thomas' Hospital's riverside gardens are only five minutes away on the opposite bank, we often combine the two for a second angle on Big Ben with the Thames in between, all in the same session.

Standing directly underneath the bridge isn't usually our first choice — the best angle is from the walkway on the south bank near Shad Thames, which gives you both towers and the Thames in one frame. The Tower of London and St Katharine Docks are both a five to ten minute walk away, so if the light's good we'll often grab a second look there too.

The steps out front look great but are heavily trafficked, so for cleaner shots we often move to the quieter garden on the north side of the cathedral, or a side street where the dome peeks through the buildings behind you. If you want a second look, Millennium Bridge is a short walk south and gives you a City-meets-river shot with the Tate Modern skyline behind.

Somerset House sits right next to King's College London's Strand campus, which makes it a favourite for KCL graduates — you can walk from your ceremony hall straight into the courtyard, still in your cap and gown. On a sunny day we shoot under the covered colonnade to keep the light flattering rather than harsh.

We usually photograph on campus first, then move to a London landmark for the second half of the session. For most Central London universities, a landmark is only 10–15 minutes' walk away, so you don't lose much time in transit. As a rough guide: UCL pairs well with Russell Square or Big Ben, LSE with Somerset House or Waterloo Bridge, King's with Somerset House or Westminster, and Imperial with Hyde Park or the Royal Albert Hall.