London locations
Permits, light and what to expect on the day.
River walkways, concrete architecture, bridges and the skyline. That is what brings people to South Bank with a camera.
| South Bank | |
|---|---|
| Who controls it | The South Bank and Bankside run across Lambeth and Southwark, and parts are private estates. |
| Good for | River walkways, concrete architecture, bridges and the skyline. |
| Light | The north-facing walkway holds even light all day. |
| Busiest | It is one of the busiest walkways in London. |
The South Bank and Bankside run across Lambeth and Southwark, and parts are private estates. Film Lambeth and the Southwark film office both issue permits, and you may need more than one depending on where the camera stands.
Checked on 4 October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the authority before the shoot.
The north-facing walkway holds even light all day. Sunset over the river is the obvious frame and the busiest one.
It is one of the busiest walkways in London. A small crew and a long lens work better than a lighting setup.
Waterloo, Southwark and London Bridge all serve different ends of it.
A long lens. It keeps the crowd out of the frame better than waiting does.
Assuming one permit covers the whole walk. It crosses two boroughs and several estates.
| Who controls it | More than one authority |
| Permit needed | Yes, from each authority involved |
| Notice to allow | Take the longest notice period |
| Insurance | Ask each one |
| Worth knowing | Confirm which ground you stand on |
| Nearest stations | Waterloo, Southwark and London Bridge all serve different ends of it. |
| What to carry | A long lens. It keeps the crowd out of the frame better than waiting does. |
Rules and fees change. Confirm with the authority named above before the shoot, and treat this table as a starting point rather than a permission.
| Where | What it gives you | When it works |
|---|---|---|
| The walkway by the National Theatre | Concrete and repetition | Any time |
| Gabriel's Wharf | Painted frontages, small scale | Morning |
| The river wall near Blackfriars | Open water and the skyline | Sunset |
A location is a corner at an hour, not a postcode. Pick one of these and build the session around it.
An hour in South Bank is three stops, not one.
We start at The walkway by the National Theatre, because it is the frame most people came for and it is quietest first.
Then Gabriel's Wharf, which changes the background without changing the light.
We finish at The river wall near Blackfriars, which gives a different scale and a different mood.
Autumn and winter, when the walkway is less crowded.
Summer evenings are beautiful and extremely busy.
The Christmas market occupies part of the walk from November.
Strong colour against grey concrete.
Coats that hold a shape in the wind off the river.
Comfortable shoes: the good frames are spread along a kilometre of walkway.
The undercroft and the theatre terraces are covered.
The Royal Festival Hall interior is open to the public.
More than one authority covers this location, so establish which ground your camera stands on before you apply.
A park, a street and a private estate can meet within a hundred metres here.
Apply to each one that applies, and allow the longest of their notice periods.
If the shoot moves during the session, that is more than one permission.
Nearby, with different rules and a different look: Regent's Park, Camden and Hyde Park.
The full list of occasions is on event photography in London.
Next step
Send the date and intended use; the current permission route can then be checked before the location is promised.
Send the date, location and what you need photographed.