Get The Shot – The UK’s Most Photogenic Streets For Your Next #OOTD
The UK may be geographically small, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of hidden gems to discover, you just have to know where to look. As TikTokers breathe new life into the #OOTD (having amassed +129.8b views - and counting on the platform), we’ve pulled together 10 of the UK’s most photogenic streets to help you get your next #OOTD shot, with picks from our collection of men’s jackets and women’s jackets to complete your look.
Based on Instagram data, we compiled the top 10 most photographed streets by looking at the streets with the most hashtags (via tagged pictures and videos).
From the graffitied backstreets of Brick Lane to the quaint and quirky lanes of Princes Street, these places are what travel dreams - and social media feeds - are made of.
1. Brick Lane, Shoreditch, London
Snaking from Bethnal Green towards Whitechapel, Brick Lane is a paradise for vintage lovers, foodies and street art enthusiasts, and may be considered to be one of the best spots in London for photography. Lined with red-brick walls, cozy pubs with their old school exteriors in-tact and a certain famous bagel shop, it’s no wonder this famous East End street draws in thousands of crowds, cameras firmly in hand. The East End has a longstanding connection with the fashion world. The historical London home of cloth dyeing and silk weaving, in the 19th century it was the hub for garment-making in the capital. Thanks to alarmingly cheap rent in the 90s, Shoreditch attracted artists and creatives who sparked a rebirth of the area, which now houses as many high-end boutiques as it does bargain vintage shops.
#OOTD recommendations:
When it comes to East London style, there really are no rules that apply. Want to dye your hair pink? Go ahead. Thinking about mixing tartan check with dainty florals and lace - do it. From outspoken clashing patterns to head-to-toe camel tones, almost anything goes in this London borough – the more outré the better. For inspiration, we recommend following its inhabitants' eclectic style and pairing cargo pants with a vintage-inspired band T-shirt and a leather racer jacket - extra points if it’s from the men’s section, worn oversized and boxy.
2. Abbey Road, Camden, London
Music lovers will rejoice at this location on the list. Arguably one of the most famous streets in the world, Abbey Road is synonymous with The Beatles, making it one of the most Instagrammable places in London, visited by thousands of tourists each year. Located in the borough of Camden, this famous spot has lost none of the verve for which it was revered back in The Beatles’ heyday. Today you’ll find a metropolis in miniature, with inspirational architecture, a thriving food scene, shops worth writing home about and markets to get lost in.
#OOTD recommendations:
Denim jackets are just as essential to rock and roll artists as the instruments they play. This classic look is easy, comfortable, and gives the person wearing them a sort of effortless aura of cool. Make like the famous band and try styling a denim jacket with dark-wash selvedge jeans and a sturdy pair of boots.
3. Carnaby Street, Soho, London
Lined with unique independent stores and global flagship brands, Carnaby Street is one of London’s most popular and distinctive shopping destinations, making it one of the best places to photograph in London. Walking distance away from Oxford Street, Soho and the heart of London's West End, it’s no wonder its iconic arches have graced thousands of photographs.
#OOTD recommendations:
Once the centre of the swinging sixties, young people flocked to this boutique-lined street in the hopes of spotting a Beatle or a Rolling Stone while shopping for shorter hemlines and looser trouser legs. Taking inspiration from the era, try styling high-rise, wide-leg jeans with a loose-knit and a suede jacket.
4. Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London
Arguably one of the world’s best-known markets, Portobello Road has a history stretching back to the 19th century and is still offering some of the best people-watching and vintage gem-finding opportunities in the capital. Back in the 50s, Notting Hill was known for its fiercely free-spirited attitude, but fast forward to the 80s, and W11 became a honeypot for shoppers, with vintage shops and antique stalls popping up left, right and centre. It was the Noughties, however, that saw the high-end boutiques moving in, many of them in townhouses painted in shades of pastel, with tourists flocking to a certain Notting Hill Bookshop. Today, W11 remains firmly on the cultural map, thanks to hot-ticket new restaurants such as Straker's, helmed by FoodTok star Thomas Straker, and Gen Z's interest in Y2K vintage fashion.
#OOTD recommendations:
Sticking to Notting Hill’s free-spirited past, Portobello Market is the perfect backdrop to let your Penny Lane Pinterest board run wild. Pair a vintage-inspired maxi skirt with a Y2K cami top and an Afghan coat.
5. Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden, London
Some of the best discoveries are those made on your doorstep. Deer-studded Richmond Park and bougie Notting Hill are obvious go-tos for tourists, but we recommend heading to the less-obvious, but no less colourful streets of Neal’s Yard instead. Tucked quietly in a corner amongst Covent Garden's hustle and bustle, you'll be able to try out some different outfits and takes without worrying about finding yourself surrounded by onlookers, in one of the prettiest streets in London.
#OOTD recommendations:
Looking to the colourful buildings for inspiration, Neal’s Yard provides the perfect backdrop to play with different shades of the rainbow. Try a knit in cornflower blue, bubble-gum pink or mint green, perfect for punctuating all-black outfits, elevating true-blue denim or playing off the patterns in a floral dress. Finish your look with a fur-lined jacket.
6. Broadway Market, Hackney, London
Acting as a runway for E8’s very well-dressed locals, Broadway Market is the place to see and be seen. With a mix of dive bars, pop-up concept stores, cafés and more, London Fields is an unofficial fashion show that everyone is invited to. Expect to find photographers, designers, artists, all looking for their next muse, while browsing the local delicacies on offer.
#OOTD recommendations:
7. Princes Street, Edinburgh
Overlooked by a medieval castle and lined with tall granite buildings that cling to narrow cobbled alleys, Princes Street might be one of the prettiest on this list. Set against Scotland’s rugged natural landscape, we couldn’t think of a better destination to explore and take some snaps. The city is perhaps at its best in August, however, when artists, actors and musicians arrive for the annual Fringe festival.
#OOTD recommendations:
As any Scottish inhabitant will tell you, the city can get very, very cold, even in the latter part of September. Unsurprisingly then, layers will be your best friend. Try a laid-back aesthetic of wide-leg jeans and a thick button-down shirt, styled with a parka jacket and a pop of colour via your accessories.
8. The Shambles, York
The most frequented street in York is easily The Shambles. Perfectly imperfect, this medieval, cobblestone street used to be the home to York’s butchers and now is a favoured site for tourists. One of Europe's best-preserved medieval shopping streets (thought to be the inspiration behind Diagon Alley), its overhanging houses were initially designed as a way to keep meat out of direct sunlight. Nowadays, however, you're more likely to smell herbal tea or freshly-made sweets as you stroll past the shop windows and the adjacent food court at Shambles Market.
#OOTD recommendations:
A must-visit for mini-breakers craving a taste of the countryside, both the Moors and Yorkshire Wolds are within easy reach by car from The Shambles, meaning it would be a missed opportunity not to go full cottage-core in the country. Think floaty linen dresses, cozy knitwear, floral and paisley prints along with wholesome details such as straw bags and hats. Finish your look a shearling chore jacket, made to look like it will hold out in any terrain.
9. Ashton Lane, Glasgow, Scotland
The biggest city in Scotland, Glasgow has earned itself a reputation as a party town. At the heart of it all is the cobbled streets of Ashton Lane - an entire street dedicated to eating, drinking and being merry, it is home to some of the city’s best restaurants and bars (and not a fried Mars bar in sight).
10. Oldham Street, Manchester
Forming part of the city’s historic Northern Quarter district, the cobbled road of Oldham Street is a cosseted world of cool cafés, independent shops and bright splashes of street art, making it one of the most Instagrammable places in Manchester. There are plenty of murals within the Northern Quarter to see, as well as exploring neighbouring streets such as the neon-lit Chinatown, with its authentic dim sum restaurants and karaoke bars; and the glossy boutique-lined Spinningfields, flanked by contemporary skyscrapers and neo-gothic architecture.
#OOTD recommendations:
It might be extremely boring to talk about the weather when referring to Manchester, however, its temperamental climate does mean you have to put in a little extra consideration when it comes to dressing. Taking inspiration from the city that introduced Oasis - and blokecore to the world, style a sports-casual look of track pants, a breezy collared t-shirt and finish with a long puffer jacket - because we are in the ‘rainy city’ after all.
Top 20 Best Places to Photograph in the UK According to Instagram
|
Street Name |
City |
# of Hashtags |
# |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Brick Lane |
London |
1m |
1 |
|
Abbey Road |
London |
720k |
2 |
|
Carnaby Street |
London |
407k |
3 |
|
Portobello Road |
London |
346k |
4 |
|
Neal's Yard |
London |
178k |
5 |
|
Broadway Market |
London |
135k |
6 |
|
Princes Street |
Edinburgh |
73.5k |
7 |
|
The Shambles |
York |
43.5k |
8 |
|
Oldham Street |
Manchester |
16.4k |
9 |
|
Ashton Lane |
Glasgow |
19.7k |
10 |
|
The Royal Mile |
Edinburgh |
31.3k |
11 |
|
Arlington Row |
Bilbury |
14.9k |
12 |
|
Mermaid Street |
East Sussex |
14.9k |
13 |
|
Matthew Street |
Liverpool |
10.3k |
14 |
|
The Circus |
Bath |
1000 |
15 |
|
North Lanes |
Brighton |
1000 |
16 |
|
King's Parade |
Cambridge |
500 |
17 |
|
Grey Street |
Newcastle |
500 |
18 |
|
Commercial Court |
Belfast |
500 |
19 |
|
Conduit Mews, Paddington |
London |
100 |
20 |