Where to stand, when to come and how to get there, from photographers who work around the tower every week. Read it for your own photos, or book a Big Ben photoshoot and let us handle all of it.
In short: the best places to photograph Big Ben are the red phone box just off Parliament Square, Westminster Bridge, the arch under the bridge on the South Bank side and the South Bank river wall. All four are within ten minutes' walk of each other and fit into one hour. Early morning is the quietest time.
The best photos of Big Ben are taken within ten minutes' walk of each other. In an hour-long session we cover all four, in this order.
Tap a number to jump to the spot.
Just off Parliament Square, a few minutes from the tower
A red phone box with the clock tower rising behind it is the most London frame there is. It works for couples, solo portraits and friends, in sun or under an umbrella. Other people wait their turn here, so we keep it quick and come back if the first round is crowded.
Pose idea Stand close to the box and let the tower fill the gap beside it. Bright colours or a long coat both look good against the red.
Book a shoot hereThe bridge that starts at the foot of the tower
From the south pavement of the bridge you get the whole river front of Parliament with the tower at its end. It is also the busiest spot on the list, which is why the timing below matters.
Pose idea Lean back on the railing together, or walk towards the camera with the tower over your shoulder.
Book a shoot hereOn the South Bank side, where the riverside path passes under the bridge
A stone archway frames the tower across the river like a picture on a wall. It is shaded and covered, so it works in rain, in harsh midday sun and for silhouettes. This is where the photo at the top of our home page was taken.
Pose idea Stand inside the arch and face each other, or walk out through it holding hands.
Book a shoot hereOn the South Bank, facing Parliament across the Thames
Across the water the whole palace fits in the frame, with the tower at one end and the bridge at the other. There is more room here than on the bridge, so this is where we slow down for relaxed, close photos.
Pose idea Sit on the wall, or lean on it and look across at the tower together.
Book a shoot hereAll four spots fit comfortably into a one-hour session. We don't run on a stopwatch: some couples spend five minutes at the phone box and half an hour by the river, others the other way round. We stay where you feel relaxed and the photos are working, and move on when they're done.
About queues: at the busiest times of day people wait their turn at the phone box and the arch. Early morning is the easiest way to have them almost to yourself, and when it is busy we simply use the waiting time elsewhere.
More spots and full sessions in Big Ben Photoshoots & Ideas.
The tower looks different every hour. The crowds change even more.
Around 4:45 in June, just after 8:00 in December. The bridge is almost empty and the light is soft. We shoot at sunrise with no surcharge.
Until about ten the sun lights the river front of Parliament and the crowds are still thin. Our favourite window.
The busiest hours on the bridge and the hardest light. The arch and the river wall work best now.
The last hour before sunset. The sun sinks behind Parliament, which gives warm edges and silhouettes.
All four clock dials are lit. In winter it is dark before five, so an evening session is easy to fit in.
Listen for the bells. Big Ben strikes every hour and the quarter bells ring every fifteen minutes. A walk or a kiss on the stroke of the hour makes a lovely video.
If it rains. We move your date for free, or keep it and shoot under umbrellas. The arch stays dry and wet pavements reflect the tower. See a rainy Big Ben photoshoot.
Booked a session? You get an exact meeting point and a start time chosen for the light, so you don't need to find any of this yourself.
Ask about a meeting pointStrictly speaking, Big Ben is the great bell inside the tower. Over time the name came to cover the clock and the tower too. Most accounts credit the nickname to Sir Benjamin Hall, the commissioner of works at the time.
Big Ben is the name of the great bell inside the tower. The tower itself has been called Elizabeth Tower since 2012, but most people use Big Ben for the bell, the clock and the tower together.
Westminster Bridge, the arch under the bridge on the South Bank side, the river wall facing Parliament and the red phone box just off Parliament Square. All four are within ten minutes of each other.
Sunrise and early morning, when the bridge is quiet and the light is soft. The hour before sunset and the evening, when the clock dials are lit, are the next best.
Tours of Elizabeth Tower are only open to UK residents and are booked through an MP or a member of the House of Lords. Visitors from abroad can see it from outside.
Thirty minutes covers one spot by Westminster Bridge. An hour covers all four spots in this guide. Prices start at £150.
A Big Ben photoshoot is £150 for 30 minutes or £250 for an hour with all four spots. £50 holds your date.