My 10 best outdoor family photoshoot locations in south london

I’m always on the lookout for beautiful new outdoor family photoshoot locations in London, and for family photography you really don’t have to go far to find the perfect outdoor spot. Pottering around our local park in South East London is honestly my absolute favourite thing to do at the weekend. Especially if there’s coffee and a cake involved (oh, I’ll make sure of it) and some of my most precious memories of us as a family come from lazy days out spent ambling around our local parks. 

A great place to start is thinking about a park or green space that holds a special resonance for you and your family. Choosing somewhere meaningful for an outdoor family photoshoot where you’ve spent some lovely family days out together is a wonderful place to start, and why not include your family photoshoot as part of a bigger day out adventure. 

 So, grab your wellies, pack some snacks and let’s head outdoors for a fun family photoshoot! If you need a bit of inspiration, then here’s my 10 best family photo spots in South London to get you started.

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It has dinosaurs, real life dinosaurs! Well okay, they’re stone ones, but they’re no less impressive for it. Crystal Palace Park was the site of the Great Exhibition of 1851 when it was painstakingly moved, piece by piece, from its original home in Hyde Park, to Sydenham. The actual glasshouse burned down in the 1930s, but you can still see architectural remnants of it dotted all around the park. Look out for the Sphinxes near the old glasshouse site, and the dinosaurs themselves still reside on a gorgeous tree covered island and are my favourite places in South London to take my daughter for a day out. 

Facilities in Crystal Palace Park

Crystal Palace Park is packed with things to do, making it a brilliant place to head for a whole day out. Brown and Green Life cafe is a great snack stop for families with children. The upstairs space hosts a range of baby classes during the week including the amazing Hartbeeps. 

Check out the city farm with all the ponies, turkeys, rabbits and meerkats (yes meerkats) you could wish for. Other sights include the Crystal Palace Bowl (or the rusty laptop) which hosts music events, and the quirky Crystal Palace Museum if you want to learn more about the history of the park. There’s a brilliant farmers and food market in the park by the Thicket Road entrance on Sundays which is not to be missed. 

My secret family photo spots in Crystal Palace Park

The Dinosaurs

It can get muddy right next to the dinosaurs at any time of year, but it’s still worth it for a photo up close to these beasts and kids LOVE them. Go up the hill and sit on the dinosaur head up the top which gives you a backdrop of all the dinosaurs looking out over the park. 

The Fishing Lake

Head to the fishing lake for peaceful views with the iconic Crystal Palace tower in the background. 

The Maze

Perfect for mucking around photos with the kids as they jump out at you from behind a hedge. But will you find your way out? Will I find my way out? Fingers crossed!

Mayow park is my local park and really made me fall in love with this little bit of Sydenham. Tucked away between Sydenham station and Forest Hill, this surprisingly beautiful little park has some stunning old oak trees that provide the perfect shade for a Summer picnic, or a stunning outdoor family photoshoot location in the Autumn. Despite its small size, Mayow park packs a lot into a tiny space and as of 2024 the playground has been renovated into something worth travelling here for. It’s always full of new parents with little ones, and there’s a really family friendly feel to the park. 

Facilities in Mayow Park

Another Brown and Green cafe means I can rarely visit without stopping for juice and croissants for my daughter (she’s such a croissant fiend). There’s a mini orchard with apple and pear trees, a forest school, a community garden, and the new playground is fantastic for big and little kids alike. There’s a gym here as well, and even an adventure playground with a zip line. 

My secret family photo spots in Mayow Park

The apple orchard

Perfect for a picnic in the long grass and chasing the kids around the apple and pear trees. 

The ancient oak trees

Dotted around Mayow park are many beautiful old oak trees which are perfect for picnicking under and they make great photo spots too. 

The community garden

Turn left as you come in at the Burghill road entrance and you’ll find the gate to the community garden tucked behind the cafe. Full of forget-me-nots in Spring, and a beautiful array of flowers throughout the summer, this community spot is the perfect for some family pictures. 

Beckenham Place Park is another absolute gem of a park in South East London. With its sprawling landscape and the beautiful Georgian era Mansion, it’s a fantastic destination for a day out at any time of year, and one of my go-to outdoor locations for family photoshoots in South East London.  

Facilities in Beckenham Place Park

There’s a wild Swimming lake for those of you who are braver than me (although I do love the idea of cold swimming, I haven’t quite built up the courage yet!) The mansion is home to a community of artist studios who host annual Open Studio events, and there are regular classes and workshops held here. 

For kids, there’s a massive sandpit and play area and areas of green space to explore. Follow the trails up into the wooded area for a really muddy outdoor adventure, and then come and warm up with a hot drink at one of the cafe options in the park. 

My secret family photo spots in Beckenham Place Park

The bluebell woods

You can find bluebells in the woodland area in the Spring, just keep an eye out in Mid April to Early May for the best blooms. 

The flower gardens

At their best in the summer, these gardens are an absolute dream for photoshoots. I’ve spent many happy hours chasing families around the flower beds which make for beautiful photos.

Dramatic landscapes

You can take pictures with a dramatic rolling landscape backdrop from behind the Homestead cafe looking out across the park. If you’re up for a walk then head directly across the green space and up the opposite hill for another view that also includes the Georgian mansion in the background.

Greenwich is truly one of my favourite outdoor family photoshoot locations in South London. It’s an absolutely huge park with so much to explore that you have to make it a whole day out to really enjoy it. Home to the Royal Observatory, Queen’s House and the Royal Maritime Museum, there’s tons to explore on a rainy day here too. 

My number one tip when coming to Greenwich park with children is to head for the maritime museum. It’s a fantastic museum and the whole place is completely family and child friendly with interactive exhibits all the way around and activity and play areas galore. My 2 year old daughter is a particular fan of the mini trampoline in the outdoor pirate playground. Not the rest of the playground, no, just the mini trampoline. 

Facilities in Greenwich Park

There are multiple cafe options in the park, and the Maritime museum cafe (accessed from the park side) also has a great kids menu. There’s a deer park (being renovated in 2024) a formal flower garden, beautiful city skyline views out over the Thames from viewpoint near the the Observatory, and a whole host of wild green spaces to explore. Head into historic Greenwich or Blackheath village is situated nearby. 

My secret family photo spots in Greenwich Park

The flower garden

In the corner of the park near the deer is the formal flower garden. It’s beautiful all year round with beautiful big trees and flowerbeds, it’s a perfect location for outdoor family photoshoots. Catch the spectacular camelia trees in early Spring or look for the lines of pink cherry blossom trees nearby.    

Queen Elizabeth I Oak

Visit the historic hollow trunk of this ancient oak tree dating back to the 12th century, then leave the paths to find secluded family photo spots underneath big sweeping trees in one of the wilder areas in Greenwich park.  

The Rose Garden 

Situated just behind Ranger’s house, the Rose garden and surrounding paths are often a little quieter in the Summer and away from the crowds of tourists. 

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You’ll find me at the Horniman Museum at least every couple of weeks, and it has become one of our favourite places to spend time as a family. There’s a whole host of things to do in the museum itself, or you can just come to visit and explore the beautiful gardens with their stunning view out over South London. 

Facilities in Horniman Gardens

The museum has a cafe on site and loads for kids to do if you’re planning to visit. It’s a very family friendly museum with a really eclectic collection to explore. Look for the interactive fish floor in the World Gallery (a big hit with toddlers), visit the Aquarium, or (my favourite) the tropical butterfly house. There’s also a farm walk with animals including alpacas and the biggest rabbit I have ever seen!

My secret family photo spots in Horniman Gardens

The bandstand

Not so much a secret this one. The bandstand looks out over a stunning view of South London, and makes for a fabulous family photo opportunity not to be missed.

The nature trail

Head to the bottom of the hill and follow the nature trail into the slightly wilder areas of the Horniman gardens where you can get some family photographs of you all hunting for minibeasts along the paths. .  

The Horniman Playpark

I love to recommend this as a fun outdoor location for family photos. It’s a big playground in a green space just over the road from the Horniman with a huge sandpit too! The playground itself is in need of a bit of TLC but makes for some fabulous family photos regardless.

I love Dulwich park in the Autumn, there’s some stunning trees here that turn gold, yellow and red, and it’s one of my favourite outdoor family photoshoot locations in South London. I’m also including the gardens of Dulwich Picture Gallery here, which are situated just over the road from the park and are really beautiful to explore. 

Facilities in Dulwich Park

There’s the Dulwich Clock cafe in the park, or if you’re in the mood for something a bit more substantial then the cafe at Dulwich Picture Gallery is a really good option nearby.

My secret family photo spots in Dulwich Park

The boating lake

Take a stroll around the boating lake for some lovely tranquil pictures near the water. Or bring a picnic and find a quiet spot nearby. 

The American Gardens

Explore these tucked away gardens in Dulwich park which are a really lovely and lesser visited spot for family photos. 

Picnic under the trees

Follow Carriage Drive along the North side of the park with a whole host of picnic spots along the way which are perfect for family photos under the trees. 

Situated more South West London, this park is truly one of the best photo spots in London, and it can feel as though you’ve been transported to the countryside. It’s a huge and varied park with an incredible amount of space to explore, so you could easily spend a day here, but you’ll need to be up for a walk. 

Richmond park is designated as a national nature reserve as well as being a deer park and a Site of Special Scientific Research due to the sheer number of wildlife and habitats here. Keep an eye out for a 600 strong herd of Red and Fallow deer that call the park home. 

Due to its size, I recommend aiming for an area of the park, rather than trying to hike all the way across it with young children, and there are numerous access gates and car parks that serve the park, so do check which is best for you to aim for. 

You can find  full info on the park here: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/richmond-park/gardens

Facilities in Richmond Park

There’s a lovely cafe at Pembroke Lodge, and you can buy snacks from kiosks located in Pen Ponds and Broomfield Hill. My advice would be to bring a picnic though so you can find a scenic lunch spot as you wander through the park. If you’re coming with young children then the Petersham Gate Playground will definitely be a hit! 

My secret family photo spots in Richmond Park

Isabella Plantation

Head for the beautiful woodland area called Isabella Plantation where you’ll find an abundance of walks amongst the trees and some truly peaceful surroundings for your family photos. 

Pembroke Lodge Gardens

Explore 12 acres of formal and wilder planting in this beautiful garden in the park. There’s a cafe here too, for a stop off and snacks making it one of my go-to spots for family photos. 

King Henry’s Mound

The highest spot in the park and great for some fabulous views over the park.

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Situated in Eltham in South East London, Oxleas woods are often overlooked in favour of the more popular tourist spots of Greenwich, and nearby Blackheath. But there’s so much to explore here, that a day spent wandering through the forested trails is very much worth a day out in itself. 

Facilities in Oxleas Woods

There’s the popular Oxleas Woods Cafe with parking nearby, so many people choose to make this the starting point of their adventure into the woods. Follow the paths through the woods towards Severndroog Castle and Tea Room and roam through the Jack wood where you’ll find ample outdoor family photoshoot locations. 

Near the cafe, you have Oxleas meadows with gorgeous views out over the south. If you’re up for more of an adventure then join the Capital Ring trail that runs south through Sheperdleas Wood to the south, all the way down to Eltham Park South Café over the main road. 

My secret family photo spots in Oxleas Woods

Jack Wood

Start from the cafe and head in the direction of Severndroog castle. There are well marked paths to follow through the Jack Wood, with ample opportunities for family photos amongst the trees. In the summer there are lush green ferns covering the forest floor, or in the Autumn there’s some stunning foliage colours here. 

The old rose garden

The old rose garden and brick terrace along the trails between Severndroog Castle and Oxleas Meadows was originally the site of Jackwood House, and now lies in picturesque ruins. It’s a popular picnic spot in the summer and makes for some fun family photos.

The Jack Wood meadow

Look for the meadow in Jack wood just south of Severndroog castle, one of my favourite stopping off points for family photos. There are fallen trees to play hide and seek, long grasses to run through, and views out over the south. 

Located in Kingston in South West London, Bushy Park is another one of my absolute favourite spots for some outdoor family photography. Hampton Court Palace is just next door, and there’s loads to see in this beautiful park. There’s loads of wildlife to spot in this park, so keep a look out for the herd of Red deer that live wild in the park, and you can also spot kingfishers, and woodpeckers if you’re lucky. 

Facilities in Bushy Park 

Head for the Pheasantry cafe to stock up on snacks or grab an ice cream! There’s the Bushy Park Playground too if swings and slides are the big draw for your family. 

My secret family photo spots in Bushy Park 

Water Gardens

North in the park you’ll find the Upper Lodge Water Gardens where you’ll find cascading water features and Baroque-style pools and fountains to explore. 

Woodland Gardens

Near to the Pheasantry cafe, you’ll find the beautiful area of the waterhouse woodland gardens. Take a stroll along the lake and you’ll see some gorgeous azaleas on display in the Summer. I love this as a spot for family photos because of the variety of woodland trails, lakeside vistas and peaceful picnic spots. 

Longford river

Stroll along the Longford river between the Woodland gardens and the Water gardens in the north. It’s a really picturesque stroll with plenty of beautiful outdoor family photoshoot locations to stop off at as you explore the trails. 

Wimbledon and Putney Common is a beautiful green space to head to for family photos at any time of the year, but I particularly love it as an outdoor family photoshoot location in the Summer. There’s a lake with swans and plenty of picturesque walking trails through woodland and open grassland areas. 

Facilities in Wimbledon Common

Accessed by Wimbledon station, head through Wimbledon Village and access the common on the south side. Look out for the windmill where you’ll find a tearoom and cafe where you can stock up on snacks before heading out for a walk. 

My secret family photo spots in Wimbledon Common

Fishponds nature reserve

I love to go wildlife spotting in the fishponds nature reserve area, where you can capture some family photos while you look for birds and minibeasts. 

Queensmere lake

Queensmere has some beautiful woodland trails and a picturesque lake, perfect for a picnic and some family photos. 

Cannizaro Park

Located near Wimbledon village, this beautiful little public park is Grade II listed and has beautiful formal flower gardens, a woodland area and a little lake to explore. I’d make this my starting point for family photos before heading up onto Wimbledon Common.

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