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Best Places to View the Moon in London
London’s light pollution can make astronomy difficult, but the moon is bright enough to punch through almost anywhere. For truly spectacular views and the best moonrise-over-skyline photographs, here are the top spots (all free and accessible 24/7 unless noted):
- Primrose Hill (Regent’s Park)
The most famous and protected viewpoint. Looking south-east, the moon rises directly above the Shard, London Eye and central skyline on many dates. Perfect for classic silhouette shots. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm or Camden Town. - Greenwich Park – One Tree Hill & Royal Observatory
Iconic composition with the moon rising over Canary Wharf, framed by the Queen’s House and Old Royal Naval College. Slightly darker skies than central London. Nearest: Cutty Sark DLR or Greenwich station. - Hampstead Heath – Parliament Hill
Inner London’s highest point (98 m). Noticeably darker skies and a huge 180° panorama with St Paul’s and the City directly in the moon’s path on many evenings. Nearest: Hampstead Heath Overground or Gospel Oak. - Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally)
North London’s high terrace with a wide, slightly more distant view. The moon often rises dead-centre over the skyline — excellent for wide-angle shots and usually quieter. Nearest: Alexandra Palace rail or Wood Green tube + bus. - Tower Bridge & South Bank (City Hall / Shad Thames)
For dramatic shots of the moon rising behind Tower Bridge or the Tower of London. Best in winter when the moon’s path is more southerly. - Stave Hill, Russia Dock Woodland (Rotherhithe)
Hidden gem with surprisingly dark skies for zone 2 and a completely clear eastern horizon — ideal for telephoto moonshots over Canary Wharf.
Best Times for Moon Photography
- Full Moon ±1 day — brightest and most impressive
- 48–72 hours before full moon — moon rises during golden/blue hour for beautiful colour contrast
- October–February — moon travels higher and more southerly, aligning perfectly with the skyline
Moonrise & Timezone
London operates on GMT (UTC+0) in winter and BST (UTC+1) in summer. Clocks change on the last Sunday of March (forward) and last Sunday of October (back). The widget above (or any good app such as PhotoPills, The Photographer’s Ephemeris or Stellarium) automatically applies the correct local offset for London.
Quick Photography Tips
- Use a sturdy tripod
- Shoot RAW and expose for the moon (it’s much brighter than the city lights)
- Start with the Looney 11 rule: f/11, ISO 100 → ~1/100 s for full moon
- The most magical light is 10–20 minutes after official moonrise when the moon is low and appears huge
- Check for clear eastern horizons and low humidity
Enjoy one of the world’s most beautiful urban moonrises! 🌕