The United Kingdom has always been filled with landmarks, from the likes of Stonehenge, to London’s Tower Bridge. However, a whole host of alternative landmarks are popping up thanks to the enduring popularity of Instagram.
These locations are becoming landmarks in their own right, simply because of how ‘likeable’ they are when it comes to the photo sharing app. Whether it’s a particular wall of graffiti or a floral display, people will now flock to these locations to take photos for their feeds.
With this in mind, we’ve scoured the country for these places and ranked them using the number of photos shared of each one, and how regularly they are searched for on Google. Below are the top ten Insta-Landmarks in the UK, with not a single Big Ben or Shard in sight.
Insta-Landmarks: the UK’s most popular alternative Instagram landmarks
See the top ten list below:
1. Peggy Porschen Cakes, London
If you already know about Peggy Porschen on Ebury Street in London, then you’ll know that there couldn’t really be anywhere else at the top of this list. This cute, very pink cake shop has been around since 2003, but ever since the Instagram boom, it’s become one of the most popular places to visit in the capital.
For your own Insta-ready photo, as well as a good seat for tea and cake, it’s recommended to arrive early, even before opening to beat the queues that will inevitably grow.
2. El&n Café, London
Hot on the heels of Peggy Porschen is another London based café, that looks like it has been designed with Instagram in mind. One wall is adorned with a cascade of oversized Love Heart sweets, another is a floral wall right out of the world of Kim Kardashian. There’s even a white and gold carousel horse to pose on top of, for an extra special Insta-post.
It’s worth scheduling a decent amount of time to visit an El&n Café -you can find one on Park Lane, Oxford Circus and on the Brompton Road but you’ll likely have a wait to get in, and then photograph every last thing in sight before you leave.
3. God’s Own Junkyard
Much like the better-known landmarks of the UK, London dominates the top spots when it comes to Instagram too. God’s Own Junkyard is a far cry away from the pretty pink florals of Peggy Porschen and El&n, with an explosion of neon signs everywhere you look.
God’s Own Junkyard is also located quite a way away from central London, in Walthamstow, so be sure to factor in additional travel time, and come equipped with a camera that works well in low light to get the best possible shot!
4. Junkyard Golf, Liverpool
Junkyard Golf is single-handedly making crazy golf cool, and its Liverpool location looks to be the most popular when it comes to Instagram. Actual golf playing aside, there’s multiple opportunities for a great photo – whether it’s inside a golf cart, or next to one of the many statements that adorn the walls, such as ‘Get Weird or Go Home’. Then there’s the ‘Boomerang Booth’ too, so you can mix it up a bit in your feed!
5. Leake Street Tunnel
Beneath the tracks of Waterloo station, you’ll find a celebration of all things street art. 300 metres of walls and ceilings adorned with ever-changing murals makes up Leake Street Tunnel; a heaven for artists and Instagrammers alike. The tunnel itself also includes a few dining and drinking options, so you can fuel up in between your photo taking.
6. Victoria Baths, Manchester
The first of a few entries for the city of Manchester, Victoria Baths is a listed Edwardian swimming baths complex that has been ‘closed’ since 1993, with the pools and baths themselves laying waterless and derelict ever since.
While the building awaits restoration however, the baths have become increasingly popular with the Instagram generation, who are in search of an arty photo or two for their feed. Because where else can you pose in an empty Edwardian swimming pool?
7. Tonight Josephine, London
Tonight Josephine is a Waterloo cocktail bar that hasn’t made the list due to its drinks or its happy hours, but because of its neon-lit décor. In particular, a wall illuminated with the words ‘Well Behaved Women Don’t Make History’ is the real Insta-Landmark here, with many lining up to get their photo next to it.
8. Outhouse MCR
Back to Manchester and street art, Outhouse MCR is an outdoor project space that has been running for almost a decade, that sees three blocks in the city’s Northern Quarter reworked with new art every three months, with the aim of inspiring passers-by. For those partial to the photo-sharing app, this means a new photo to share every three months.
9. Circus Lane, Edinburgh
With its castle, Arthur’s Seat and multiple places to eat and drink, Edinburgh is one of the most popular travel destinations in the whole of the United Kingdom, but it’s a little lane that gets the Instagram world excited. Located in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh, Circus Lane can definitely lay claim to being one of the prettiest streets in Britain, with its cobbled streets, quaint houses and flowers. It’s got everything you need for the perfect pic.
10. Beach Huts, Brighton
Just making its way into the top 10 is something that has been a fixture of the South Coast for many years: Brighton’s famous beach huts. These huts have been given a new lease of life thanks to the Instagram generation, with many favouring photos in front of the huts, to snaps in front of the pier or the city’s much debated i360.
Many of the huts also appear to be embracing this, with new paintjobs making certain huts stand out, as the most popular and most photographed.