Finding the best places to get fantastic photos isn’t always easy, but if you want to impress with images of your days out, here’s some great ideas for you.Taking Insta-worthy images may even help to persuade reluctant teens to come along (the promise of some great pics for their social media might be just the incentive they need)! Sunrise and sunset make the best times for photos. Along with dramatic skies, you are less likely to encounter crowds, which makes these outdoor places the best destinations post-lockdown. Practise with the camera or phone at home to make sure you use the right settings or filters for Instagrammable perfection!The destinations we have listed are open or are re-opening in July 2020, but please checkin advance as some are accepting advance bookings only.1. Beach BabesSunrise (Or Sunset), Cromer Beach, Norfolk.Beat the crowds and set off in the early hours to get some fabulous Instagrammable shots on the beach. Pop little children in the car in their pyjamas - they make for the cutest images on the beach. Pack some breakfast too, so you can enjoy that once your photo shoot is over. Any beach on the East Coast will get the best sunrise - so that’s all of Suffolk, Norfolk, Yorkshire and so on.Image © @francam912. Meet Again On The CliffsThe White Cliffs of Dover, Kent.We were all singing about them during the VE Day celebrations, so why not pay a visit to these iconic white chalk cliffs, which boast fabulous views of the English Channel? On a clear day, you may even be able to spot France in the back of your pictures! Nature lovers should look out for peregrine falcons, Exmoor ponies and some rare butterflies. There’s a wheelchair/buggy- friendly footpath that leads to a viewing point, if you’re just after a short walk for the views. It’s a staggered incline, which allows everyone to take a few breaks, and at the top you’ll see the cliff with its rolling green hills and dramatic white chalk edge.3. Rolling StonesStonehenge, Wiltshire.Add some mystical magic to your photos by including this fascinating ancient monument. You can book tickets online, and if you want to get very close, check out their info about special access days. There are also public footpaths that get you reasonably close, so you could plan a nice walk with a photoshoot included! Best time to visit is early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds.4. Walk Down The AvenueWest Kennet Avenue, Avebury, Wiltshire.For a more up-close-and-personal shot, head to this ‘avenue’ of prehistoric standing stones, managed by English Heritage and the National Trust. There’s 100 of them to explore, and access is free. Surrounded by countryside, you will be able to get unhindered images. Kids will enjoy the fact that they can run around freely, and even touch the stones if they want.Top Tip: Go on a misty morning for extra dramatic effect!5. Be A Film Star!Puzzlewood, Forest of Dean.A mystical woodland with some movie magic, Puzzlewood’s rustic bridges, fences, and steps look as if they were built by the fairies. Moss-covered rocks and secret dells offer plenty of Instagrammable places for great snaps. And you’ll be in good company, as it’s been a filming location for Star Wars, Dr Who, Tree Fu Tom, Merlin and this year’s movie release of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic novel The Secret Garden. Because of the nature of Puzzlewood and its uneven landscape, buggies are not allowed.6. Sweet Scent Of SuccessHitchin Lavender, Herts.The lavender here could easily fool you into thinking you are in the heart of Provence in France, when actually you are just over an hour away from London. The rows of purple, heavily scented blooms make a fantastic, Instagrammable backdrop from mid-June to mid-July. But if you miss these lilac lovelies, don’t despair, because the sunflower fields take over from mid-July until mid to late August. (If this is too far to travel, you could always head to the Norfolk Lavender Fields at Heacham, Norfolk).7. Become The King (Or Queen) Of The CastleCastle Combe, Wiltshire.Another location popular with directors is this Wiltshire destination, which has been dubbed the prettiest village in England. If you’re after a fairytale location, this is it. Perched next to the Bybrook River, this Cotswolds village with its narrow bridges and stone cottages is a medieval marvel for anyone looking for Instagrammable places to visit. You’ll recognise it from films such as War Horse and the historical drama series Downtown Abbey. See if you can find the faceless clock in the church and discover the house where Dr Doolittle lived in the 1967 film!Image © @alicesgrace_.8. Step Into HistoryGiant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland.You’d be forgiven for thinking that these giant stepping stones are man made but, in fact, they are a geological marvel made by an ancient volcanic eruption. Named in a ‘Radio Times’ readers poll as the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom. the hexagonal columns form a series of stepping stones that are other-worldly. So it’s no surprise that they are enveloped by myths of Scottish giants and Irish warriors. With the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean, this makes the perfect spot to take a picture worthy of Instagram.9. Travel To The TropicsLangamull Beach, Isle of Mull.You don’t have to get on a plane to find a beach that looks like the tropics. This tranquil location boasts soft white sand and clear seas, which on a hot summer day will make a great stand-in for a more exotic location. Explore hidden coves, and if you are lucky you might even spot an otter having a swim in the bay! Best of all, you won’t have to share it with the crowds. To get there, you’ll need to take the ferry from Oban.Image © @staycations.co10. Over The HillArthur’s Seat, Edinburgh.The good news is that it’s not too hard to climb this hill, and you will be rewarded with some fabulous panoramic views of the city of Edinburgh. The higher you climb, the more dramatic and Instagram-worthy the views become! Brave the cold and you could get some great shots of the New Year fireworks away from the crowds.11. Away With The FairiesThe Dark Hedges, Balleymoney, Northern Ireland.If you’re looking for a location that could have come out of a fairytale, this avenue of intertwining beech trees is it! Famous as the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones, these mysterious hedges will conjure up a mystical world of myths, fairies, elves and dragons. The best time to get suitably atmospheric shots would be on a misty morning or at dusk.12. Jurassic ArchDurdle Door, Dorset.One of the most photographed parts of the fascinating Jurassic coast, this rock arch sits in the sea, forming a fabulous backdrop for your Instagram shots at Lulworth Cove. The best time to go is in winter when the sun rises right in front of the landmark, and you might even grab a shot with the sun perfectly located in the gap of the arch. Throw in some atmospheric sea mist and you’ll have the perfect picture! Pack a picnic and enjoy the view from the cliff tops, and visit the nearby Fossil Forest, to make a day of it. Note that there are public facilities or lifeguards at this beach.13. Water WorksIngleton Falls, North Yorkshire.If your family enjoy a good walk, follow the 7km (4.3m) trail to these fabulous falls. Unfortunately the terrain isn’t suitable for buggies and you’ll need decent walking shoes or boots, but the view will be worth it. Plus there’s plenty of flora and fauna to spot on the way too! The best time to get great instagram shots is during autumn when the woodland turns red, gold and orange. Please note that you do need to buy tickets to take the trail.Image © @rick.r314. Be Alley CatsThe Shambles, York.Harry Potter fans will love these historic buildings, leaning over the lanes with haphazard nooks and crannies. Since this street was the original inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films, why not take wands and cloaks for some imaginative Instagram snaps? Best time to take pictures is in the evening, to get the best, magical atmosphere.15. Board The Hogwarts ExpressFort William, Scotland.If you’re on a Harry Potter roll, hop aboard the real Hogwarts Express. The Jacobite steam train runs from Fort William to Mallaig, crossing the 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct (made famous in the films).16. Walk The TrailForest of Dean Sculpture Trail, Gloucestershire.If your kids find a normal walk less than amusing, this 4.5 mile trail will make it much more interesting for them. Walk through the woodlands and come across fabulous pieces of art along the way - look out for a giant stained glass window and larger-than-life pine cones! One of the best times to visit is autumn, to capture the changing colours along with the sculptures.17. On Top Of The WorldGlastonbury Tor, Somerset.Steeped in myths and legends, this hill with a lonely tower sitting at its summit offers views of the Mendip Hills, the City of Wells and its cathedral, the Bristol Channel, the Quantock Hills and the Black Mountains of Wales. Forever linked with the legend of King Arthur, it’s said that beneath the Tor there is a hidden cave that leads to the fairy realm of Annwn. Time for the kids to don their fairy wings and be photographed at the top of this fascinating landmark! One of the best times to take photos is sunset - it’s the perfect picnic spot too.18. Join The Sand PeopleCrosby Beach, Merseyside.Pay a visit to the 100 life-size figures that stand out along 3km of this beach. Amazingly, some of them stand as far as a kilometre out into the sea. You and the kids will have great fun including these statues, sculpted by Anthony Gormley, in your family shots! If you’re after more shots, head into the city of Liverpool, take a Mersey Ferry and take pictures with the Beatles statue that stands outside the ferry terminal.19. The Sound Of MusicThe Singing Ringing Tree, Burnley, Lancashire.This wind-powered sound sculpture looks like a tree and sits in on Crown Point overlooking the town of Burnley. Take a hike, or simply park at the nearest car park, depending on how energetic your family is! Standing three metres tall, the galvanised steel pipes harness the wind to produce a choral sounds that can cover several octaves.Image © @pearcefamilylife20. Sail AwayPitstone Windmill, Buckinghamshire.Make a quick stop on your way to Whipsnade Zoo to this windmill, which sits in the middle of a huge field. Sunset is one of the best times to visit, especially if the field is full of corn, which glows golden in the last rays of the day.21. View From AfarPrimrose Hill, London.Keep away from the crowds and get a fabulous view across London with a steep climb up Primrose Hill, one of the quietest Instagrammable places in London. If you only ever see the West End, this is a great chance to take a different look at the city.On a clear day, you should be able to see The London Eye, The Shard, and The BT Tower. Like many of our chosen destinations, sunrise and sunset offer the best views (it’s a good spot to watch New Year fireworks too). There’s a couple of car parks nearby, along with Chalk Farm Tube. Kentish Town station is about 20 minutes away on foot. Don’t forget to take a picnic!
Finding the best places to get fantastic photos isn’t always easy, but if you want to impress with images of your days out, here’s some great ideas for you.
