Soho
Chinatown
Lanterns, neon and late-night eats
Photo by Dorin Seremet on Unsplash
- Nearest Station
- Leicester SquareAbout 3 min walk
- Best Time
- Blue Hour / NightBest from early evening when the lanterns light up; weekend nights get very busy.
Best Shot
Great for vertical · 9:16Suggested composition at Chinatown
- Where to stand
- Near the middle of Gerrard Street, just in front of the Chinese gate.
- Composition
- Fill the top half of the frame with lanterns for depth, place your subject centrally and use the gate as a frame.
Tips
- Shoot from a low angle to make the lanterns loom large
- Ask permission before filming inside restaurants or shops
- It's busy, so keep stops short
Overview
Chinatown centres on Gerrard Street, lined with red lanterns and Chinese gates. At night the lanterns and neon glow vividly — perfect for night snaps and food TikToks.
- Rows of red lanterns overhead
- The Chinese gate on Gerrard Street
- Plenty of street food to try
Creator Information
- Area
- Soho
- Nearest Station
- Leicester SquareNorthern · Piccadilly
- Walking Time
- About 3 min walk
- Best For
- Instagram / TikTok / Food / Street / Cinematic
- Best Time
- Blue Hour / NightBest from early evening when the lanterns light up; weekend nights get very busy.
- Indoor / Outdoor
- Outdoor
- Free / Paid
- FreeFree to walk around. Food and drink are paid for at each venue.
- Rain Friendly
- Partly covered
- Filming Permission
- Check before shootingHandheld shooting in the street is common, but ask permission to film inside shops or to film staff and customers. We recommend checking in advance for commercial shoots.Read the filming permission guide
Nearest stations, prices, opening hours and filming rules may change. This information is currently being verified. Please check official sources before you go.
Within walking distance
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