Top Photo Spots in England: The Ouse Valley Viaduct
Hunting for a unique photo opportunity near London, England that isn’t overly crowded? Look no further. The Ouse Valley Viaduct is one of the best photography spots I’ve found to date.
Located south of London and just north of Haywards Heath, the viaduct can be found a bit more than halfway between the capital city and the southern coast. Departing from South London, it can be reached in just under an hour by car or approximately one hour and a half by train, and is well worth the trip.
Ouse Valley Viaduct
Built: 1841
Length: 450 meters
Built in 1841 and extending 450 meters in length, the viaduct supports the London-Brighton Railway Line over the River Ouse, and sits in a beautiful green valley. The viaduct is a short walk from the road, which you can easily park along. If it has rained, expect that it might be a bit muddy! See the map below for the exact location.
The remote countryside location means it is generally quiet and uncrowded, and if you’re able to get this stunning spot to yourself like we did, enjoy it. Explore the different angles, try standing in the arches from various distances, and be mindful of the symmetry. If you can keep your lines straight and your subject centered, that’s when the viaduct looks the most striking. That said, it’s pretty difficult to take a bad shot here.
The pictures you see of this architectural gem may have you convinced that you’re looking at an optical illusion, but I was shocked to find that it is exactly as it appears in person. The position of the sun will heavily influence the vibe of your photos, so be mindful of the time of day. When we arrived around 11:00 AM, the light had yet to shine into the tunnel, resulting in dark and moody images.
A little later, around noon, the sun was filtering in perfectly, creating a trail of light right down the center. These images ended up being my favorite. Depending on your editing style, you can brighten up the bricks or leave them dark to emphasize the bits of light. You can see the difference between the first and second shot here.
What are your thoughts on this amazing location?!