London Outing

Thursday 4th December 2025 – Blue Hour Trip to London

Twelve members of the club set off for London in search of photographic glory (or at the very least, a decent shot). Most of us caught the 2:15 pm train from Billericay to Liverpool Street, while a few particularly enthusiastic souls arrived much earlier to maximise their chances. Sadly for them, their reward was several hours of heavy rain, which didn’t ease off until around 3:00 pm.

Once we arrived, we promptly dispersed across the city to our pre-determined favourite haunts. These included the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the South Bank, Westminster and St Paul’s, Regent Street, Borough Market, and just about anywhere else that looked remotely photogenic. Thankfully, the earlier downpour worked in our favour, leaving behind puddles and shiny pavements that provided excellent reflections — proof that bad weather isn’t always a bad thing.

The blue hour was particularly generous to those stationed along the Thames and in Westminster. As if on cue, it arrived alongside a full moon and partial cloud cover. London clearly knew we were coming.

Throughout the evening our paths crossed repeatedly, leading to surprise encounters in dark corners and occasional reassurance that everyone else was also walking miles with heavy camera bags. Strategic coffee stops were made whenever the legs complained or the light finally gave up.

At the time of writing, we are still awaiting Malcolm Wilkies’ verdict on the trip competition. Until then, morale remains high, as every one of us is technically a potential winner.

Stephen Stringer