Our 26-Mile Journey Through London’s Analog Soul with AUTOFOTO

Sal Fasone
Jul 28
5 min read

In a world defined by fleeting filters and disappearing stories, AUTOFOTO is bringing back the magic of self-expression: one strip of black-and-white photos at a time.

On a warm summer morning, we set off on a bold mission: to walk across London, over 26 miles on foot, in search of every AUTOFOTO analogue photobooth in the city. No Uber rides. No shortcuts. Just legs, a card, and curiosity. What we found wasn’t just a city mapped by vintage machines. It was a living archive of intimacy, invention, and imperfection.

But before we share the sweat, laughs, and developer-scented nostalgia of our trek, let’s rewind.

AUTOFOTO is a passionate collective of photobooth obsessives based between London and Barcelona, preserving and reactivating the world of analogue automatic photography.

Founded in 2009 by Rafael Hortala Vallve, AUTOFOTO began as a personal side project when he acquired a 1960s photobooth for a wedding. That single booth, shipped across Europe and lovingly rebuilt—became the first in a growing network of beautifully restored vintage machines now scattered throughout cultural spaces, hotels, cinemas, and public venues.

From that humble beginning, AUTOFOTO grew into an organisation with a dual mission: To preserve and restore original black-and-white analogue photobooths, complete with mechanical darkrooms and chemical processing, To maintain the knowledge and artistry required to keep these machines alive, not just as nostalgia, but as tools of self-expression.

You need to wait 4 minutes for the photos to be developed

The AUTOFOTO team includes artists, architects, curators, and technicians, among them David Boulogne, Marco Ferrari, Arianna Maiello, Alex Smith, and Corinne Quin, each contributing to the cultural, technical, and curatorial aspects of the project. Together, they operate out of their London Fields studio at 39 Gransden Avenue, where they host workshops, public events, and a rotating programme of analogue experimentation.

What Makes These Booths So Special?

Each booth maintained by AUTOFOTO is an original, pre-digital machine, typically from the 1960s to 1980s, fully functional and chemical-based. That means no digital cameras, no screens, and no instant previews.

Here's what happens when you step inside:

· You touch in with your card

· Light flashes (4 times, 4 different poses)

· Behind the scenes, a mechanical ballet begins

· A rotating chemical drum develops the images inside the booth itself

· Minutes later, a strip emerges after 4 minutes, imperfect, tangible, and uniquely yours

These booths don’t just capture your image. They invite reflection, celebrate imperfection, and resist digital disposability. They’ve been used by artists like Warhol and Sherman, and celebrated by movements from the Surrealists to street photographers. AUTOFOTO picks up that mantle, reminding us what photography used to mean and still can.

Now, back to our walk.

Our goal? To visit every AUTOFOTO booth in London: by foot.

The route would span over 26 miles, connecting industrial zones and design hotels, bookshops and brutalist galleries. We gave ourselves nine hours, setting off from the creative heart of Hackney and finishing under the monumental towers of Battersea Power Station.

What follows is a booth-by-booth retelling of that journey. Each stop a moment of rest, a flash of light, and a new strip of our story.

1. Hackney Bridge, E15 2SJ

In the buzzing industrial playground of the Olympic Park, the booth at Hackney Bridge is surrounded by street food stalls and graffiti. It felt like the perfect launchpad, full of energy, and our first whiff of that glorious chemical scent.

2. Netil House, London Fields, E8 3RL

Just a mile west, tucked behind cafés and rooftop yoga classes, this booth lives among creatives. Soft light, peaceful setting. Our strip here was calm, thoughtful, and beautifully imperfect.

3. Old Spitalfields Market, E1 6AA

Into the city’s east end now with the market chaos and historic alleyways. This booth sees serious foot traffic, yet feels oddly personal (the queue to use it is veeery long). The strip had a glorious chemical streak down one side.

4. The Hoxton, Shoreditch, EC2A 3HU

Inside the hotel lobby: a quick escape from the noise outside. High contrast, crisp black-and-white tones. Our last East-London stop.

5. The Hoxton, Holborn, WC1V 7BD

A short walk into central London brought us here. This booth felt cinematic and plush curtain, moody lighting. Our strip looked like a 1970s film still.

6. Waterstones Gower Street, WC1E 6EQ

One of the quietest booths, surrounded by the rustle of pages. We lingered over books, then emerged with a ghostly, dreamlike strip. This one felt like a memory. A very dark one, something might have gone wrong?

7. Coal Drops Yard, N1C 4DQ

Among high-end boutiques and canal bridges, the booth here had sharp contrast and clean whites. We were halfway through, and the city was stretching wide beneath our feet.

8. The Standard Hotel, WC1H 8EG

Across the street, this was one of our favorite booths. The lighting here gives bold, editorial vibes. It felt like posing for a fashion zine, but isn’t it always like that?

9. Selfridges Cinema, W1A 1AB

Inside the hallowed halls of London’s retail mecca, the cinema-level booth was tucked away and moody. Our strip? Clean, minimalist, with sharp, modern contrast (it came out after a very long queue of people)

10. Tate Modern, SE1 9TG

Over the Thames and into Southbank. Placing a vintage photobooth inside London’s most iconic modern gallery? Genius. Almost missed it as it was closing time!

11. Mercato Metropolitano, SE1 6DR

The penultimate stop. This food hall hums with life. The booth sits near wine bars and neon signs, and delivered one of our richest, darkest exposures yet. We needed an ice cream after this.

12. Battersea Power Station, SW11 8DD

We limped in here just before sunset, feet aching. But what a finale. The booth is sleek, the background dramatic, and our final strip looked like we’d come out of a noir movie. It took us 20 mins to find it. Our last one.

Just as we thought we had finished our mission, we thought of the two additional photo booths to add :

Somerset House, WC2R 1LA – Installed for the Photo Fair in June, this temporary booth delivered soft tones and delightful surprises.
Ralisation Par (Mayfair) – The newest AUTOFOTO booth inside this fashion flagship is surrounded by minimalist design and boutique charm. But don’t let that fool you, the booth's output was full analog grit.

We could have visited these booths over a month, by car or tube. But walking the entire route gave us something much deeper: time to reflect, to feel, to connect.

AUTOFOTO doesn’t just maintain machines, they preserve a feeling. A moment when a photo wasn’t a tap or swipe, but a decision. When you sat alone behind a curtain, pressed a button, and hoped for the best.

And in that process, you found something raw. A truth in grain and shadow.

In a world that moves faster every day, AUTOFOTO’s booths invite you to slow down and be seen, just once, just as you are.