The effect of incorporation of different amounts of tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) into TiO 2 to alter its photocatalytic activity was studied. Varying amounts of TPA (10%–50% in weight) were introduced into TiO 2 synthesis gel for hydrothermal preparation of TPA–TiO 2 photocatalysts. The produced photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, FTIR, N 2 adsorption and surface charge measurements. XRD data shows a pure anatase crystalline phase for all the TPA-containing TiO 2 samples. The effective band gap (E g eff ), calculated from the diffuse reflectance spectra, and the pH at point of zero charge (pH pzc ) are lower for the samples with higher amounts of TPA. The EDX analysis and FTIR spectra of TPA–TiO 2 samples reveal sound incorporation of TPA into TiO 2 . The activity of the photocatalysts for the degradation of methylene blue correlates with the TPA contents of the samples.