London is beautiful, and full of famous landmarks. But because of the size of the British capital, it’s hard to find a place from which you can see all of those best known places. That’s why various viewing terraces, allowing you to admire the whole London skyline, are a popular tourist attraction. But before you spend your hard-earned money on the viewing platform at the top of the Shard or a ride on London Eye, read this! There are many places in London with stunning panoramic views that you can visit completely free of charge.
Sky Garden
One of the most famous viewing platforms in London is certainly Sky Garden. A lush, indoor garden, located on the 35th floor of a glass skyscraper in the City of London, with stunning, 360° views. From the Sky Garden, you can spot the majority of the best known London landmarks – if you know where to look! Tower of London and Tower Bridge, located close by, should be easy to find. St Paul’s Cathedral and Millenium Bridge are also well visible. Finding Big Ben and London Eye may require a little bit more focus, but you should be able to see them too. And if you’re a football fan, you may even be able to identify the characteristic arch of Wembley Stadium, far on the horizon.
There are a couple of restaurants in Sky Garden, but also a small cafe/bar available for all visitors. Visiting Sky Garden is free of charge, but requires booking a ticket in advance. Pro tip: Tickets are released every Monday around 10-10:30 am, for the week commencing three weeks ahead. They sell out fast! If you’d like to visit Sky Garden, make sure to plan it far in advance. On some days, walk-in slots are available to visitors without a booking, but it’s not guaranteed. For booking tickets and more information, visit the official website: https://skygarden.london/.
Garden at 120
Right around the corner from the famous Sky Garden, there’s another viewing terrace. Less known and closer to the ground level, Garden at 120 is a hidden gem in this part of the City of London. It’s an outdoor rooftop garden, located on the 15th floor, with a great view of the Tower of London and the glass skyscrapers in the City – including the walkie-talkie building, where Sky Garden is. It’s a great choice for a sunny day, if you want to enjoy the views without a crowd. Visiting Garden at 120 is not only free, but also requires no advance booking. Perfect for last-minute sightseeing plans! For more information about the Garden at 120, visit: https://www.thegardenat120.com/.
Horizon 22
A relatively new addition to the list of London viewing platforms, opened in the autumn 2023, is Horizon 22. Located in the City of London, not far away from Sky Garden and Garden at 120, it proudly bears the title of the highest free-to-visit viewing platform in London. Horizon 22 offers unmatched, 58th floor views of the London skyline. You don’t get a full 360° panorama, but you can see most of the famous landmarks.
Visiting Horizon 22 is free, but requires booking a ticket online: https://horizon22.co.uk/. Tickets are released daily, one month in advance. But don’t worry! It’s also possible to get a walk-in ticket at the door, and unlike at Sky Garden, you can be almost certain to get a spot.
The interior of Horizon 22 may not be spectacular – there isn’t a single plant, let alone a whole garden – but it’s the views that matter, and there’s a small cafe with snacks and refreshments.
Post Building
Another viewing terrace worth mentioning is located in the Post Building in Holborn. Admittedly, this is the only place on my list that I haven’t visited myself. I have, however, heard of it numerous times and thought it might be useful to mention it. If you’re ever in the area – perhaps before or after a visit to the British Museum, or shopping at Oxford Street – you might be able to pop to the roof terrace on the 9th floor of the Post Building and catch a view of the London Eye. There’s no booking requirement and entry is free. For more information, visit: https://postbuilding.com/features/roof-garden.
Tate Modern
Another free-to-visit, 10th floor viewing terrace, this time south of River Thames, can be found in Tate Modern art gallery. This famous viewing spot was closed for a few years due to a legal battle with the residents of nearby apartments, but has now partially reopened to the public. It’s not the highest viewing terrace in London, but it still offers a good view of the City of London, and is a nice addition to a visit in the gallery itself. For more information about the opening times of Tate Modern, visit: https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern.
Greenwich Park
Besides viewing terraces located in skyscrapers, there are also nature-made places in London from which you can admire the panorama of London’s skyline. One of such spots is the hill in Greenwich Park, next to the Royal Observatory. From there, you can enjoy a view of the City of London.
Hampstead Heath – Parliament Hill
Another London park with a hill offering panoramic views is Hampstead Heath. The Parliament Hill, located in Hampstead Heath, in north London, is a popular spot amongst the locals. Although it’s located quite some distance away from the centre of the British capital, you can see nearly all of the famous landmarks – from the skyscrapers of the City of London, to the Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral and London Eye.
Primrose Hill
Last – but not least – on my list is Primrose Hill. Located in a picturesque area in North London, close to the beautiful Regent’s Park and London Zoo. It offers fantastic panoramic views of London, including most of the famous landmarks. And once you’re done admiring the views, have a stroll around the nearby residential area, with some cosy cafes and famous pastel colour painted houses.
Final thoughts
London if full of famous landmarks, and it’s great fun to admire them from high up. A visit to a viewing platform can be a fantastic tourist attraction for anyone visiting London. And what’s best, you can choose from many places that are completely free to visit! Have you been to any of these spots yourself? Or maybe you’re planning to visit them? Let us know!
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