There’s nothing like seeing London's stunning skyline to help you fall in love with the city all over again.
Whether it’s looking out across the river from Tower Bridge, or relaxing with a cocktail in one of the capital’s rooftop bars, the capital’s views are reminders of just how beautiful it is.
Fortunately, London is blessed with dozens of fantastic vantage points, and many of them are totally free to get to. You needn't go 50 floors up to find them either – there are great views to be had in unlikely places, if you know where to look.
From Parliament Hill to the Shard, here's where to go to take it all in.
Greenwich Park
The rolling greens of Greenwich Park are fantastic vantage spots, with the Greenwich Maritime World Heritage Site, National Maritime Museum and Old Royal Naval College all in close proximity. The view over the river towards Canary Wharf is stunning, with the Walkie Talkie building and Salesforce Tower stuck out to the left too. It’s also home to the Greenwich Observatory – the park is one of the best places for stargazing in the city.
Greenwich, SE10 8QY, royalparks.org.uk
Sky Garden
The Fenchurch rooftop restaurant and the Darwin Brasserie at Sky Garden boast some of the best meals with a view in London, and a glass of fizz in the Sky Pod bar is always a good choice. It’s right in the heart of the City, with some of London’s most impressive buildings in close proximity. It’s the view of the Shard across the river, though, which is most captivating. Keep an eye out for the seasonal events here too – their Halloween, Christmas and New Year parties are always good fun.
20 Fenchurch St, EC3M 8AF, skygarden.london
Frank's Cafe
This busy Peckham rooftop bar doesn’t do glamour – it’s an endearingly basic set-up, with long wooden benches packed with punters during the summer. It proves that sometimes, the views, the company and something cold to drink are all you need. The city’s most recognisable landmarks are all spread out on the horizon, with plenty of trees and greenery to break up the view nearby.
Bold Tendencies, 7th-10th Floor Multi Storey Car Park, 95A Rye Ln, SE15 4ST, boldtendencies.com
Coq D'Argent
You’ll come for the refined French cooking at brasserie in Bank, but you’ll stay for the views. Do bear in mind that you can’t see a great deal from the restaurant – instead, the terrace is the place to take in the skyline with a glass of something good.
1 Poultry, EC2R 8EJ, coqdargent.co.uk
Parliament Hill
It’s always heaving here on warm summer weekends, but Parliament Hill offers one of the most famous views anywhere in the city. Featured in countless films and TV shows down the years – including Scenes of a Sexual Nature, Notes On a Scandal and most recently in Netflix’s Turn Up Charlie – there’s little wonder people come back time and again. If you haven’t visited this iconic London spot, put it at the top of your list.
Heath Lodge, Hampstead, NW5 1QR
HotTug
Sure, views from skyscrapers are great, but have you ever seen the city from the river, in your swimming costume, and with a glass of fizz? HotTug has been putting on fun, boozy cruises around the city, inviting groups of friends to jump in a hot tub and float downstream for a couple of years now. Sure, you could jump on the ferry, or take a sightseeing boat, but this really is a unique sightseeing trip that you won’t forget in a hurry.
16-35 Graham St, N1 8JX, hottuguk.com
The Orbit
Anish Kapoor’s Orbit design proved divisive when it became the UK’s biggest sculpture in 2012, but there’s no doubt it’s one of the most significant new additions to the city’s skyline in years. The views of east London from the summit are top notch, but they disappear quite quickly as you’re hurtling down to the bottom. It’s a fantastic place to watch firework displays too.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 5 Thornton Street, E20 2AD, arcelormittalorbit.com
Tate Modern
As if the Tate Modern was short of things to look at, the 10-storey Switch House development opened in 2016 offers staggering views across the city. The viewing level on top of the Blavatnik Building boasts 360-degree views, and is totally free.
Bankside, SE1 9TG, tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
GoBoat
Head off on your own voyage of exploration with Go Boat, which runs the only self-drive boating experiences in London. Up to eight people at a time have the chance to discover views of the city from brand new perspectives, cruising along London’s canals and rivers at their own leisure. The firm operate out of two locations in Paddington and Kingston upon Thames, with hour-long sessions starting at £59.
Galvin at Windows
Galvin at Windows offers Michelin-starred French haute cuisine, with 28th-floor views over Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Wembley Stadium and the London Eye. Found on top of the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, the venue is also home to an excellent bar serving lip-smacking cocktails.
22 Park Ln, Mayfair, W1K 1BE, galvinatwindows.com
SUSHISAMBA
One of London’s most Instagrammed restaurants, Sushisamba is found on the 39th floor of the Salesforce tower, formerly the Heron Tower. The bar is often packed to the rafters with city workers looking to blow off a little steam, and offers one of the nicest outdoor terraces anywhere in the capital. The area surrounding the tower is pretty dense with skyscrapers, and you come face to face with some of the largest buildings in the city as you look out – not least the Gkerkin, a mere stone's throw away. Duck and Waffle upstairs is a perennial favourite with diners too, and the cocktail bar is one of the coolest destination drinking spots in the City. The drinks prices will put a few off, but the views are definitely worth paying a little extra for.
110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY, sushisamba.com
Alexandra Palace
It might be a steep climb to the summit, but a walk through Alexandra Park to the Palace is rewarded with one of the most incredible vistas in the city. It's a favourite among families and dog-walkers during the day, while music fans attending gigs can look out across the lights of the city on their way home too.
Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY, alexandrapalace.com
The Shard
Whether it’s the Shangri-La Hotel, restaurants Aqua Shard, Hutong and TĪNG, or bars Oblix, Bar 31 and Gong, there are incredible views to be had at every turn at the Shard. Our pick would have to be Gong, which is found on level 52 and marks the highest hotel bar in western Europe. It’s so high, in fact, that vertigo sufferers may want to look elsewhere. If you can stomach it though, heading up there for a cocktail can be a real joy.
32 London Bridge St, SE1 9SG, the-shard.com
Bokan
Bokan is found on the 37th-39th floor of a Novotel in Canary Wharf, and the kitchen here serves up a refined selection of pan-European dishes championing seasonal ingredients. The comfortable dining room and relaxed drinks terrace are both great places to spend time. The views looking out across the river, up towards the City are pretty breathtaking, too.
40 Marsh Wall, Isle of Dogs, E14 9TP, bokanlondon.co.uk
Radio Rooftop
Ibiza-style parties are pretty hard to come by in London, but Radio Rooftop on the Shard is about as close as you’re likely to find. The luxurious bar, found ten floors up in the ME London building, regularly hosts DJ nights and brings a touch of Mediterranean glamour to the capital, all with a stunning backdrop.
336-337 Strand, WC2R 1HA, melondonhotel.com
The Bussey Building
Rooftop film club events at the Bussey Building are worth attending for the 360-degree views alone. Film fans can geek out to their heart’s content with the skyline in full view, and the setting provides an excellent opportunity for the gram.
133 Rye Ln, Peckham, SE15 4SL, busseyrooftopbar.com
The London Eye
Of all of London’s tourist traps, the London Eye is one that’s definitely worth doing. The views are stunning, as you’d expect, and the overall experience – which is surprisingly relaxing, given the stress of the queues – more than justifies the wait times, which can be a drag at peak times. Splash out on a private booth with a Champagne experience pass if you’re feeling fancy.
Lambeth, SE1 7PB, londoneye.com
Emirates Air Line
‘Scenic’ isn’t normally a description you’d associate with London’s public transport – the views on the Tube usually consist of close-ups of people’s armpits, rather than beautiful sun-lit vistas. The front of the DLR is great fun, to be fair, but it doesn’t come close to the Emirates Air Line, which runs services from Greenwich to the Royal Docks, taking passengers up to 90 metres above the Thames and the O2.
12th Knot
The rooftop bar at Sea Containers, previously the Rumpus Room, is one of the best places to enjoy a cocktail and watch the sun set on the city. The restaurant itself and Lyaness below are two of the most scenic places along the river, along with the OXO Tower next door. The riverside spot is the perfect place to take in views of the City and out towards north London.
20 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PD, seacontainerslondon.com
Tower Bridge
You don’t always have to be 40 floors up to appreciate the city. In fact, a walk over the river is often one of the best ways to see it. Take the trip millions of Londoners have taken before, and reconnect with the city with the views from Tower Bridge. See the Shard standing tall to your right and views down towards Greenwich on your left, while the view of the bridge lifting to clear the way for large ships is a sight to behold in its own right.
Tower Bridge Road, towerbridge.org.uk
