Despite all the trips I take and mountains I hike, the London skyline will always be one of my favourite views.
With its skyscrapers and landmarks poking out from in between normal buildings it’s one of the most iconic skylines, and it never gets boring to watch.
There are a number of epic viewpoints dotted all over the city, from which you can see incredible panoramic views of London.
In this guide I’ve put together a compilation of my personal favourite views in London, and everything you need to know about visiting them including location and entrance fees (if there are any).
Ready to discover the best views in London? Let’s dive right in!
In this guide:
Famous landmarks with panoramic views of London
London Eye
The London Eye is possibly one of the most famous and recognisable attractions in London. Located right along the Thames River it has incredible views over Westminster, the river and the London skyline.
Standard tickets are £27, fast track tickets are £37 (given how big the queues can get, it might be worth going for fast track!) and you can also get tickets for £40.50 that include the London Eye and another famous London attraction.
It’s a touristy spot, there’s no denying that, but when the view is so good, it can’t be helped! There are usually up to 25 people per capsule and it takes about 30 minutes to complete a rotation.
Click here to book your London Eye ticket!
Monument to the Great Fire of London
Despite walking past Monument every day on my way to work, I can’t believe it took me eight years to actually visit this viewpoint.
The Monument to the Great Fire of London is a 62 metre column that was built to commemorate the Great Fire of London (as you may have guessed by the name) and celebrate the rebuilding of the city.
There’s a spiral staircase with 311 steps that leads to the viewing platform at the top. From here you can enjoy epic 360 views over London. I love it because it’s high enough to be over most of the roofs, but not too high to make you lose the details.
You can get a ticket on the moment and it costs £5 for adults (or less for children, students and seniors) and it’s open from 9:30AM to 5:30PM or 6PM depending on the season.
St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral is not only one of the most famous landmarks in London, which you can easily recognise from most viewpoints, but it is also a stunning viewpoint in itself.
You can climb to the top of the dome, and enjoy a great view of the London skyline, from a different perspective.
There are three different galleries within the dome, so that you can appreciate the views as you climb up. The top gallery is called the Golden Gallery and is 85 metres above the cathedral floor, 528 steps up. It’s a trek but it’s well worth the view!
The entrance fee to St Paul’s is £20, or £17 if you book online beforehand. It gives you access not only to the viewing galleries but also to the cathedral floor and crypt, if you’re interested in learning a bit of history!
Click here to book your ticket to St Paul’s Cathedral!
Emirates Air Line
If you’re looking for a bit of a unique view of London, the Emirates Air Line will give you that. It’s also the only moving viewpoint that also serves a purpose besides just providing a view of the London skyline.
The cable car connects the Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks, and soars high above the River Thames.
There are cable cars every 30 seconds and the journey lasts around 10 minutes, except for evenings when it’s stretched to 12-13 minutes so you can enjoy the London skyline at night.
During the journey you will see epic views over the Londoon O2 Arena, the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and the river. You can simply tap in and out of the Emirates Air Line with you Oyster card and pay £3.50 per journey.
They also offer a Discovery Experience ticket for £10.70 that includes also an on-board film tour, a souvenir guide and entrance to the Emirates Aviation Experience.
Tate Modern
The Tate Modern is a modern art gallery located on the banks of the River Thames. It has an open viewing terrace on the top floor, from which you can enjoy epic views over the London skyline.
From here you can see particularly well the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral. Entry to the viewing terrace is free, just like entry to the Tate Modern.
There are exhibitions that change regularly which are paid, but entry to the standard exhibition is free. There is a bar on the top floor so that you can have drinks and snacks while you watch the view.
The Shard
With its 309.6 metres the Shard is the tallest building in the UK, and the 6th tallest building in Europe. At such a height, needless to say the views from up there are pretty incredible.
There are multiple viewpoints in the Shard that you can access. The most visited is The View from the Shard, the viewing platforms on floors 68, 69 and 72. Entry costs £30.95 if you pay on the day or £24.50 if you book online beforehand.
However there are also a number of restaurants and bars in the Shard, just a couple floors below the viewing platforms.
The Oblix at the Shard bar has cocktails for around £15, which is not only cheaper than entry at the viewing deck, but you also get to sip on a tasty cocktail while you enjoy the view. It’s a win-win if you ask me!
In the Shard you will also find one of the most amazing hotels with a view in London!
Click here to book your entry at View from the Shard!
Parks & Gardens with stunning London views
Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill is one of those places that Londoners love, but not many tourists know about yet. Located in the northern area of Regents Park the hill is only about 65 metres high, but it offers beautiful views over the London skyline.
My favourite part of this viewpoint is seeing the combination on trees and skyscrapers together. From here you can see the London Eye, the Shard and BT Tower.
If you visit on a sunny summer day you will find Primrose Hill full of Londoners enjoying the view with a drink or picnic in the sun. It’s the perfect place to relax, switch off for a bit and just appreciate this beautiful city.
Alexandra Palace
Known by Londoners as Ally Pally, Alexandra Palace is a huge palace and park located in North London.
It’s often used as a venue for private events and they have all sorts of public events all year round, from ice-skating shows to cooking classes, concerts and event vintage market sales.
Besides being one of London’s hidden gems, it also offers beautiful views from its gardens. From here you can enjoy a relaxing day in the park, while looking out over the skyline of London, far in the distance above the trees and houses.
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill is a hill in the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath, a park in north-west London. Here you can enjoy a picnic in the sun, while admiring the London skyline away from all the chaos of its streets.
Besides the view you can also spend an enjoyable time in Hampstead Heath, one of the most popular parks in London.
Horniman Museum & Gardens
Located in South London, Horniman Museum & Gardens is a museum with displays of anthropology, natural history and musical instruments.
They have a variety of exhibitions as well as a butterfly house, an aquarium and a market in the gardens every Sunday.
The garden is made up of 16 acres and is the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely weekend stroll, while appreciating the London skyline peeking through above the tree-line.
The Garden at 120
If you’re looking for a quiet corner in the middle of the city, the Garden at 120 will give you just that. Located on the rooftop of 120 Fenchurch Street this garden is free to enter, and you can spend as long as you want relaxing and enjoying the views.
There is a small stream, some green areas and benches to sit on. What I like about it is that it’s not super high, so you can have a great view of the London skyline but without feeling detached from it as you might from the top of the Shard.
Whether you’re visiting London and only have a breather moment during a busy London itinerary, or you work in the area and are looking for a new and relaxing lunch spot, the Garden at 120 can provide you with just that.
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park is one of the Royal Parks of London, and used to be a hunting park.
There’s no hunting going on today fortunately, but the 183 acres of Greenwich Park are perfect for anyone looking to escape from the chaos of the city, and searching for refuge somewhere green and quiet.
At Greenwich Park you will also find cafes, a rose garden, a tennis centre and even a wilderness deer park.
From Greenwich Park you have an epic view of the London skyline, with the recognisable outlines of the Shard and the City being just about visible.
Bars & restaurants with the best views of the London skyline
Sky Garden
Sky Garden will always be one of my favourite views in London. Entry to Sky Garden is free, but if you plan on visiting during the day you have to book your time-slot online beforehand.
It then becomes walk-in after 6pm, although you might have to queue a bit to get in.
They also have a business casual dress code policy for the evening (if you book a slot during the day you can be dressed however you want) so you might want to dress up a bit nice before visiting.
In my personal experience however you don’t have to go overboard, just try to avoid trainers. Sky Garden is a really cool space with plants, bars and restaurants, which also offers activities like sunrise yoga and live music.
There is an outdoor terrace from which you can enjoy the view, but they close it once it gets dark. Worry not, the floor to ceiling glass windows offer incredible 360 views all over London.
Being mostly indoors you can enjoy the view from here also if you’re visiting London in winter or on a rainy day.
SushiSamba
Located on the 38th and 39th floors of the Heron Tower, SushiSamba is the highest outdoor dining terrace in Europe (as well as one of the most photogenic in London). It has incredible 360 views of the City, as well as a great food and drink offering.
The restaurant offers a Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian fusion cuisine, with choices of taster and set menus so you can sample all the best items on the menu.
They also serve classic cocktails with a twist, such as a Cherry Blossom Negroni or Kaffirinha.
Prices are a bit on the expensive side, but for the dining experience you get and the view, it’s well worth it! It tends to get booked up pretty quickly so make sure to book online beforehand.
LSQ Rooftop
Located in the heart of Leicester Square, this bar has epic views over Leicester Square and the London skyline.
It has an outdoors balcony as well as floor to ceiling windows that can be opened up in summer, to create a larger outdoors terrace and bar area.
From LSQ Rooftop you can look down into the hustle and bustle of Leicester Square, or at the skyline of London and recognise the main landmarks like Westminster, the London Eye, the Shard and the City.
It’s especially beautiful at sunset when the sky turns pink and it lights up the buildings. Drinks are priced at around £15 for a cocktail and £7 for a beer.
It’s a bit pricey but considering the location and that it’s one of the best rooftop bars in London, it could be much more.
Frank’s Café
Moving away from Central London, you can find incredible views of the London skyline from Frank’s Café in Peckham.
Located on the top floor of Peckham Multi-Storey Car Park, Frank’s Café is a bit of a hipster venue, with a menu that goes from brunch to evening drinks.
It’s more reasonably priced than the other bars, with cocktail prices ranging from £7 to £8.50. I love the view from Frank’s Café because you are far out enough that there are no tall buildings around you.
Only low houses and in the distance you can see the skyscrapers of the City, the Shard and Canary Wharf.
OXO Tower
The OXO Tower Wharf is a building on the south bank of the River Thames with a prominent tower (you’ll recognise it if you see it, with big OXO letters on it).
The building actually has multiple purposes, with a series of arts and crafts shops, as well as a restaurant and bar. On the 8th floor of the tower there are three different venues, a restaurant, a bar and a brasserie.
Each has its own menu and you can visit at any time of day, from afternoon tea to dinner and evening cocktails. From here you have great views over the London skyline.
Madison’s Rooftop Bar
The view from Madison’s Rooftop Bar might not be as high as some of these other restaurants, but that doesn’t make it any less noteworthy.
I actually love the view from here, as it’s really close to St Paul’s Cathedral and being right under the dome has a way of making you feel small.
Madison’s and the viewing terrace are on the top floor of a shopping mall called One New Change. If you don’t fancy a drink, you can just head up to the viewing deck for free.
12th Knot
If you enjoyed the view from the Tate Modern, but are looking for something a little fancier (maybe an actual restaurant and not an art gallery?) 12th Knot is the place for you.
This bar and restaurant is located along the River Thames, with incredible views over the St Paul’s Cathedral dome and the river.
Cocktails are priced between £13 and £15, with also a wide selection of food choices and spirits. From their outdoors balcony you can watch people walking past along the river, as well as the epic London skyline.
Capeesh Sky Bar
I couldn’t help but close this ultimate guide to London’s best views with Capeesh Sky Bar. Located on the 48th floor, in the heart of Canary Wharf, Capeesh Sky Bar offers a different view from all the others on this list.
From here you can see the City, the Shard, the River Thames and pretty much the whole London skyline. You can do so while tasting delicious Italian food and sipping on tasty cocktails (for a reasonable £11 to £14 per cocktail price).
Want to learn some fun facts about London? Try our quiz!
Final thoughts on the most panoramic viewpoints in London
There you have it, the ultimate compilation of the best views in London! These are my personal favourite viewpoints in London, which I think have the most panoramic and impressive views of the London skyline.
Are there other viewpoints that you think should feature on this list? Let me know in the comments below! I hope you find this guide useful on your hunt for the best shots of the London skyline.
Looking for more London travel advice? Check out these resources:
- How to spend 1 incredible day in London
- How to spend an epic weekend in London (2 days)
- 40+ awesome things to do in London
- The best areas to stay in London
- The best walking routes & itineraries in London
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