What is the highest viewing spot in London that is accessible free of charge?

What is the highest viewing spot in London that is accessible free of charge? - Side view of little ethnic girl drawing with felt pen on hanging swing while crop faceless mother in casual wear palming hair of child near shabby wall with spots on surface

I would like to visit a viewing spot in London, but I don't want to pay any entrance fees. Where is the highest spot to do so?

Note that restaurants and bars (or other freely accessible venues) are accepted as an answer, since their cheapest drink is usually less expensive than entry fees to "official" observation spots.

The tallest open view would also be interesting to find, as it's much better for sight-seeing.



Best Answer

The Walkie-Talkie (20 Fenchurch St) is only the 13th-tallest building in London at 160m height, but it does have a free viewing gallery (height 155m):

The famous enlarged glass dome of 20 Fenchurch Street is dedicated to three storeys of exquisitely landscaped public gardens and London’s most exclusive social spaces, including observation decks and an open air terrace.

http://skygarden.london/sky-garden

Although it's free, you do have to book your tickets online in advance.

The Sky Garden Image © User:Colin, CC BY-SA 4.0

Be warned that the 'sky garden' has not found universal favour, so don't set your expectations too high:

The building was crowned with a Sky Garden, a babylonian jungle in the clouds that would be the pride of the Square Mile, framed as not just a place for bankers to drink, but a public space accessible to all. The reality is anything but. If you book three days in advance, or reserve a table at one of the overpriced dining concepts, you can go through airport-style security and be treated to a meagre pair of rockeries, in a space designed with all the finesse of a departure lounge. A hefty cage of steelwork wraps around in all directions, obscuring much of the view, while the restaurants rise up in a boxy stack of glass portable cabins. The more you pay, the worse the view gets: at the very top of the gourmet ziggurat, you’re as far from the windows as possible.

Carbuncle Cup: Walkie Talkie wins prize for worst building of the year, The Guardian, 2 Sept 2015


The fourth-tallest building in London (225m) is the Cheesegrater (The Leadenhall Building). It's not normally open to the public but is opened up for one weekend a year during Open House London.

Open House was started in 1992 as a small, not-for-profit organisation to promote public awareness and appreciation of the capital's building design and architecture. The intention was to open up London's splendid buildings to the general public who don't otherwise have access. We saw this as a way of helping the wider community to become more knowledgeable, engage in dialogue and make informed judgements on architecture.

The dates for Open House London in 2016 are 17 & 18 September

You'll need advance tickets - check the Open House website nearer the time (in past years info has become available in August).

Cheesegrater and Gherkin Image © User:Colin, CC BY-SA 4.0

I believe the Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe, 180m) also opens its doors for Open House weekend.




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Where can I get a good view of London for free?

8 Best free views of London
  • Primrose Hill. ...
  • Royal Observatory Greenwich. ...
  • Parliament Hill. ...
  • Alexandra Palace. ...
  • The Tate Modern Switch House. ...
  • One New Change. ...
  • Sky Garden. ...
  • Horniman Museum Gardens.


What skyscrapers are free in London?

6 Best Free Viewpoints in London
  • SKY GARDEN (Monument) Built in 2014, the 'Walkie-Talkie' hosts a public indoor garden on the 35th floor. ...
  • PRIMROSE HILL (Camden) ...
  • GREENWICH OBSERVATORY (Greenwich) ...
  • TATE MODERN (Bankside) ...
  • PARLIAMENT HILL (Hampstead Heath) ...
  • FEN COURT ROOFTOP (120 Fenchurch Street, Monument)


Which park has the best view of London?

Parliament Hill It's one of the most iconic panoramic views in London \u2013 the rolling grasslands of Hampstead Heath park providing the perfect foreground for the skyscrapers of the city beyond.

Where you can see great views of London?

Attractions with views of London
  • Sky Garden. This viewing gallery on the 43rd floor of the Walkie Talkie offers panoramic views over London from their foliage-filled atrium. ...
  • The London Eye. ...
  • St Paul's Cathedral. ...
  • ArcelorMittal Orbit. ...
  • The View from The Shard. ...
  • Emirates Air Line. ...
  • The Dare Skywalk, Tottenham.




Top FREE Viewpoints to Visit in London | London Travel Guide | Love and London




More answers regarding what is the highest viewing spot in London that is accessible free of charge?

Answer 2

If you don't mind being outside, you can get some good views over most of London from some of the hills that surround it. Two good spots are Parliament Hill, in Hampstead, and Alexandra Palace, in Muswell Hill.

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