There are many places you can get a fantastic view of the London skyline, such as the Shard and the iconic London Eye. We’ve been on both and you do get a great view. Tickets are expensive, a family of the three of us is almost £100.
When you’re travelling to London on a budget, this might not be possible.
The good news is that London does have a lot of free views of the city.
There’s been a few new view points popping up over the last couple of years. Horizon 22 and The Lookout are new popular spots, whilst places such as Sky garden and Garden at 120 are still firm favourites. Then there’s also a few hilltop parks and some great rooftop views of London. All of which you can see without spending a pound.
I wanted to put this guide together to help share the best views of London for free, ones that we’ll always try and get to when visiting the capital city.
Why Free Views in London Are Better Than Paid Ones?
When travelling to and around London, its expensive. Although free views of London is not just about saving money. The City of London’s “destination city” is a plan to encourage new skyscrapers to provide public viewing areas. This is to encourage tourism as well as helping support local businesses.
By 2024 one of the most well-known free viewing areas, the Sky Garden had seen over 11 million visitors.
You might be thinking that the paid ones are better, sometimes this is true but some of the free ones are just as good.
As an example you have Horizon 22 vs the Shard. Even though the shard is great and I’ve enjoyed the views up there (as well as a very nice dinner). Horizon is higher and offers wider panoramic views of London for free. Why would you pay for it when you don’t need to?
Something to consider though, if a viewing area is free then there is a good chance that it’ll be busier.
Best Free Views of London Skyline
Horizon 22
One of the newest viewpoints of London is Horizon 22 and if you can only pick one then this would be the one I’d recommend. You can find it on the 58th floor of 22 Bishopsgate, its completely free to visit and is the highest viewpoints in London. (At the time of writing this)
You do need to get tickets but with it being free, these can be booked up very quickly. The free timed tickets are available 14 days in advanced and more become available every Monday.
It is possible to get walk-ins but these are limited so its going to be very hit or miss.
Horizon 22 is well worth the effort to try and get free tickets. Floor to ceiling glass windows means you get unobstructed view of the London.
You’ll be able to see fantastic views of attractions such as the Tower of London, The Shard and even the London Eye.
Its even possible to look down onto one of our other free views, the Sky Garden.
At the top you’ll find toilets and even a café so you can enjoy a coffee whilst taking in the views over the river. Something to bear in mind is that they don’t allow tripods or large bags.
The Sky Garden
Sky Garden is still one of the most popular free things to do in London. It was the heights free viewpoint until Horizon 22, although it still offers a little extra than just the height.
You’ll still get incredible views but its a indoor rooftop garden, so offers a little more of an experience. There’s also restaurants and bars for you to enjoy some food or a drink or two whilst taking in the views.
Obviously with it being free it does get booked up, you need to book it up to three weeks in advance. Well worth doing though to avoid missing out.
If it is booked, you could try and make a reservation at one of the bars. The drinks aren’t cheap but its a way to get access.
You’re lower down than Horizon 22, so the view is a little different. If the weather is decent, you can get access to the outdoor terrace for even better views across the river and the city.
Since its more well-known and a little more “Instagram able”, the Sky Garden is often busier than Horizon 22.
Something to remember is that you’re not allowed tripods and only small bags.
Garden at 120
If you do not want to book somewhere or need a back up plan, the Garden at 120 is perfect.
Its just opposite Sky Garden and is a completely outdoor rooftop garden, in fact its the largest public rooftop in the city of London.
Garden at 120 is ideal if you’re looking for somewhere a little more relaxed but with views of the Shard. Its ideal if you want somewhere that feels a little less touristy.
I like this spot as you dont need to worry about the stress of time slots. With a child and navigating the busy streets of London, its not always easy to get to places for a set time.
Grab yourself a takeaway coffee, come up here and just soak in the London Skyline.
The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate
Near Horizon 22 you’ll find the Lookout, its on the 50th floor of 8 Bishopsgate.
Its a little lower than Horizon 22, but it is also a bit quieter.
You do still need to book to come here but it is completely free. Its also a fully indoor viewing area, maybe ideal if the weather is not great.
Since it feels a bit calmer, this viewpoint is ideal if you’re not a massive fan of crowds but want incredible skyline views. You can book tickets every couple of weeks and then usually become available on Mondays.
Classic City Rooftops & Terraces
One New Change Roof Terrace
St Paul’s Cathedral is an impressive sight, you can get even better views from the One New Change free rooftop terrace.
In the foreground, you’ll be able to see the cathedral dome which will give you an incredible photo opportunity. One of the best times of the day is during sunset, obviously this is also one of the busiest times. You should still be able to get a decent view.
Some of the best views of St Paul’s are when it’s illuminated against the sky line as its getting darker.
The great thing about One New Change rooftop terrace is that it is free, its open all day and you don’t need to book it first.
Tate Modern Viewing Platform
The Viewing level at the Tate Modern was closed for many years, in 2023 it did reopen.
Its an ideal spot as you’ll be able to enjoy the museum as well as views across the Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s.
You’ll get access to this viewing platform with museum access and its a decent height so you do get unique views over the Thames.
The only drawback is that you cannot get 360-degree views, but for free the view is amazing.
Post Building Roof Garden (Holborn)
The Post Building roof garden is a bit of a hidden gem, not too many people know about it. Its not super high but since its not surrounded by tall buildings, you do get some decent views across central London.
It is smaller than many other places, so capacity is limited. (It is free though, so well worth checking out.)
You will need photo ID and is only open weekdays from 10am-4pm, ideal for that midweek trip.
Crossrail Place Roof Garden
The problem with many viewpoints of London is that when it gets cold, its not always the nicest experience.
Crossrail Place is perfect, even on the days when the weather turns. Its a tropical garden that is completely covered, giving you some nice views of the Canary Wharf skyline whilst being dry and warm.
You wont get the most views across the city but with it being covered over, its a nice alternative if the weather is not great.
Not only that but its open till around 9pm, where as some viewpoints closer much earlier. This means you could get some great shots of the sunset.
Best Hilltop Panoramic Views in London
Primrose Hill
Looking for the perfect picture of London? Primrose Hill is perfect, with panoramic views of London from Westminster to the financial district.
What makes it such a good image is you get decent depth. You have Regent’s park in the fire ground and the city skyline in the background.
You’ll find it can get very busy but there is plenty of room for fantastic views.
I’d recommend coming during the day but also coming just before sunset, seeing the city change from day to evening is an amazing sight.
Parliament Hill (Hampstead Heath)
If you want a view but dont want to deal with the crowds that you might get at Primrose Hill, you could try Parliament Hill.
You get expansive free views of London, from Canary Wharf to Central London. Since you’re a little higher up on the hill, it gives you a nice elevated position.
This is an amazing location during any months of the year but its great in the summer with a nice picnic.
Greenwich Park (General Wolfe Statue)
Head to the General Wolfe statue in Greenwich Park and you’ll get a great vantage point across the Docklands and the City of London. In 2024 new giant steps were added so you get even better views. Its a great spot to see London at a different angle.
Most spots give you views to the North, where as this spot is idea for viewpoints of the Eastern Skyline.
The Point (Blackheath/Greenwich)
Looking for a bit of a hidden gem? The Point is one I’d recommend. It’s one of the mosgt underrated panoramic views of London. You’ll see the skyline of Canary Wharf, The Shard and the London Eye. Ideal for great views, without the busy crowds in some of the more well-known spots.
You’ll get a unique angle and view of London that other areas just wont get.
Comparing Free Views vs Paid Viewpoints in London
Even though this article is recommending the best free views of London Skyline, there are times when paid attractions just make sense.
I love the London Eye, you get an amazing view.
It offers unique moving perspective and means you can get an outdoor view but still be protected from poor weather conditions.
If you want to be as high as possible, you cannot beat the view from The Shard. Incredible views that many free viewpoints just wont be able to match. The only one that is higher is Horizon 22.
Having said that even paid views don’t offer the same experience that Sky Garden provides, a unique atmosphere and plenty of greenery.
There are also plenty of Rooftop bars that might not give you as much height as some of these view points but you can still get a decent experience. Every time we visit London, we love to find bars such as Madison where you can get a great view with a nice cocktail.
London now offers some of the best free views of any major city.
Unless you need guaranteed height or specific angles, free viewpoints provide incredible experiences without the expense.
The message is clear—London’s best views don’t require spending a fortune. With a bit of planning and the right insider knowledge, you can experience incredible views of the city that match (and often exceed) anything behind a paywall. After all, the most stunning view of London might just be the one that doesn’t cost you anything at all.
