The Best Viewing Platforms in London 2025
Whenever we travel anywhere we love to see the best views we can. Whether that’s from a hill with a panoramic view of a city below, a tall building with a viewing platform or a historic monument with a tower we can climb, it’s something we always love as a family.
But, on our doorstep, London has some iconic views and different views depending on where you are in the city. Having recently visited the Sky Garden, giving us a view we have never seen before, I thought it would be good to put together all the great views in London – viewing platforms in all different shapes and sizes. Ones where you go purely for the view and others where the view is just a lovely, added bonus.
The best places to enjoy the view in London
The Shard
The View from the Shard is situated at the top of The Shard, the second tallest building in Europe, on floors 68, 69 and 72. It is almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in the capital, offering visitors 360 degree views for up to 40 miles.
Where: 32 London Bridge St, London SE1 9SG
When: Open daily. Check website for times.
Cost: From £32 per person.
You can read our review of The View from the Shard here
Westminster Cathedral
When visiting Westminster Cathedral you can book tickets to visit The Campanile, the cathedral’s bell tower. Here, 210ft above Victoria Street and Buckingham Palace, you can visit the Tower Viewing Gallery with breathtaking views across London.
Where: Victoria St, London SW1P 1LT
When: Tickets for the lift are available in the Cathedral Shop, open from 10.30am to 4.30pm, Wednesday to Sunday:
Cost: Adult: £9, Concession: £4.50, Family: £19
Westminster Abbey
Climb the Weston Tower to the Galleries where you can discover a space that was hidden from the public for 700 years! Unlike other buildings, you can’t go up to the roof of Westminster Abbey unless on a special event tour.
Where: Dean’s Yard, London SW1P 3PA
When: Open daily but only for services on a Sunday.
Cost: £30 per adult, £13 per child but one adult and one child has a reduced rate of £30.
Big Ben
Book an official tour of Big Ben and explore the famous Elizabeth Tower at UK Parliament. The guided tour takes you up a narrow 334 step spiral stairwell to the belfry where Big Ben, the Great Bell, hangs. See London from a completely different perspective, looking out on each of the four sides of Big Ben.
Where: London SW1A 0AA
When: Open daily, with tickets released weekly three months in advance.
Cost: £35 for adults and £20 for children
The Monument
Sir Christopher Wren’s flame-topped Monument to the Great Fire of 1666 is the tallest isolated stone column in the world. Completed in 1677, The Monument stands 202ft high and is positioned 202ft from the spot in Pudding Lane on which the Great Fire is believed to have started. Climb the 311 spiral steps to the Monument’s observation gallery and enjoy unique and exhilarating views across the Capital.
Where: Fish St Hill, London EC3R 8AH
When: Open daily.
Cost: £4.50 per adult, £2.30 per child.
Read about our visit to The Monument here.
St Paul’s Cathedral
A ticket to St Paul’s Cathedral includes access to the Cathedral Floor, Crypt and the Dome Galleries where you can see the view from one of the most famous London landmarks! St Paul’s dome has a total height of 111 metres and gives fantastic views of London.
Where: St. Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD
When: Open Monday to Saturday.
Cost: £26 per adult and £10 per child, with discounts for families.
Read about our trip to St Paul’s Cathedral here.
Tower Bridge
From the high-level walkways, take in stunning panoramic views and experience the thrill of seeing London life through the Glass Floors. This is one of the most iconic places in London to climb and admire the view!
Where: Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP
When: Open daily from 9:30 to 18:00
Cost: Adult £16.00, Child £8.00
Read about our trip to Tower bridge here.
IFS Cloud Cable Car
For a completely different type of view, take a trip on the London Cable Car. The IFS Cloud Cable Car crosses the River Thames between Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks, just 5 minutes’ walk from The O2 and North Greenwich Underground station. Fly 90 metres above the Thames and enjoy spectacular views of the capital including St Paul’s Cathedral, The Gherkin, Thames Barrier, Maritime Greenwich and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Where: IFS Greenwich Peninsula Terminal, Edmund Halley Way, London SE10 0FR and IFS Cloud Royal Docks Terminal, 27 Western Gateway, London E16 1FA
When: Open daily.
Cost: From £7 per adult and £3.50 per child one way.
You can read about our trip on the cable car here.
The London Eye
The London Eye is such an iconic part of the London skyline, giving fantastic views along the Thames and across London. It’s the world’s largest cantilever observation wheel and is 135m tall.
Where: Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB
When: Open daily.
Cost: From £29 per person.
Read our tips for visiting the London Eye here.
The Dare Skywalk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
For a challenge like no other, take on this incredible urban adventure and enjoy breathtaking views of the London skyline and the pitch below from 46.8 metres above the pitch.
Where: 782 High Rd, London N17 0BX
When: Open daily.
Cost: From £40.80 per person.
Up at the O2
Climb to the top of the O2 and see landmarks up to 15 miles away. A fantastic experience for anyone who is looking to do something a little different!
Where: Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX
When: Open daily.
Cost: From £37 per person.
You can read about our Up at the O2 experience here.
Lift 109 at Battersea Power Station
Your Lift 109 journey begins in Battersea Power Station’s magnificent Art Deco Turbine Hall A where you’ll delve into the building’s rich history and discover how it has reinvented and transformed through time before taking the circular glass elevator up the north-west chimney. At the top you will take in a panoramic view like no other from 109 metres up.
Where: Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, London SW8 5BN
When: Open daily.
Cost: From £16 per person.
The Garden Museum Tower
Climb 131 steps to the top of the Garden Museum’s historic medieval tower, and be rewarded with breathtaking views across London, including the River Thames towards Westminster and beyond.
Where: 5 Lambeth Palace Rd, London SE1 7LB
When: Open daily.
Cost: £4 per person or included with museum entrance.
ArcelorMittal Orbit
Soar through the Helix slide, the world’s longest and tallest tunnel slide, while taking in breathtaking views of the iconic ArcelorMittal Orbit and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Or, if the slide isn’t for you just experience ArcelorMittal Orbit 360 and enjoy the view!
Where: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 5 Thornton St, London E20 2AD
When: Open daily.
Cost: From £9 per person.
Free viewing platforms in London
Horizon 22
London’s highest free viewing platform. Located on Level 58, this viewing platform offers 300 degree views of London, giving views of so many iconic landmarks. It only takes 41 seconds to get to the viewing platform by high speed lift, travelling at up to eight metres per second.
Where: 22 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AJ
When: Open daily. Tickets are released every Monday 14 days in advance
Sky Garden
London’s highest public garden with a viewing gallery on the 43rd floor of the Walkie Talkie building with panoramic views over London. With floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the indoor garden gives fantastic views of the iconic London skyline. Enjoy the lush landscaped gardens before making your way to the observation decks and open-air terrace.
Where: The Fenchurch Building, 1 Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF
When: Open daily. Free tickets are released every Monday morning (excluding bank holidays) three weeks in advance for the whole week.
Read our review of Sky Garden here
One New Change Roof Terrace
Home to Madison London, relax and take in views of St Paul’s Cathedral and the London skyline from the breathtaking roof terrace at One New Change. Open to all and free to enter with no tickets needed.
Where: – New Change, London EC4M 9AF
When: Open daily.
Level 10 at Tate Modern
Level 10 at Tate Modern offers great views of St Pauls and all the way to the Wembley Arch and Canary Wharf. Free to visit, there’s a covered outdoor space where you can sit and enjoy a coffee whilst taking in the sights. No tickets needed.
Where: Bankside, London SE1 9TG
When: Open daily.
The Garden at 120 Rooftop
The City of London’s largest public rooftop space which is free to visit and with no booking required (unless you are a group of 12 or more). 15 storeys up, The Garden at 120 gives fantastic 360-degree views of the City and greater London.
Where: 120 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 5BA
When: Open daily. No tickets needed.
The Lookout
This 50th floor viewing gallery gives uninterrupted views of the City’s iconic landmarks, including impressive skyscrapers and historic architecture.
Where: Level 50, 8 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4BQ
When: Open daily. Tickets can be booked up to two weeks in advance and are released every other Monday.
Royal Opera House Roof Terrace
Make the most of the view at the Piazza Terrace rooftop bar and terrace overlooking bustling Covent Garden.
Where: Bow St, London WC2E 9DD
When: Open daily.
OXO Tower Viewing Gallery
Situated on the top floor of the famous OXO Tower, with some of the most iconic views of St Paul’s across the Thames, The OXO Tower restaurant, brasserie and bar are a fantastic place to enjoy the view. Visit the free public viewing gallery, through the restaurant, or get a table and enjoy a meal or drink during your visit. It’s a great place to stop and take a load off.
Where: Barge House St, London SE1 9PH
When: Open daily.
The Post Building roof terrace also used to be open to the public but is now office space and only open to the employees working in the building.
So there you have plenty of options if you’re looking for somewhere to appreciate the view in London. I’ll add more as I come across them and, if I’ve missed your favourite view, please do get in touch and let me know.
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- Animal Things to do in London
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