europe's highest free view
Horizon 22 is London's highest view, and going up costs nothing. The tallest free viewing gallery in London, 58 floors up. How to get free tickets, opening times, and the view.
Free to visit · City of London · Liverpool Street · EC2N 4AJ
Opening: Daily, roughly 10am–6pm (5pm Sat, 4pm Sun), free tickets released online every Monday, 2 weeks ahead
Horizon 22 is London's highest viewpoint, and going up costs nothing. At two hundred and fifty four metres up on the 58th floor of 22 Bishopsgate, it is the highest free viewing gallery in Europe, higher than the paid platforms at the Shard and the rest.
The whole floor is given over to the view, floor-to-ceiling glass looking down on the Gherkin, the Walkie Talkie and the Cheesegrater below you, the river snaking off towards Canary Wharf and the whole sprawl of London laid out flat. On a clear day you can see for miles.
The catch is you have to plan. Free timed tickets are released online every Monday at 10am for slots two weeks ahead, and they can go within minutes, so it pays to be ready. If everything is booked out, walk-ins are allowed on the day subject to capacity, or you can pay around £15 for an early-morning or after-hours slot outside the free daytime window.
Getting there: 22 Bishopsgate in the City, a couple of minutes from Liverpool Street or Bank.
Best time to go: Book the late-afternoon slots for sunset over the city. Slots are released in batches, often on a Monday, and go fast.
Insider tip: Set a reminder for Monday at 10am, when the free tickets are released, because they go within minutes. Aim for a slot about an hour before sunset so you get daylight, golden hour and the city lights coming on in one visit — and if you miss out, try a walk-in on the day.
Nearby free viewpoints: Sky Garden, The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate and One New Change Terrace are all a few minutes away in the City.
Official site: https://horizon22.co.uk
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide