One New Change Terrace
st paul's, close enough to touch
A free public roof terrace on top of a City shopping centre, with the closest elevated view of St Paul's dome you will get for nothing. Take the glass lift straight up.
Free to visit · City of London · St Paul's · EC4M 9AF
Opening: Daily during centre hours · roughly 6am to midnight
One New Change is a shopping centre right behind St Paul's, designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel, and most people never realise its best feature is on the roof and completely free. A glass lift on the top floor carries you up to an open public terrace, and the view that opens up is the reason to come.
You are level with the dome of St Paul's, close enough to pick out the stonework, with the cathedral filling the sky in front of you and the City towers stacked up behind. It is the nearest free elevated view of Wren's masterpiece anywhere, framed perfectly by the modern glass around you.
There is a bar and restaurant up there if you want one, but the terrace itself costs nothing and you are welcome just to ride the lift up, take it in and come back down. A two minute detour off any City walk for one of the best free photos in London.
Getting there: Right beside St Paul's, the entrance is on the New Change side, then take the glass lift on the top floor up to the terrace.
Best time to go: Sunset, when the dome catches the last of the light. The terrace can shut for private events so it is worth a quick check before a special trip.
Insider tip: Go up at golden hour and shoot the dome with the modern glass framing it. The lift is free and tucked at the back of the top floor, so walk past the shops and head for the far corner.
Official site: https://www.onenewchange.com
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide