Sky Garden
london's highest free view
A jungle in the sky on top of the Walkie Talkie, the highest free public viewpoint in London. Book a slot and go up for nothing.
Free to visit · The City · Monument · EC3M 8AF
Opening: Daily, timed entry · book a free slot online
The Sky Garden sits on the top three floors of the building everyone calls the Walkie Talkie, and it is the highest free public viewpoint in London. A great glass dome packed with tropical plants, open-air terraces, and a view that sweeps from the Shard right across to the west.
The one catch, and it is a small one, is that you have to book a free timed slot online in advance. Slots open a few weeks ahead and the sunset ones go quickly, so plan it rather than turning up on spec. There are bars up there if you fancy a drink, but the view itself costs nothing.
Set against the paid platforms across town it is a no-brainer. The Shard charges the better part of forty pounds for its view. This one is green, breezy and free, as long as you remember to book your slot.
Getting there: On Fenchurch Street in the City, a couple of minutes from Monument or Fenchurch Street station.
Best time to go: Late afternoon into golden hour on a clear day. Book a sunset slot a week or two ahead, they go fast.
Insider tip: Booked out online? Walk up to one of the bars instead. You can usually get in without a viewing ticket if you buy a drink, and a coffee up there costs a fraction of a paid viewing platform for the same skyline.
Official site: https://skygarden.london
More free day trips from London · Free things to do in London