Most cities are often best taken in from high vantage points that offer panoramic views of the city around you. London is one of my favourite cities in the world, it’s a city you truly would never tire of and it has some truly brilliant viewpoints dotted around the city that give you an amazing view of this iconic city. Whilst there are countless amazing viewpoints around London, we’ve summed up five of our favourite London viewpoints that range from posh restaurants to viewing platforms, historic buildings and public parks, all of which allow you the opportunity to enjoy stunning views of one of the most famous cities in the world.
LONDON EYE
The London Eye is a must-do item for most visitors to London. The London Eye offers you close up views of Westminster and St Paul’s areas, including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. You are able to enjoy these unbeatable views, all from the comfort of your own glass capsule that offers you a 360° panoramic view!
SKY GARDEN
The Sky Garden is located at the top of the Walkie Talkie building, a London Skyscraper which has transformed its top floors into a lush, tropical rainforest that boasts the most incredible views of the City. A lot of people claim that the Walkie Talkie building offers the best views of London whilst it is free to visit, you still need to book your free tickets. You can visit just to admire the views, or enjoy the views whilst you wine and dine at one of the three restaurants. The views are expansive and it is a must for visitors (and locals) in London!
PRIMROSE HILL
Primrose Hill is considered to be one of the most beautiful viewpoints in North London. This 213-foot hill is one of 13 protected vistas in London, places where the view must remain untouched by development. It offers free 360° views over the city and allows Londoners the opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle to a place which is actually located in the very heart of London in beautiful Regent’s Park.
London has so many beautiful parks to visit, with another of our favourite parks being beautiful Hyde Park. If you are planning to stay near Hyde Park we recommend staying at the Shaftesbury Hyde Park International hotel which is one of the beautiful London Shaftesbury Hotels, a chain that is stylish, well located and also reasonably priced.
ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
A visit to London’s iconic St Paul’s Cathedral offers visitors a unique view from it’s galleries. The price of admission includes entry to the Cathedral, crypt and three galleries in the dome, with the Golden Gallery being the smallest of the galleries which runs around the highest point of the outer dome. Visitors who climb the 528 steps to this gallery are treated to stunning views over London and its iconic landmarks, including the River Thames, Tate Modern, Globe Theatre, Tower Bridge, The Shard, The London Eye and Buckingham Palace. On clear days, visitors can even enjoy views that stretch to Wembley Arch and the Olympic Stadium!
Specialist photographer Henry Stuart describes the views perfectly: “The real beauty of St Paul’s isn’t just its location, right in the heart of London, but its height is perfect – tall enough to see for miles in all directions but not so tall that you lose a sense of depth in the rooftops of the buildings. There really is no finer view in London.”
THE SHARD
Lastly, The View from The Shard is London’s highest viewing platform at the top of Western Europe’s tallest building & offers the most incredible views over this incredible city. The highest point of the viewing platform in located 240m above ground and on a clear day, visitors can see up to 40 miles away in every direction. It’s sheer height and 360 degree views make it one of the best views of this incredible city.
I also really like that if you visit The Shard on a day when visibility is poor, they allow you to re-book your tickets for free so that you will have another opportunity to experience these amazing views for yourself!
Our opinions are as always, our own.
