The best views of London are evolving. When I moved here over a decade ago, the skyline was limited. The London Eye, Gherkin, and St Paul’s Cathedral were pretty much all that punctuated a low-lying architectural landscape.
But not long after I landed, a flurry of construction began that has changed the skyline irrevocably. From The Shard to the Cheese Grater, these new buildings not only have quirky names, but also great views.
But they’re not the only places that offer sweeping panoramas, and today I bring you A Lady in London’s 9 best views of London. The last one will surprise you!
Best Views of London
The best views of London can be found from a range of places throughout the city. The aforementioned skyscrapers offer some of the most dramatic vistas, but the city’s parks and hills offer great vantage points, too.
Wherever you choose to get your fix, I hope you enjoy visiting these places and taking in the views while you do.
1. View from the Walkie Talkie
The Walkie Talkie gets my vote for the best garden view of London. The Sky Garden sits at the top of the Walkie Talkie, a London skyscraper that has turned its highest floors into a covered forest with expansive views of the City and its surroundings.
I snagged a ticket last week—they’re free—and headed to the top with a friend to check out the scene. What we found was one of the best views of London.
The garden itself slopes downward from back to front, housing three tiers of restaurants in the center. The biggest is an airy cafe at the bottom, from which the outdoor viewing platform is easily accessible.
The views themselves are stunning, covering everything from Tower Bridge and City Hall to St Paul’s Cathedral and The Shard. It’s worth spending an afternoon there sipping a coffee or glass of wine while watching the world go by in miniature.
2. The View from The Shard
The View from The Shard is my top pick for the best view of London from a skyscraper. At 1,004 feet (306 meters), The Shard is the tallest building in London.
As its height suggests, it also has some of the best views in London. Tickets for its viewing floors aren’t cheap, but they offer 360-degree panoramas of London that incorporate the HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge, and the London Eye.
It’s the perfect place to sip champagne to celebrate the view—or in my case, quell a fear of heights—and toast the tallest building in the UK.
The Shard also has great restaurants and bars below the viewing deck. They’re perfect for a meal or drink with a view.
3. View from Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park gets my vote for the loveliest view of London from a park. It may not rise as high as The Shard, but the top of the hill in Greenwich Park has one of the best views of London all the same.
Looking down at the beautiful historic architecture of the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House, it surprisingly trumps the fact that the world-famous Prime Meridian and home of Greenwich Mean Time is just steps away in the Royal Observatory.
Additionally, the juxtaposition of the historic buildings of Greenwich and the towering glass skyscrapers of Canary Wharf behind them adds an exciting old-meets-new element to this London view.
4. View from the London Eye
The London Eye is my top choice for the most stunning view of London from an attraction. In the heart of central London, this iconic Ferris wheel offers some of the best views of London’s landmarks.
A ride on the London Eye offers close-up views of Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace, all from the comfort of a giant bubble. It has good angles on the South Bank and the Thames, too.
My fear of heights caused me to avoid the London Eye for years, but when I finally conquered it to see what all the hype was about, I understood why it’s such a popular attraction. The views are unbeatable.
5. View from St Paul’s Cathedral
In the City, St Paul’s Cathedral offers my favorite panorama of London from a church. One of the most visible historic landmarks in London, its height allows it to offer some of the best views of London.
Like the Duomo in Milan or the Notre Dame in Paris, St Paul’s Cathedral has a viewing platform at the top of its iconic dome. It offers visitors a chance to look out over London while others look out onto them from the likes of the Walkie Talkie and The Shard.
The view of Paternoster Square is particularly pleasing, and makes walking up all the narrow staircases worth the effort.
6. View from City Social
City Social gets my vote for the best view of London from a restaurant. For dining with a view, there’s no better restaurant in London than this.
Located on the 24th floor of Tower 42 near Liverpool Street station, it has spectacular views to go with Jason Atherton’s award-winning food.
The fact that it’s not as high up as some of its nearby culinary counterparts—ahem, Duck & Waffle—also makes it easier to see the details of everything from the Thames to the Tate Modern.
Then again, that makes it challenging to focus on the food instead of the view. First world problems.
7. View from The Monument
The Monument is my choice for the best view of London from a landmark. Sir Christopher Wren’s Monument to the Great Fire of 1666 is the world’s tallest isolated stone column.
The Monument stands 202 feet high and is positioned 202 feet from the spot in Pudding Lane on which the Great Fire is said to have started.
Climbing the 311 spiral steps to the top is not only an excuse to skip the gym (trust me, I did it yesterday!), but also a great way to see some of the best views of London.
The Monument offers great perspectives on everything from the Tower of London to the Gherkin. Given its in the heart of the city, it’s close to a lot of the surrounding buildings and has good angles for photography.
8. View in the Natural History Museum
Views don’t always have to be outdoors, and the Natural History Museum is my favorite place for getting an interior view of London.
The Natural History Museum may not have a viewing platform outside, but it has the next best thing: stunning interiors.
The building was designed to be a cathedral to nature, and the sight of the central hall from the balcony on the second floor shows just how spectacular such a cathedral can be.
9. View from The Holiday Inn in South Kensington
The Holiday Inn on Cromwell Road in South Kensington has the best unexpected view of London.
I’ve heard it said that the best views of a city are from its ugliest building, if for no other reason than that you don’t have to see said building in the skyline.
The Holiday Inn Kensington Forum is a great example of this. A 27-story concrete behemoth, the not-so-attractive hotel may dominate the skyline in South Kensington, but it also offers one of the best views of London.
Given the lack of tall buildings in the area, it’s one of the few places to get a good areal view of the Natural History Museum, the V&A, and the skyscrapers in the City.
How to Capture the Best Views of London
Wherever you find your favorite view of London, a good camera will help you capture it. I’ve written about the camera I use and my photography tips, and I hope they help you take great pictures of the city.
How about you? Where have you found the best views of London?
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56 Comments on Lady’s Picks for the 9 Best Views of London
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These are stunning! Greenwich Park was an unexpected one – I would have guessed you’d say the view from Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath – but this is beautiful and even better I think. I’m coming back to London on Saturday for a few days and I’m starting to think I should have booked myself into the Holiday Inn rather than my expensive Kensington hotel!!
Polly xx
Thanks Polly! I love the view from Parliament Hill, but I feel the one from Greenwich Park is slightly better since you can see more.
The Holiday Inn view is one I hadn’t heard of yet, so that’s going to be on my bucket list! I made a reservation for the Sky Garden for next Wednesday morning. Very excited!
That’s great! You’ll love the Sky Garden. I hope you get nice weather for it!
The One New Change building in The City is on my list! It has a rooftop viewing area that looks straight at St. Pauls!
Yeah, that’s a great one! I love the view of St Paul’s from the rooftop.
I am not familiar with the “Walkie Talkie” building. (I am not in London.) What is the building’s traditional name or street address, please?
Love your photos, btw. You really captured the atrium feel of the Natural History Museum!
The Walkie Talkie is in the City, and a quick Google search will bring up all the relevant information. Glad you like the photos!
These are perfect! I am looking forward to sharing these with my family and deciding which to see! 🙂
Thanks! I hope you enjoy them!
I was just researching where to get the best views of London. Thanks for putting together this great list!
You’re welcome! Glad it was good timing!
I think the most surprising view is from the Royal festival Hall – it’s amazing as the building is not tall at all, but if you take the lift and go all the way up, you have the city and the river just in front (and below) you! so cool!
That’s great! I will have to check it out!
I love the view from Primrose Hill – you can see all of London’s best landmarks lined up neatly in a row! Great spot for watching the sun set, too 🙂
Yeah, that view is amazing!
Love this post! I like Primrose Hill’s view a lot too!
Thanks! Yeah, I love that view!
My best view was actually at the top of New Zealand House in Haymarket. Unfortunately not open to the public but I had a friend working there who took me uo to the 17th floor, wrap around balcony, 360 degree view of London.. it was brilliant!
Definitely going to check out some of those places on my next visit!
Wow, that sounds great!
Pleased at the inclusion of the NHM – starting work there on Monday! Should be fun getting lost trying to find the offices for a few weeks…:)
Nice! Good luck!
This is super! Lost my camera bag on a plane last time so most of my photos from that trip were lost, but London isn’t going anywhere and I’ll be back, now with a whole new perspective. Thanks!
Sorry to hear about your camera bag, but I’m glad you’ll be excited to come back to London and take more photos!
Love this! I lived a few blocks from that ugly Holiday Inn when I studied abroad in 2010. I never thought to go up it! Next time 😉
Thanks! Yeah, I never would have thought to go up if a friend hadn’t recommended it to me.
Some inspiring ideas here. Shard still on my list – and the Sky Garden looks just amazing!
Thanks!
So many wonderful views of London and I have only ticked one off your list… must make it a goal of London Year 2 to see much, much more!
I hope you make it over to see the rest of them!
Julie, Love the idea! I’d like to try the view from the Walkie Talkie.
Yeah, you would love it!
That first photos is especially incredible – that should be a poster! x
Jasiminne
Thanks!
I’m headed to London in the summer! So grateful you wrote this. Thanks!!
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy London!
Wow, the London skyline certainly has changed since I was last there in the mid-90s! I think it’s definitely time for a return visit 🙂
Yeah, definitely! I always notice that when watching movies like Love Actually. The skyline looks really different now!
Hi Lady
An amazing blog post. From your list, I had views from the top of the Shard, Greenwich Park (General Wolfe Statue), and London Eye.
I had not heard about your secret view from the Holiday Inn, that’s a good point.
I should go to the other places in the near future.
Many thanks for sharing these wonderful views and posts.
Greetings from Malaga.
Thanks Bo! I hope you enjoy exploring more of the views!
Alexandra palace is good too for the city stretching out before you and a good skyline view
Yeah, that’s a great one!
Great list, although personally I think the best view from a park is from the top of Primrose Hill. Love that view!
Yeah, that’s a great one!
My firm’s UK office is in the Millbank Tower in Westminster and the views are FANTASTIC – the entire panorama with Houses of Parliament and the Abbey just below, the river bend, and then the Shard and other high-rises on the right. Breathtaking!
Yeah, that’s a great view!
And…
Parliament Hill Fields
Primrose Hill
Yes!
Love this little guide! London is one of my most favorite cities and my daughter is even named London. Definitely pinning for our next trip. Thanks!
Thanks! I’m glad you like it!
There is a not spectacular but still nice view from the restaurant on the 5th floor of the Peter Jones department store on King’s Road in Chelsea. Nice place for taking a break after extensive shopping.
True! That view is really lovely.
I’ve been to quite a few on this list and agree! Primrose Hill, Duck and Waffle, and Madison (next to St.Paul’s) are a few more favs too!
Nice! Those are great ones!
Great list, I was planning on visiting the Sky Garden but didn’t realize you needed tickets. Makes sense though I suppose. I also liked that you included great views from unexpected source, the top of the Holiday Inn!
Thanks, Lisa!