The 10 Best Free Views of London: Rooftops, Skyscrapers and Scenic Hills

London is a city best explored on foot. But every now and then, it’s worth getting a little perspective.

From above, the capital reveals itself as a vast patchwork of ancient churches, Victorian terraces, royal parks and gleaming glass towers. The River Thames snakes through the middle, connecting a city that has been growing and changing for nearly 2,000 years.

And while you could spend a small fortune visiting the Shard or the London Eye, some of London’s most spectacular viewpoints are completely free.

1. Horizon 22 – London’s Highest Free Viewing Platform

Location: 22 Bishopsgate, City of London
Admission: Free (advance booking recommended)

If you’re looking for spectacular views from a great height, Horizon 22 is difficult to beat.

Located on the 58th floor of one of London’s tallest skyscrapers, this viewing gallery offers extraordinary panoramas across the capital.

From more than 250 metres above street level, London’s famous landmarks suddenly look like miniature models. You can pick out St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, the Shard and, on a clear day, landmarks far beyond the city centre.

Unlike Sky Garden, Horizon 22 is primarily about the view itself. There’s no tropical jungle to distract you, just enormous windows and a remarkable sense of space.

It’s also an excellent place to appreciate the extraordinary contrast between London’s historic buildings and its modern financial district.

Our tip: Try visiting both Horizon 22 and Sky Garden. They’re only a short walk apart, and each offers a surprisingly different perspective.

Book your free visit: ⁠Horizon 22

2. Sky Garden – A Tropical Paradise Above the City

Location: 20 Fenchurch Street, City of London
Admission: Free (advance booking recommended)

Thirty-five floors above the streets of the City of London, you’ll find something rather unexpected: a tropical garden.

Occupying the top floors of the distinctively shaped skyscraper nicknamed the Walkie Talkie, Sky Garden combines lush greenery with spectacular views across the capital.

The floor-to-ceiling windows offer wonderful panoramas of the Thames, Tower Bridge, the Shard and London’s ever-changing skyline. There’s also an outdoor terrace, weather permitting, and bars and restaurants for those who fancy a drink with their view.

The building itself has an interesting history. Completed in 2014, it briefly became notorious for reflecting concentrated sunlight onto the streets below, reportedly damaging a parked car!

Our tip: Free tickets are released in advance and can disappear quickly. Book ahead, ideally for a clear afternoon.

Book your free visit: ⁠Sky Garden

3. Primrose Hill – London’s Most Romantic Panorama

Location: Primrose Hill, Camden
Admission: Free

Not all great views require a lift.

Just north of Regent’s Park, Primrose Hill offers one of London’s most celebrated panoramas. From its grassy summit, the city stretches out before you, with the towers of the West End and the City rising above a sea of rooftops and trees.

At 63 metres above sea level, it’s hardly a mountain. But its relatively unobstructed view makes it one of the capital’s favourite places to watch the sunset.

Primrose Hill has long attracted writers, artists and romantics. William Blake famously described a mystical vision of the sun here, commemorated by an inscription at the summit: “I have conversed with the spiritual sun. I saw him on Primrose Hill.”

The view towards St Paul’s Cathedral is one of several London panoramas protected by planning regulations, designed to prevent new developments from obstructing important historic landmarks.

Bring a picnic, find a spot on the grass and watch the city change colour as evening approaches.

Our tip: Sunset is particularly beautiful, although you’ll probably be sharing it with plenty of Londoners. Check seasonal park closing times if you’re planning a late visit.

Plan your visit: ⁠Primrose Hill – The Royal Parks (official visitor information)

4. Greenwich Park – Where London’s History Meets Its Skyline

Location: Greenwich, southeast London
Admission: Free

For a view that combines London’s past and present, it’s hard to beat Greenwich Park.

Climb the hill towards the Royal Observatory and you’ll be rewarded with one of the capital’s most extraordinary sights.

Directly below you stands the elegant Queen’s House, designed by Inigo Jones in the 17th century. Beyond it lie the magnificent buildings of the Old Royal Naval College, with the Thames and the futuristic skyscrapers of Canary Wharf providing a dramatic backdrop.

Few places illustrate London’s evolution quite so beautifully.

The hill is also home to the Royal Observatory, established in 1675 during the reign of Charles II. It was here that astronomers helped establish the systems of navigation and timekeeping that would eventually give us Greenwich Mean Time.

You don’t need to pay to enter the Observatory to enjoy the famous view from outside—just climb the hill!

Our tip: Combine your visit with a walk through Greenwich’s historic centre, its famous market and the riverside.

Plan your visit: ⁠The Royal Parks – Greenwich Park

5. The Garden at 120 – A Hidden Rooftop Oasis

Location: 120 Fenchurch Street, City of London
Admission: Free (no advance booking required)

Not far from the much better-known Sky Garden is another rooftop retreat that deserves more attention.

The Garden at 120 sits fifteen floors above Fenchurch Street, surrounded by some of London’s most distinctive modern buildings.

Unlike many viewing platforms, it’s open to the sky, with landscaped gardens, seating and excellent views of the Gherkin, the Walkie Talkie and the surrounding City.

It may not offer the dizzying heights of Horizon 22, but there’s something rather lovely about sitting among the plants while the financial district carries on its business far below.

And best of all, you don’t need to book.

Our tip: This is a particularly good option if you’ve missed out on tickets for Sky Garden. Access can be restricted in bad weather, so check before visiting.

Plan your visit: ⁠The Garden at 120

6. Parliament Hill – A Wild Escape with a Spectacular View

Location: Hampstead Heath, north London
Admission: Free

Hampstead Heath feels remarkably far removed from the bustle of central London.

With its ancient woodland, swimming ponds and rolling grassland, it’s one of the capital’s most beautiful green spaces. And at its southeastern edge stands Parliament Hill, offering a magnificent panorama of the skyline.

At 98 metres above sea level, it’s one of London’s highest natural viewpoints.

The hill is traditionally associated with the English Civil War, when it was reportedly used as a lookout by Parliamentary forces. Today, the view towards St Paul’s Cathedral is protected by planning regulations, helping preserve the panorama for future generations.

On a clear day, you can pick out St Paul’s Cathedral, the Shard, the Palace of Westminster and numerous other landmarks.

Our tip: Make an afternoon of it. Explore Hampstead Heath, enjoy the view and then head into Hampstead village for a drink in one of its historic pubs.

Plan your visit: ⁠City of London – Hampstead Heath

7. One New Change – A Close-Up View of St Paul’s Cathedral

Location: One New Change, City of London
Admission: Free (subject to rooftop access)

Sometimes the best view isn’t the highest.

Just a stone’s throw from St Paul’s Cathedral, the rooftop terrace at One New Change offers one of the most striking perspectives of Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece.

The enormous dome rises dramatically above the surrounding buildings, providing an extraordinary close-up view of one of London’s most recognisable landmarks.

Completed in 1710, St Paul’s was the centrepiece of Wren’s rebuilding of the City after the Great Fire of London. For centuries, its dome dominated the London skyline, and special planning protections still help preserve important views of the cathedral.

One New Change itself is a modern shopping and office complex, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and opened in 2010. Its rooftop terrace provides a fascinating contrast between the architecture of old and new London.

Our tip: This is one of the best places in London to photograph St Paul’s Cathedral. Rooftop access can be restricted, so check availability before visiting.

Plan your visit: ⁠One New Change

8. Alexandra Palace – The Whole of London at Your Feet

Location: Alexandra Palace, north London
Admission: Free

Affectionately known as Ally Pally, Alexandra Palace occupies a commanding position above north London.

Originally opened in 1873 as a grand Victorian entertainment venue, the palace has played a remarkable role in British cultural history. Most famously, it was the site of the BBC’s first regular high-definition television broadcasts in 1936.

Today, it’s a popular venue for concerts, exhibitions and sporting events.

But you don’t need a ticket to enjoy one of its greatest attractions: the extraordinary view from the surrounding park.

On a clear day, you can see across an enormous sweep of London, from the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf to the distant landmarks of Westminster.

It’s particularly impressive at sunset, when the entire city seems to glow.

Our tip: If you want a panoramic view without the crowds of central London, Alexandra Palace is an excellent choice.

Plan your visit: ⁠Alexandra Palace

9. The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate – A Skyscraper View Without the Price Tag

Location: 8 Bishopsgate, City of London
Admission: Free (advance booking recommended)

London’s financial district is home to several impressive free viewing platforms, and the Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate is one of the newest additions.

Situated on the 50th floor of a modern skyscraper, the gallery offers spectacular views across the City and beyond.

From this height, you can appreciate the extraordinary jumble of architecture that makes London’s skyline so distinctive: medieval church towers, Victorian landmarks and futuristic skyscrapers all competing for space.

The nearby Gherkin and other towers of the financial district are particularly impressive from this vantage point.

The Lookout is smaller and less elaborate than Sky Garden or Horizon 22, but it’s an excellent alternative if you can’t secure tickets for either.

Our tip: Book in advance, particularly for weekends and school holidays.

Book your free visit: ⁠The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate

10. Richmond Park – London’s Most Remarkable Protected View

Location: Richmond Park, southwest London
Admission: Free

Our final viewpoint is also one of London’s most extraordinary.

Richmond Park is the largest of London’s Royal Parks, covering more than 2,300 acres of ancient woodland, open grassland and rolling hills. It’s famous for its herds of red and fallow deer, which have roamed the park for centuries.

But tucked away near Pembroke Lodge is a viewpoint with a remarkable connection to the heart of London.

From King Henry’s Mound, a small landscaped hill in the park, visitors can look through a carefully maintained corridor of trees towards St Paul’s Cathedral — more than ten miles away.

The view is protected by London’s planning regulations, which restrict the height of developments that might obstruct the sightline.

It’s an extraordinary reminder of the importance London places on preserving its historic skyline. Even in a city of nearly nine million people, you can stand in a peaceful corner of Richmond Park and see the dome of a cathedral in the distant City.

The mound’s name is traditionally associated with Henry VIII, who is said to have waited here for a signal confirming the execution of Anne Boleyn at the Tower of London. It’s a wonderfully dramatic story, although there’s little historical evidence to support it.

Our tip: Bring binoculars if you have them. St Paul’s is a long way off, and the view is particularly rewarding on a clear day. The nearby terrace at Pembroke Lodge also offers beautiful views across the Thames Valley.

Plan your visit: ⁠The Royal Parks – Richmond Park

Why Are Some Views of London Protected?

You might have noticed that several of the viewpoints on this list share something in common: their views towards St Paul’s Cathedral are protected by planning regulations.

London has a long tradition of trying to preserve important views of its most famous landmarks. The city’s planning authorities have established a series of protected viewing corridors, restricting the height and positioning of new buildings that might obstruct particular sightlines.

These protections are especially important for St Paul’s Cathedral and the Palace of Westminster.

Some of the most famous protected views include those from Parliament Hill, Primrose Hill and King Henry’s Mound in Richmond Park.

The view from Richmond Park is particularly remarkable. Despite being more than ten miles from St Paul’s, the cathedral remains visible through a narrow gap in the trees, framed by the surrounding landscape.

It’s a fascinating example of how London’s history continues to shape the modern city — even when that means limiting the construction of new skyscrapers.

So, Where Is the Best Free View of London?

That depends on what you’re looking for.

For sheer height, Horizon 22 is our top recommendation.

If you prefer a more natural setting, Primrose Hill and Parliament Hill offer wonderful panoramas, particularly around sunset.

History lovers should head for Greenwich Park, while King Henry’s Mound in Richmond Park offers one of London’s most unusual and carefully preserved views—and a great day out.

And if you’re simply looking for somewhere to relax above the city, the Garden at 120 is one of London’s best-kept secrets.

All ten locations offer free admission, although some viewing galleries require advance reservations. It’s always worth checking opening hours and access arrangements before visiting.

Discover London from the Ground Up with Walkative!

Of course, London’s skyline only tells part of its story.

To really understand the city, you need to explore the streets, squares, churches and hidden corners that lie beneath those famous landmarks.

Join one of our Walkative! London walking tours to discover the fascinating history behind the capital’s extraordinary architecture, from the medieval streets of the City of London to the royal palaces and political landmarks of Westminster.

Our local guides will help you see London from a whole new perspective — even with both feet firmly on the ground!

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(photo credits:

The wub, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

View of the London skyline from the top of Primrose Hill by Robert Lamb, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Roman Hobler, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)