Places in London Offering fantastic Views of London

There are many places in London that offer spectacular views of the city’s skyline and of its various attractions. Many of these places such as the Shard and London Eye have an entry fee but they offer excellent panoramic views. However, there are many more places that provide spectacular views of this gorgeous city without charging a single penny. Some of these are being mentioned below. It is important to note that some places do have entry costs but with a London Pass or other tourist discount passes, they are free to enter. These include Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Monument.

 

Primrose Hill: The spectacular view that you can get from the top of this hill is really worth the trouble that you will face in climbing the hill. The hill is located in a luxurious and affluent area of Primrose Hill district on the edge of Camden, where the famous and wealthy people live. It is situated just across from Regent’s Park and London Zoo. Although the slope of the hill is mild and gradual and the paths are paved, you need plenty of energy to climb it. However, once you have done so, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the city. Moreover at the top, you will find small havens of peaceful retreat where you can relax and enjoy the stunning views over the rolling hills and tree-lined lanes of Regent’s Park. The view will extend into the West End and you can see the BT Tower near the right, the Shard and the Walkie-Talkie towards the left. Some benches have been provided for people to sit and appreciate one of the best views of the city. The nearest Underground station is Camden Town or St John’s Wood.

 

Sky Garden: Commonly known as the Walkie-Talkie, this is one of the latest skyscrapers adorning London’s skyline, located at 20 Fenchurch Street. The beauty of the glass building is in its unique curved shape with curved glass that has such strong reflections that it melted a car!  An enlarged glass dome decorates the top of the building that has three floors of landscaped gardens with each having an observation deck and an open air terrace. It is the highest public garden in London and it is free. However, you have to book tickets to enter through their SkyGarden website, although there is no entry fee. The nearest Underground station is Monument.

 

New Change: An amazing public roof garden sits atop the New Change building located just next door to St Paul’s Cathedral. It is a modern glass and steel building that contains offices, shops and restaurants. Although it is called a garden, it has no greenery but it offers spectacular views of the city right across from east to west and a frontal view of St Paul’s Cathedral. It is an ideal spot for photography and it displays international sporting events on large screen during the summer. The nearest Underground station is St Paul’s.

 

If you are visiting London and would like to enjoy these fantastic views, it would be best to stay at a Montcalm hotel London because of its close proximity to various places of interest in the city.

 

Tate Modern: This museum offers fantastic views of St Paul’s Cathedral and of the Millennium Bridge, also known as the “wobbly bridge” or the “Harry Potter Bridge that spans the River Thames from Tate to the Cathedral. Since the Tate is located in the centre of the town, you can see the entire city spread out in front of you. Even if you are not interested in seeing the museum, it is worth visiting it even if only for enjoying the view.

 

Parliament Hill: Located at Hampstead Heath which is a 791-acre parkland situated in the hills of North London. It is considered to be one of the best locations in London for getting excellent views of the city. The view from here spans the entire stretch of London. Its surrounding parkland is ideal for holding picnics, for kids to play, for walking dogs or for just wandering around. It is only when you look down to see the beautiful spread of the city that you will realise how high up you are. The nearest Underground station is Hampstead and the closest Overground station is Hampstead Heath.

 

Greenwich Park, Royal Observatory: Greenwich Park has the advantage that there are legal barriers preventing the construction of any building near it that will obstruct the view of the City of London from this point. Although there is a fee for visiting the Royal Observatory at Greenwich Park, entry to the park is free. If you climb to the top of the park, you can get perfect views of east London and be able to see the Gherkin, the Shard, the O2 dome and Canary Wharf. You can also see Christopher Wren’s Greenwich Naval College and the 17th century Queen’s House. The park can also be accessed by taking a boat through town and on sunny days, it offers fantastic views of the sparkling waters of the Thames. 

 

King Henry’s Mound, Richmond: Located on the south-western fringes of London, Richmond is a wealthy leafy suburb of London. Richmond Park, once the hunting ground for King Henry VIII, is now ideal for deer-watching and for having picnics. Its highest point, known as King Henry’s Mound, offers stunning unobstructed views that extend up to 10 miles. It is worth seeing the view as you can actually see St Paul’s Cathedral. In order to protect this impressive view, a law was passed in 1710 banning any construction that would obstruct this view.  The nearest Underground station is Richmond.

Besides the above the other places that offer fantastic views but have entry fees, include St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Cathedral Viewing Tower, The Tower bridge Exhibition and the Monument.