You do not have to pay £30 or more to see London from above. Hills such as Primrose Hill, Parliament Hill and Greenwich Park are open without tickets, and several City skyscrapers have free rooftop gardens and viewing galleries, some of which need a free booking.
London is quite flat in the centre, so the best free views come from two kinds of places. The first are the hills around the edge of inner London, in big public parks where you can simply walk up and sit on the grass. The second are the new office towers in the City of London, the financial district, where the owners have opened a garden or viewing floor to the public.
The hills give you the classic postcard panorama, with the whole skyline laid out in the distance. The towers put you right in the middle of it, close enough to look down on St Paul's Cathedral or Tower Bridge. This guide covers the best of both, with what you need to book, when they open and when the light is best.
| Viewpoint | Type | Booking | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primrose Hill | Park hill | None | Sunset, picnics, the West End skyline |
| Parliament Hill | Park hill (98 m) | None | The widest natural panorama |
| Greenwich Park | Park hill | None | Canary Wharf and the river |
| Alexandra Palace | Park hill | None | A quieter view from the north |
| Horizon 22 | Level 58 viewing gallery | Free timed ticket | The highest free view in London |
| Sky Garden | Indoor garden, level 35 | Free timed ticket | River and Tower Bridge views |
| The Garden at 120 | 15th-floor roof garden | None | A walk-up option in the City |
| One New Change | Shopping centre roof terrace | None | St Paul's Cathedral up close |
Primrose Hill: the classic view over Regent's Park
Primrose Hill is a grassy hill just north of Regent's Park, and it is probably the most loved free view in London. From the top you look south over the trees of the park towards the West End and the City, with the BT Tower, the London Eye and the towers around the Shard spread across the horizon. The Royal Parks, which manages it, calls it "that famous view", and it has drawn artists and poets for generations.
The climb takes only a few minutes from the park gates and the slope is fairly gentle. At the summit there is a paved area with benches. On a fine summer evening hundreds of people gather here for sunset, often with a picnic.
Primrose Hill is normally open 24 hours a day, but there is an important exception. In 2026 the Royal Parks closes it from 10pm to 6am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights between 3 April and 8 November, following the pattern of recent summers. On weekdays it stays open all night.
The nearest Tube station is Chalk Farm on the Northern line, about 10 minutes' walk away. You can also walk up through Regent's Park from Baker Street or Regent's Park stations, which makes a pleasant hour. Our guide to Regent's Park and Primrose Hill covers the gardens, the zoo side of the park and where to eat nearby.
Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath
Parliament Hill sits in the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath, a large area of wild, hilly parkland in north London. The City of London Corporation, which looks after the Heath, says the hill rises to 98 metres (321 feet) and is one of London's highest natural points. From the top you can pick out St Paul's Cathedral, the Shard, the Gherkin and the Palace of Westminster.
The view from here is legally protected, which means new buildings must not block certain sightlines towards St Paul's and Westminster. That is why the panorama still feels open even as the City keeps growing. It is also a popular spot for flying kites on windy days.
Parliament Hill is steeper than Primrose Hill. The climb from the Gospel Oak side is short but noticeably uphill, and the paths can be muddy after rain. Wear proper shoes, and bring a warm layer: the summit is exposed and often windy even when the streets below feel mild.
Hampstead Heath and Gospel Oak stations on the London Overground are both within easy walking distance, and Belsize Park and Kentish Town on the Northern line are a slightly longer walk. Bus routes 24, 46 and C11 stop close to the southern entrance of the Heath. For the rest of the area, including the swimming ponds and Kenwood House, see our guides to Hampstead Heath and the village of Hampstead.
Greenwich Park and its One Tree Hill
There are two One Tree Hills in London and this is the mound inside Greenwich Park, not the wooded hill of the same name at Honor Oak in south-east London. Greenwich Park in south-east London has one of the most famous views in the city. From the top of its highest hill, next to the Royal Observatory and the statue of General Wolfe, you look north over the Queen's House and the old Royal Naval College to the Thames and the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf. On a clear day you can see the City beyond them.
The Royal Parks describes this as "the park's most popular spot", so it gets crowded on sunny weekends. For a quieter view, walk east to One Tree Hill, which the park recommends for views "away from the crowds". The Royal Observatory itself charges for entry (and closes after 2 November 2026 for major works, reopening in summer 2027), but standing on the hill outside it is free, and Greenwich Park stays open. Our guide to the Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark explains what is inside.
Unlike Primrose Hill, Greenwich Park closes at night. The pedestrian gates open at 6am every day and close at dusk, which changes through the year, so an evening visit in winter must finish early. Greenwich and Maze Hill are the nearest rail stations, and Cutty Sark and Greenwich stations on the DLR are close to the park. Our page on the DLR and the London Overground explains how those driverless trains work. The river bus is another good way to arrive, and our Greenwich neighbourhood guide suggests how to spend the rest of the day.
Alexandra Palace: the view from the north
Alexandra Palace, known locally as "Ally Pally", is a huge Victorian entertainment building on a hill in north London. Its park, Alexandra Park, covers 196 acres and has been open to the public since 1863. The terrace and slopes in front of the palace look south across the whole of London to the towers of the City and beyond.
Fewer visitors make the trip here than to Primrose Hill, so it feels more local and relaxed. It is a good choice if you are staying in north London or are already heading to a concert or event at the palace. Alexandra Palace station, with Great Northern trains from Moorgate and King's Cross, is at the Wood Green entrance to the park. Wood Green on the Piccadilly line is the nearest Tube station, and the W3 bus runs up to the palace from Finsbury Park.
Horizon 22: the highest free view in London
Horizon 22 is a viewing gallery on level 58 of 22 Bishopsgate, the tallest building in the City of London. Its operator calls it "London's highest free viewing platform". Two high-speed lifts take you up in 41 seconds, and the gallery gives you 300-degree views across the city, from St Paul's and the Barbican to the Shard, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf.
Entry is free, but everyone, including children, needs a timed e-ticket with a QR code. Book only on the official Horizon 22 website: the operator warns that any other site charging for tickets is not authorised and the tickets will not be valid. A booking can include up to nine people.
- Opening hours (September 2026): weekdays 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm.
- Time limit: none. Your ticket gives an arrival time, but you can stay as long as you like.
- Walk-ins: possible through a QR code outside the entrance, but only if there is capacity.
- Children: under-16s must be with an adult aged 18 or over.
- Bags: small bags only; nothing larger than 58 x 45 x 25 cm, and there are no lockers.
- Extras: a small café on level 58, and an optional audio-visual "Guide to the View" for £5 per person, in English only.
Horizon 22 has no clock on your visit. Unlike Sky Garden, which gives you one hour, Horizon 22 lets you stay as long as you want once you are inside. That makes it the better choice if you want to wait for the light to change or watch the sun go down over the West End.
Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street
Sky Garden is the best-known free viewpoint in the City: an indoor garden under a glass roof at the top of the tower Londoners call the "Walkie-Talkie", with an outdoor terrace. It looks straight across the river to the Shard and down onto Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. It is lower than Horizon 22 but has more space to sit, as well as bars and restaurants.
Free tickets are released every Monday morning for the week three weeks ahead, visits are limited to one hour, and weekend slots go quickly. We explain the whole system, and what to do when it is sold out, in our guide to booking free Sky Garden tickets.
The Garden at 120: a City rooftop with no booking
If you have not planned ahead, The Garden at 120 is the easiest high viewpoint to visit on a whim. It is a roof garden on the 15th floor of 120 Fenchurch Street, a few minutes' walk from Sky Garden, and it is free with no booking. Its owners describe it as the largest free rooftop garden in the City of London, with wisteria, roses, a long water feature and views to the Thames, Tower Bridge and the surrounding towers.
It is much lower than Sky Garden or Horizon 22, so you look up at the Gherkin and the Leadenhall Building rather than down on them. But you are outdoors, there is seating, and you can bring your own food and soft drinks (no glass bottles or alcohol). In May the wisteria on the pergolas is in full flower and attracts many photographers.
Opening hours depend on the season. From 1 April to 30 September it is open 10am to 9pm on weekdays and until 5pm at weekends. From 1 October to 31 March it is open 10am to 6:30pm on weekdays and until 5pm at weekends. It is closed on bank holidays and may close in extreme weather. Enter through Hogarth Court from Fenchurch Street or Fenchurch Avenue, pass the airport-style security check and take the lift. Under-18s must be with an adult.
One New Change: St Paul's Cathedral at eye level
One New Change is a modern shopping centre directly east of St Paul's Cathedral. Its roof terrace is open to everyone and free, and it offers an unusually close view of the cathedral's dome, almost at the same height. You also see across the rooftops of the City and towards the river.
Take the lift from inside the shopping centre. The terrace can close in bad weather or for safety reasons, and the rules forbid selfie sticks, tripods, glass bottles and alcohol on the open terrace. There is also a restaurant and bar on the roof if you want to sit down, but you do not have to buy anything to use the public part of the terrace. St Paul's station on the Central line is next door.
Free views from the river and its bridges
Some of the best views in London cost nothing and need no lift at all. Waterloo Bridge is often called the finest viewpoint on the Thames because it sits on a bend in the river: look east for St Paul's and the City towers, and west for the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament. The Millennium Bridge frames St Paul's perfectly as you walk north from Tate Modern, and the walkways of the Golden Jubilee Bridges look straight at the London Eye.
These views are at their best at dusk, when the buildings light up. Our walking guide to London's bridges links them into one riverside route. If you then want a paid view from higher up, compare The View from The Shard with a ride on the London Eye.
When to go for the clearest views
The weather decides more than anything else. A clear day after rain, when the air has been washed clean, gives the sharpest views. Hazy summer afternoons and low cloud can flatten everything, and on some winter days the tops of the tallest towers disappear into the mist. Check the forecast on the morning of your visit, and see our guide to London's weather through the year for what to expect by season.
- Morning: the park hills are almost empty, and the sun lights up the skyline from the east.
- Late afternoon and sunset: the most popular time. From Primrose Hill and Parliament Hill the sun sets to your right as the city lights come on.
- After dark: the bridges and Primrose Hill (before 10pm on summer weekend nights) are the obvious choices. Among the towers, Sky Garden is open to 9pm at weekends and The Garden at 120 to 9pm on summer weekdays; Horizon 22 closes by 6pm.
- Weekdays: the free towers are much easier to book and less crowded than at weekends.
If you are travelling on a tight budget, these viewpoints fit well with the ideas in our guides to free things to do in London and saving money in London. And if you would rather enjoy the view with a drink, see our round-up of rooftop bars.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free view of London?
For a classic panorama from a park, Primrose Hill and Parliament Hill are the favourites and need no ticket. For height, Horizon 22 on level 58 of 22 Bishopsgate is the highest free viewing gallery in London, and Sky Garden offers the best free view of the river and Tower Bridge.
Do I need to book to visit the free viewpoints?
The park hills, The Garden at 120 and the One New Change roof terrace need no booking. Horizon 22 and Sky Garden are free but ask you to book a timed ticket on their official websites. Both sometimes accept walk-ins when there is space, but neither guarantees it.
Where can I watch the sunset over London for free?
Primrose Hill and Parliament Hill are the most popular free sunset spots, and Waterloo Bridge is a good choice in the centre. In autumn and winter the sun sets early enough to watch from Horizon 22 or Sky Garden before they close, and Sky Garden stays open until 9pm at weekends.
Is Primrose Hill open at night?
On weekdays Primrose Hill is open 24 hours. In 2026 the Royal Parks closes it from 10pm to 6am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights between 3 April and 8 November, so plan a late summer weekend visit to end before 10pm.
Sources
- The Royal Parks - The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill (checked September 2026)
- City of London Corporation - Parliament Hill viewpoint (checked September 2026)
- The Royal Parks - Greenwich Park FAQs (checked September 2026)
- Horizon 22 - Frequently asked questions (checked September 2026)
- Fen Court - The Garden at 120 FAQs (checked September 2026)
- One New Change - Roof terrace (checked September 2026)
- Alexandra Palace - Getting here (checked September 2026)
- Sky Garden - Booking your visit (checked September 2026)