Rooftop Bars in London

Published 18 September 2026 · Updated 28 September 2026 · By the Guide to London editorial team · Editor: Terje Moy

London's rooftop bars range from free public terraces with a bar next door to cocktail lounges 30 floors up. The best views for the least money are at Sky Garden and the roof terrace of One New Change, both free to enter; for the famous high-rise bars, expect to book, pay well above pub prices and check the age rules, because several only admit guests aged 21 or over in the evening.

A rooftop bar is simply a bar on top of, or high up in, a building, with a terrace or large windows over the city. London is a low-rise city in most places, so even a bar on the eighth floor can give a wide view over the rooftops and the Thames. The very tall buildings of the City and the Shard add views that stretch for many miles on a clear day.

This guide covers where to go, what the house rules usually are, how booking works and how to avoid paying for a view you cannot see. We name long-established places, but opening times, prices and policies change often, so check each venue's own website before you go.

Free views first: Sky Garden and One New Change

Before paying for a cocktail with a view, consider the two free options in the City of London. Both put you high above the streets without an entry fee, and both have bars you can use if you want a drink.

Sky Garden, 20 Fenchurch Street

Sky Garden is an indoor garden at the top of the building Londoners call the Walkie-Talkie. Entry is free on weekdays from 10:00 to 18:00 and at weekends from 11:00 to 21:00, but you need a free ticket. Tickets are released every Monday morning, three weeks ahead, for the whole week, and each ticket gives you a one-hour slot. Walk-ins are possible when there is space, but not after 17:00 on weekdays.

Inside there are two bars, Sky Pod and City Garden, plus restaurants including Darwin Brasserie on level 36. Sky Garden runs a Challenge 25 policy, so bring photo ID if you look young. Under-16s cannot enter after 18:00 on weekdays or after 21:00 at weekends.

One New Change roof terrace, by St Paul's

The shopping centre at One New Change, opposite St Paul's Cathedral, has a public roof terrace that is "open to all and absolutely free to enter". The view of the cathedral's dome is close enough to see the details of the stonework. You cannot bring your own alcohol or glass bottles onto the terrace, and tripods and selfie sticks are not allowed. It may close in bad weather.

Madison, a restaurant and bar, shares the roof. According to its own rules, guests must be 21 or over after 15:00 and on Saturdays, it does not take drinks bookings for groups under 10 (they are walk-in only), a £20 entry fee may apply at peak times, and it does not admit solo guests. It has no dress code. The free terrace is a good alternative if those rules do not suit you.

The City's original rooftop terrace: Coq d'Argent

Coq d'Argent sits on the roof of No. 1 Poultry, the striped postmodern building above Bank station, looking across to the Bank of England. It is a French restaurant with a bar, a landscaped roof garden and terraces, and it calls itself the City's original rooftop destination. On weekday evenings it draws a large after-work crowd from the surrounding offices, so book if you want a terrace table then.

It is a good choice after a day exploring the City of London, the historic financial district, because the Bank junction is a short walk from the Monument, the Royal Exchange and Leadenhall Market.

Drinks in the Shard

The Shard at London Bridge is the tallest building in the UK. Its viewing platform, The View from The Shard, is a separate paid attraction higher up, but there are bars lower down in the tower that you can use instead.

• Aqua Shard is a restaurant on level 31 with the Aqua Shard Bar.
• Oblix is on level 32 and has restaurant and bar areas facing different directions.

A drink in one of these bars is not cheap, but you sit down while you look, and it is worth comparing the cost of a round with the price of viewing platform tickets on the official website before you choose. The catch is that the views are through glass, and the bars may be booked for private events or ask for a table reservation at busy times. Check each venue's website for current booking rules and menus before you go.

West End: Radio Rooftop on the Strand

Radio Rooftop is on top of the ME London hotel at 336-337 Strand, close to Covent Garden, Somerset House and Waterloo Bridge. The terrace looks east along the river towards St Paul's and the City. It has indoor dining and heated outdoor patios.

Its published rules are typical of London's hotel rooftops. From 17:00 daily, dinner and drinks service is strictly for guests aged 21 or over. The dress code rules out sportswear and sports shirts. It advertises a happy hour from 16:00 to 19:00 on Mondays to Wednesdays. In September 2026 it opened from 12:00 to midnight on Sundays to Wednesdays and until 01:30 on Thursdays to Saturdays, with last food orders at 23:00.

It works well before or after an evening in Covent Garden or a show at one of the theatres on the Strand and Aldwych.

South of the river: galleries and car parks

Tate Modern has a restaurant and bar at the top of the building with panoramic views across the Thames to St Paul's. The gallery itself is free, and it stays open until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, which makes it a good place to catch the evening light over the river. A walk along the South Bank before or after is one of the best free things to do in London.

Further south, in Peckham, Frank's Cafe is a seasonal bar on the upper level of a multi-storey car park, run as part of the Bold Tendencies arts project. It has long views north to the towers of the City. It is open only in summer: in 2026 it ran from 15 May to 12 September, Wednesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 23:00. It is card only and does not take table reservations. Check its website in spring for next year's dates.

What rooftop bars cost, and how to keep the bill down

We do not print drink prices here because they change often and vary a lot between venues. As a rule, expect cocktails in hotel and high-rise bars to cost considerably more than a pint in a pub, and check whether a service charge is added to the bill. Many rooftop bars publish their menus online, so you can see prices before you go.

Service charges are common where drinks are brought to your table. A charge described as discretionary is optional, and by law all tips and service charges must be passed on to staff. Our guide to tipping in London explains when to add something and when not to.

• Go for happy hour. Several rooftop bars run early-evening offers on weekdays.
• Use the free terraces. Sky Garden and One New Change give views for nothing; have one drink there instead of three somewhere else.
• Go before sunset. Arriving an hour before sunset gets you daylight and dusk for the price of one or two drinks.
• Share a table. A group of four paying for one round often gets a better table than a couple.

For more ways to enjoy London cheaply, see our guide to London on a budget and our list of the best free viewpoints, which includes hills and parks as well as buildings.

Booking, age limits and dress codes

Rooftop bars are among the most rule-bound places to drink in London, and it pays to read the small print before you set off.

Rules as published by each venue in September 2026. Bring a passport or national ID card if you are under about 30, since staff may ask for proof of age at the door. Where no dress code is stated, smart casual clothes are a safe choice: clean trainers are usually fine, but a football shirt may not be.

Terraces are open to the weather. Many have heaters and umbrellas, but a sudden shower can empty a roof in minutes. Our guide to London weather and what to pack explains why a light waterproof layer is worth carrying even in summer.

When to go for sunsets and night views

London sunsets are latest in June and July and early in winter, when the sun sets in the late afternoon. For a sunset drink in summer, book a table for about an hour before sunset; in winter, a late-afternoon visit gives you the same light and the city's lights coming on.

West-facing terraces get the sunset itself; east-facing ones get the reflected light on the towers of the City and Canary Wharf. On summer evenings the terraces fill quickly after work on Thursdays and Fridays, so weekday early evenings earlier in the week are calmer.

If you plan to go on somewhere afterwards, our guides to London at night and London's nightlife suggest where to head. And if you prefer beer and history to cocktails and views, try one of London's historic pubs instead.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free rooftop bar in London?

There is no bar that serves free drinks, but two places give you a high view for free. Sky Garden is free with a pre-booked ticket and has two bars inside, and the roof terrace at One New Change near St Paul's is free and open to all, with a paid bar next to it.

Do I need to book a rooftop bar in London?

For a table at a popular time, especially sunset on a summer weekend, yes. Some bars take walk-ins for small groups, and some do not accept reservations at all, such as Frank's Cafe in Peckham. Check each venue's booking rules on its website before you go.

Can under-21s go to rooftop bars in London?

The legal drinking age is 18, but several rooftop bars set their own minimum age of 21 in the evening. Madison admits only guests aged 21 or over after 15:00 and on Saturdays, and Radio Rooftop only from 17:00. Always carry photo ID.

What should I wear to a London rooftop bar?

Smart casual clothes are safe almost everywhere. Some venues publish a dress code: Radio Rooftop refuses sportswear and sports shirts, while Madison says it has no dress code. Bring a warm layer, because terraces get cold after sunset even in summer.

Are rooftop bars open in winter?

Most year-round rooftop bars stay open in winter, often with heaters, covered areas or indoor rooms. Seasonal venues such as Frank's Cafe close at the end of summer. Open terraces may close in bad weather, so check before you travel.

Sources

• Sky Garden - Free tickets and booking (checked September 2026)
• Sky Garden - Restaurants and bars (checked September 2026)
• One New Change - Roof terrace and rules (checked September 2026)
• Madison - Frequently asked questions (checked September 2026)
• Radio Rooftop - Contact, hours and dress code (checked September 2026)
• Bold Tendencies - Frank's Cafe (checked September 2026)
• Coq d'Argent - Rooftop dining in the City (checked September 2026)
• Tate - Visit Tate Modern (checked September 2026)