Sky Garden ended up being such a fun experience while we were in London. We started at the restaurant on the 27th floor and ordered a bottle of champagne for my friend's birthday. They gave us a really nice birthday discount which was unexpected and appreciated. The service the whole time was fantastic and the views were honestly incredible. After that we went down to the 26th floor and stayed there for a while because the vibe was just really good. Live music, more amazing views, people hanging out and enjoying themselves... it felt very "London night out" in the best way. Touristy? Sure. Worth it? Absolutely. Definitely something I'd recommend making time for if you're visiting London. read more

The Sky Garden is an absolute masterclass in how to waste people's time while pretending to run a "reservation system." We had tickets for 12:45. In any remotely competent operation, that means you show up at 12:45 and go inside at 12:45. Not here. Here, your reservation is basically a polite suggestion that no one intends to honor. There is zero clear signage, so instead of simply following directions like a normal human being, you are forced to stand in a line just to ask someone what you are supposed to do. And who is handling this? One single, overwhelmed employee who is somehow responsible for scanning tickets and answering every random walk up question. One person. For a major tourist attraction. It is not just inefficient, it is absurd. After wasting time in that line, you are then sent to another, much longer line. For your "timed entry." So at 12:45, your actual reservation time, you are not entering. You are standing in a slow moving queue wondering why this place even bothers issuing tickets with times on them. Let's call it what it is. If you cannot honor reservation times, do not offer reservations. This system does not manage crowds, it creates them. And here is the part that really pushes it over the edge. We missed another reservation because of this disaster. Not because we were late. Not because we did not plan. But because this place is so poorly organized and so wildly inefficient that it derailed the rest of our day. That is not just annoying, it is completely unacceptable. This is not some small oversight. This is a fundamental failure in basic operations, communication, and respect for visitors' time. It is almost impressive how badly it is handled. By the time you finally get inside, it honestly does not matter how good the view is. The experience has already been ruined by the chaos, the delays, and the sheer incompetence of the system. If you value your time, skip it. Or go in fully expecting your "reservation" to mean nothing and your schedule to take the hit. read more

Book one month in advance for a free city view of London. Nothing beats free, especially when traveling. We were very fortunate to have a clear, rain free trip in London. We could see Tower Bridge from the observatory. The building had natural light coming through the glass ceiling windows and plenty of seating to rest. We relaxed here for a few hours because there's no time limit. read more

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April 7, Sky Garden Our family of four with two kids ages 9 and 10 visited in the evening around sunset (after dinner at Darwin Brasserie. Sky Garden is a unique experience with incredible views and a lively atmosphere that ended up being one of the highlights of our London trip. Arrival and First Impressions Reservations are critical. Our reservation was at 5:00 pm, and when we arrived there was already a long line of people outside hoping to get in without tickets. Security is strict at the entrance, and then you take an elevator up to the 35th floor where the garden opens up. The Highlights The views are the main attraction, and they are absolutely worth it. Sky Garden offers panoramic views across London in every direction. Sunset was especially beautiful. The best views are throughout the garden itself, not inside the restaurant spaces. There are multiple patios and bar areas to explore, which makes it easy to walk around and take everything in. We especially enjoyed the views of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. There are also small touches for kids like games including tic tac toe and Connect Four, which helped keep them engaged and gave us more time to relax. The atmosphere felt energetic but still relaxed, with a mix of tourists and locals. After dinner, we spent time walking around and fully enjoying the space, which felt more like an experience than just a viewpoint. The Challenges Getting in requires planning ahead unless you get lucky later in the evening. It can feel crowded, especially near sunset. Kid Logistics Very manageable with kids. Open space, games, and constant views made it easy to keep them entertained. Would We Return Yes. The views and overall experience make it worth it. Final Thoughts Sky Garden delivers one of the best views in London with a fun and memorable atmosphere. It is absolutely worth visiting, especially around sunset. read more

I've never heard of this pace which I should have done some research beforehand. We were with friends from Manchester which one person mentioned it. Well clearly no one did their research which we found out. You would need to book a reservation which none of us had. The front security did mentioned that we probably could get in the no ticket line. So we had to speak to security at the entrance to see if any walk in was available. There was two line, to the right is where you go with tickets. To the left is walk in line which if you didn't know, it would just look like one line. We manage to get through in walk in but it was about a 10/15 minutes wait. There were a couple people in the same situation as we were without ticket and they were told to come into our line even through they were in the first line until to the front. We finally got let in, which they and had to go to another little check in area. Security and from there take the elevator up to the top floor. It was quite busy waiting for the lift as some people only went in with their group even though there were more room for people. Once on top, it's first come first serve in seating. There were plenty of tables and lounges to go around. The main area had the view section that is one part of the sky garden. It is what it is, a sky garden. You can go out to the lookout for the city. There's signs on the glass so you know where you're looking out too. It was amazing views but as it was starting to rain and getting cloudy, it did affect the view. Of course, it did rain and they ended up closing the door to the outside. Most of us never made out to see anything. There's also views along the side and the back of the garden but main outdoor view was closed due to rain. There's a chalet right in the middle where some food and drinks are served. They could have done it way better as there was only one guy working the register so it took a while. And 2 people along the side making the food and hot drinks. Food was simple? Nothing major. We got a couple toasties, pizza slices and a Caesar salad. Pizza was whatever but the toasties were good. At least they were made fresh. The salad, that was pretty bad. Premade bowl with eggs, bacon and chicken and croutons. But the lettuces were brown and wilted. Don't think it was fresh and sat for a while. They have the main restaurant on the top part which also has views of everything but they didn't open till 5pm for dinner. Stairs along the sides has the garden to one side and there's another seating area at the top of the garden. You get the view of all sides which is great. The whole concept is great but obviously it would have been better when the sun was out and not raining. But it's London, you never know what you'll get. Also you have to Que as well for the lift to get back down. At least there was security guiding that. read more

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A must do if it's your first time in London. We made sure to set an alarm weeks in advance to notify us when to grab free tickets , since they sell out fast! Upon entrance, you'll go through a thorough security check point, before entering the elevator. The elevator will take you to the 35th floor, where you'll experience 360 degree views of London. Landmarks are identified, and there are many various floor levels to explore views. A bar area with refreshments and pastries, abundant seating, a restaurant, lavatories, and beautiful tropical landscaped plants all reside in the Sky Garden. There's a covered outdoor area as well to explore more for London views! There's no time limit on how long you stay. We probably spent about an hour to an hour and a half here. Plenty of photo opportunities! read more

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Because you have to book in advance for your free ticket (in my case, one month), you cannot predict whether or not you'll have a clear day or a foggy day. Unfortunately for me, it was a dense fog day and we were unable to see anything. After going to the top and not being able to see anything, I did try to book for another day, but tickets book up fast and there were no more tickets to be had for my remaining days in London. If you're visiting during the shoulder season like me, I would recommend an afternoon time slot in hopes that the morning fog would dissipate. read more

Sky Garden is a free public garden with a 360 view of the city's spectacular skyline. The visit is free, but you must make reservations about 3 weeks in advanced in order to secure a spot, or be a guest at one of the restaurant or bars on the upper level. The downside of a free experience is that it can get really crowded. We were not aware of this experience until after the free tickets were all sold out, so my boyfriend actually made a reservation at Darwin Brasserie. Not recommended if you're a local. That will be its' separate review. Anyways back to the Sky Garden. Upon arrival you will go through a bag scanning and metal detector check point. From there, there are 2 elevators, or lifts, going up and down between the ground floor and the 35th floor. Between the 35th, 36th, and 37th floors are stairs. SAFETY ALERT. Plenty of inconsiderate people are busy posing on the stairs and act like a true hazard as you try to go up and down these stairs. Management and staff should really go something to ensure safety for every else. Maybe put up a boundary or photo area so that the rest of the stairs can be used as it was intended. We came on a rainy day so the outdoor area was restricted. Nevertheless the views of the city from behind the glass was nice. I'm sure it would have been an even better experience if it wasn't raining. read more

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The views are amazing, even on an overcast day. The garden inside the building is beautiful and so well maintained. The tickets are free, but you do need to plan ahead and reserve times. Tickets are released 30 days in advance. You can also do a combination brunch and tickets which is what we did. read more

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Absolutely gorgeous both inside and out! Lush garden to walk around in right next to the bar, and incredible views of the city. There are even tables right next to the window so you can sip a cocktail and watch the world go by. It can get a little chilly by the big windows, so there were seat warmers in each chair which was absolutely the cherry on top of an excellent experience! read more

Sky Garden - Incredible views of the city! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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Great views of London. 360 perspective. Best part is that it's free! You do need to book a *free* ticket ahead of time for a specific time slot. As we arrived, there was another couple that did not have a ticket and they were turned away. With a clear sky, you can see a lot of the really impressive skyline and the windows are also marked with what major landmarks are potentially visible. Ideal timeframe is sunset but definitely look ahead for this timeframe as it's the most in demand. You can also stop in for food and drinks but we didn't get anything. read more

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With untoppable views and climate control year-round, Sky Garden is a must-visit for your London visit. Spend time inside and out, with landmark labels in the glass as you make the circuit. Book early and often, starting Mondays 10 am UK time for two weeks in advance, to assure you can reserve your FREE time slot, since it's nearly 0% chance they'll have walk-in spots available otherwise. You're near plenty of other attractions before/after, with convenient transit stops a few hundred metres away. You can linger longer with a drink etc, or buy evening tickets for the top-shelf version. Fall/winter you'll have some great time spots to see sunset/dusk as well, which is probably the best viewing times, but unavailable in the longer-daylight months since closing is 5 pm for free times. read more

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Well, I had manifested it for long time and even got the ticket (Monday morning, it opens) So is it only me or it happens with you guys too? When I reached there, whole building was shut down due to some protest. And it was my last day of trip and after 3 hrs, I had flight to catch. Anyway, It is located in the financial district in the city of London near Fenchurch Street. The top floor of what is affectionately known as the walkie-talkie building it's not difficult to spot. You can spot it pretty much from whichever direction you are coming from after all it does actually looks a bit like a walkie-talkie. You can also see the large area on the top floor which is where the Sky Garden is located. London has a lot of pretty parks and green spaces, but one thing sets the Sky Garden London apart; it's London's highest public garden It's also absolutely free to visit and offers visitors stunning views of some of the city's most iconic landmarks. Free entry, gorgeous views and lots of lovely greenery; you'd be missing a trick if you didn't add the Sky Garden to your London itinerary. It is around a 20-minute walk from London Bridge mainline tube and national rail station, where you can find the Jubilee line. Alternatively, you can get the DLR to Tower Gateway close to the Tower of London. read more

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Amazing, one word of advice book early and don't wait for the last minute. Upon arrival you know you're in the right place because is the sign and it pretty exiting. To avoid the wait just make a reservation to one of the restaurants on the top. Me I was t sure if we wanted to have lunch there so we did it the hard way of booking in advance. Once inside and on the top floor it is pretty amazing to see trees that is almost touching the glass ceiling. I grabbed a pastry and coffee while my partner roamed around enjoying the different species of plants. We went outside and saw almost a 360 degrees of the skylune, a great photo op. it didn't disappoint! read more

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We were really disappointed with our visit here. We visited on Monday afternoon and were told that we needed to book a reservation 3 weeks ahead of time to get in. That was not at all mentioned on their website. We then had to book a reservation at their restaurant in order to be let in. We booked lunch at the Darwin Brasserie and had a really mediocre lunch. We were sat all the way in the corner with no view of the city. After spending over 50 pounds for our crappy lunch, we then went downstairs, grabbed a coffee and dealt with rude people. Pushing and shoving to get around us to see the view. My boyfriend had brought his coffee to the outside area and was rudely told by the staff "The sign clearly says..". We did not appreciate the attitude. There are other places to get a better view. Do not waste your time here. read more

To come see the views at the Sky Garden is free, but you do need to make reservations a few weeks ahead. Keep an eye on when they open up dates for reservations. Or the other option is to book a table and prepay for a drink, which is what we did. It was worth it because we just walked right in, went upstairs and got seated. You can come a bit earlier than your scheduled reservation and just walk around, just know that you won't be seated until your reservation time. It is a great view, and is a gorgeous venue, however the service (although spotty but friendly enough) did not warrant any extra tips (service charge is included in your bill!). Our server still asked for a tip. read more

AMAZING, highly suggest to get your reservation tickets to get in because it gets booked really fast. From 12 to 3 they have happy hour 2 drinks for 25.!! read more

Sky Garden - Espresso martini and I eat Negroni - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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Book in advance, it's free and necessary! We had a 10:45 and the line is long but for reservation holders we were in after only 15?minuets. Day of drop ins looked slow and long. The views are great and the space is ample. The elevators are the bottleneck but it truly does move. read more

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I really enjoyed touring the sky garden. I booked our tickets a month before my trip, free online. The view is great. We got unlucky and it was raining the day we were there, so the balcony access was blocked off (for safety?) I would definitely recommend this as a touristy thing to do if anyone visits London. read more

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Beautiful, impressive, lofty exciting classic thrilling, exhilarating, amazing I think I'll stop here cause I could just go on all day about how incredible this place is 35 stories off of the ground overlooking London. The restaurants at the top are amazing. They all offer panoramic views of the city of London. You just wanna make sure that you when you book your table that you asked for a window seat and book early. No they are not cheap, but they are wonderful and offer such a beautiful plating. And when you finished with that the sky garden, which is on top of this massive building is an open air garden that you can wander around and after your meal and see views of the city all over with these big glass windows that they've doomed it with. It's really an incredible experience. I must see in London. read more

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Skygarden is one of the tallest buildings in London that offers breathtaking views of the city from the top. You can step over the balcony and see the River Thames. It's free to enter, but you need to book in advance because it's very busy. Most people highly recommend visiting. Not only is the view amazing, but the atmosphere inside is inviting as well. There are restaurants and plants that surround the building. It's definitely a unique experience! read more

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The views and experience were amazing. It was a little chilly, but the heated chairs made it all worth it. We would most definitely go again. read more

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One of our first stops in London and it was quite disorganized. There was seemingly no queue outside so a large group just sort of formed instead of directing people to the area that was partitioned off. Once you got through the main door, with your pre booked time, it turned into another corral. There were 2 or 3 sections that funneled into one which was not the greatest as people were jockeying and shoving to be two people ahead of where they were. Through security you just grouped up again and shoved towards an elevator with people moving back and forth to whichever looked like it was coming first. The whole entry process was a complete mess. Once up top it is good views and an enjoyable walk around the perimeter to see all sides of London. The windows are sort of marked with the highly recognizable spots. It was larger than I expected and had lots of little spots to relax. The plants were quite impressive given they're growing inside and up so high. Highly recommend heading up the stairs to the upper area where it's much less crowded and loud if you want to just relax a bit. Didn't opt for drinks or food as it seemed expensive. You have to book your visit as soon as the days open up and recommend going that route as people without booked times were getting turned away. Overall, worth the price of (free) admission but just bring your patience with you to get through the disorganized entry process. read more

Even with tickets it's a wait and long cue. But it is worth it with the views from the 35th floor overlooking London and so close to the Thames River and so many iconic spots. You can go all around the building giving you 360 views. There is treats, drinks etc all available as well. read more

Sky Garden - View from Sky Garden - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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This is perfect place to get great views of London. The garden areas is nice and there is plenty of seating to relax and enjoy either a meal or drink. Unfortunately, the outdoor viewing area was closed the day we visited. Reservations are recommended, though the security was kind enough to let us walk-ins go up. read more

Gorgeous views of London and totally free - definitely recommend a visit if you can! Make a reservation early especially if going during a busier time but note you will still need to wait in line. You can also book a table and stop in for a drink or food and skip the line but it looks like the drink reservations are only for the evening and you otherwise need to order a full meal. The weather will dictate the views you get but while we were there, it went from quite foggy and overcast to sunny in a span of 15 minutes which was nice. read more

Very mediocre experience. I had reservations for 9:30pm and was led to a table while being told a server would be with us soon. However a server never showed up and we waited for almost 20 min before flagging one down ourselves. The drinks were not good and pretty expensive. I was expecting to see a beautiful garden, as the name and pictures online suggested, but was very disappointed. This is a tourist trap and not worth going to. read more

Sky Garden - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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I wish I could have liked Sky Garden more. The views are stunning and the atmosphere is gorgeous, especially with the DJ playing great music the night we visited. But the service left a lot to be desired, and it really took away from the experience. Even though we had a table booked, it took forever to get a drink. We ended up going up to the bar ourselves and managed to order and finish a round of drinks before our waitress even came over to check in. When we finally ordered our second round through her, three of the drinks came out wrong and we were missing one entirely. After another 35 minutes of waiting, she brought back two of the fixed drinks, but we never got the missing one or the final correct drink. The views and setting really are beautiful, but for all the other amazing experiences London has to offer, I wouldn't put this on the must-see list--especially if you're a tourist with limited time. read more

Sky Garden - Espresso martini - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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The view of London was super cool because you can see everything all around you. The best part is that it's totally free! But you have to book a free ticket online for a certain time. When we got there, another couple didn't have a ticket and they couldn't go in, so make sure you get one. Since the sky was clear, we could see a bunch of awesome buildings, and the windows even had labels that showed what landmarks you might spot. The best time to go is at sunset because it looks really amazing, but that time fills up fast. You can also get food or drinks there, but we didn't buy anything. read more

The honey and I were incredibly lucky that we got into line having absolutely no idea that you needed to book much in advance of visiting. But the very sweet people in front of us who had part of their party stay home offered to guest us in. A big thank you again to them! After a short wait and an even shorter elevator ride, we stepped out into the atrium of Sky Garden. It has a gorgeous view which overlooks the city of London and there's also a second elevator that goes up even higher to the upper floor if you're not a person who does stairs well. All in all, the Sky Garden had an abundance of seating and even a few restaurants that sell food and drinks and really gave off the air of being a wonderful place to spend a couple hours on a warm Summer day! read more

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Amazing experience at the sky garden! Live music, seating but unfortunately the kitchen was closed so that was the major let down of the experience. Still beverages were good, I had a great time exploring the place. It wasn't overly packed either so the vibes were great. Some people were on the dance floor, and there's also a nice section where you can sit and eat. Would recommend for a fun date night, just not an intimate one. Also good with friends. Again just wished their kitchen was opened cause the menu looked good! read more

Sky Garden - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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The atmosphere and location was magnificent. It's beautiful at night with a 360 degree view of the city. Unfortunately, that was the best part of the dining experience for me. We were unable to get reservations for the restaurant so we arrived a bit early and had to hang out in the open area and have bar type food. The instructions/directions once arriving to the floor level where the open area was located was a little confusing. It was unclear at points if we were able to sit at one of the multiple bars until the tables opened or if we had to wait in the line area. We asked but was directed to a general area in front of the host table. So we walked around aimlessly until a line to the open area started to develop, at which point it was still a bit confusing because even though it's an open area, it's not very clear that you are still expected to be escorted to your seat. It's all open. Some patrons were bypassing the line. The food, typical corner bar food. read more

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It was free, so I can't really complain much. My group of 8 stumbled to the Sky Garden entrance right as they were allowing people without reservations to enter (lucky us!). It wasn't way too crowded getting in, although it still took maybe 10 minutes to get to the top. The views are incredible, and the garden itself was a nice touch. We ended up getting some drinks and we found a table to hang out for an hour or so. It was very packed. Given, we were there on a Saturday afternoon, but it was still teeming with tourists. It wouldn't have been so bad except 1) the line for the bathroom was long and the other bathroom was in service the entire time we were there. And 2) the line for the bar took forever-- I think it took us 30 minutes to get our drinks. And the other bar further upstairs had two bartenders but they were somehow closed, which meant we had to wait in line at the bigger bar downstairs. Long story short, I'm very glad we went, but don't expect to have a luxury or intimate experience because everyone else in London might have the same idea to visit at the same time. read more

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I don't even know where to begin with this place. The moment I sat down, the chair wobbled like it was held together with hopes and prayers. By the time my drink arrived, one of the legs had fully given up on life. The food didn't help matters. Everything tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp since last Tuesday. My entrée arrived lukewarm, my side dish was colder than my enthusiasm, and the whole plate looked like it had lost a fight on the way to the table. As for the service... let's just say the waiter seemed deeply uninterested in being anywhere near my table. Every interaction felt rushed, dismissive, and vaguely annoyed, like I was interrupting his day by existing. Not exactly the vibe you hope for when you're trying to enjoy a meal. Between the broken furniture, the sad food, and the service that made me question my life choices, this was an experience I won't be repeating. read more

We like free!! The reality is that in a city that charges for most everything, free is excellent. Even more excellent when it entails a beautiful lush garden in the sky with expansive views of the city and places to relax, sit and enjoy a drink (or even a meal). The trick here is that you have to have a reservation and you've got to be on top of it. Reservations come out three weeks in advance and they can snatched up quickly! Don't be the people who show up with high hopes of heading up only to have their dreams quickly shattered. The process to go up to the top is lengthy with security measures in place. If you're in a rush, be sure to arrive 15 minutes before your ticketing time frame so that you have enough time to explore. It honestly didn't take us long to walk around and observe, but we could have stayed longer if we wanted to grab a drink or relax. We went on a rainy day, but even through the clouds it was beautiful! Check out the time of sunset for the best chance at a great view. read more

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This idea and location is neat, but overall an underwhelming experience for the price. Sat at a couch seat near the window in the bar area and it was too low to get a good view of anything outside besides The Shard. The restaurants most likely have the better views. The couch we sat at wasn't very comfortable and had an odd slant where you felt like you were slipping down the whole time. Ordered some food and drinks and both were just okay. Super cold in the bar area even with a heavy coat, so be sure to bundle up. Their team was friendly but we felt forgotten about a few times. Could've gotten a really nice dinner and drinks for two for what we paid instead, so probably won't be back. read more

Sky Gardens was phenomenal! We made 9:30pm reservations. When you arrive you go through security & then head to the elevator and up to the 35th floor . The ambiance is breathtaking & it's pretty cold inside and it was also cold outside. They had live music and the decorations were Christmas. The seats had heaters on them and I loved that. Sky Garden is London's highest public garden - a vibrant social space with 360-degree views of the city's iconic skyline and the view is beautiful. We started with drinks. I ordered the Winter Spiced Espresso martini & Berry Crumble . We got cheddar bites for a food snack. They were like fried cheese chips pretty tasty. I then ordered a virgin winter warmer drink . It was basically a hot apple juice. They brought me out a Happy Birthday dessert. We went up the stairs took some pics of the Amazing view before leaving . We stayed there almost 2 hrs. I would definitely recommend this spot for the night view and vibes. read more

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Known as the walkie talkie due to its unique shape, this skyscraper features a top-floor restaurant. Their are age restrictions, and dress codes for the restaurant. The free viewing gallery is on the 43rd floor with panoramic views over London from their foliage-filled atrium. If you want to book a free visit to the Sky Garden it needs to be done three weeks in advance. We could book an expensive cocktail & bar menu in the afternoon or evening, but t time slots appear very limited. read more

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First off this place is more "sky" than "garden". If you've been to indoor gardens the like of the "Spheres" in Seattle, you should not expect an indoor jungle here. It is more about the views, but the views are unparalleled. This place is quite popular as you might imagine, especially given that you can experience it for free (if you reserve a ticket in advance online). If not, you can always book a table at one of the restaurants on the same level as the Garden and combine it with the visit to the observation deck (be prepared to pay more for the views than the food/experience you are getting). On a cold and windy day, you can stay inside and still see most of London. Or grab a jacket and venture to the outside deck. All in all, worth a stop. Having done both the Sky Garden and the London Eye, I would say, this is a solid alternative to the latter. read more

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The view and ambiance is great, easy to get to, service was awesome, would recommend to visit read more

Sky Garden - The view from our corner table - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL