This is London's highest public garden that has 3 restaurants,2 bars and a gift shop…read more There is no admission fee but you must get a free ticket online.Tickets are available up to 3 weeks in advance of your visit and available time slots are listed. Arrive about 15 minutes early as you have to go thru security screening. Once thru security you take the elevator to the 35th floor. The views are amazing as are the gardens. Plenty of seating is available and there are public restrooms.

We snagged sunset tickets to Sky Garden. I logged in shortly after tickets were made available…read moreonline three weeks prior and was able to book tickets for one of the nights of our trip. I would have preferred an earlier evening time slot, but they were not available. They are quite strict about going in at your designated time slot and they let people up in the elevator only when its your time. We were actually waiting in the lobby of an adjacent building where there was lots of seating, not realizing that the line formed on the *other side* of the building so beware. We lined up, went through security, went up the elevators, and then had an unlimited time up in Sky Garden. Since we already ate dinner, we didn't buy any food or drinks. The enclosed rooftop space is really quite breathtaking. There are all walls on all four sides which makes the views just unbelievable. There is a balcony as well, but it was closed at the time of our visit (at night?) From the "front" lower side, you can see River Thames and the Tower Bridge/Tower of London. From the back, there are amazing views of The Gherkin. Up at the higher side, there is more space and some platforms to sit. However, it was really hard to be on the stairs going up and down because it was so congested. As you can imagine, the photos out the windows are amazing because the views are amazing. However, it's impossible to get photos of your party because there will be tons of people around you. The whole space is just packed with tourists. I was glad to have experienced it once, but I don't ever plan on returning and would try a viewing area that is less touristy. It's worth a stop but not worth taking a huge chunk of time from your day if it doesn't slot in naturally.

Beautiful architecture, recognizable from many magazines, movies & shows, the Gerkin is unique &…read morebeautiful. I didn't have a chance to visit the restaurant inside but will hopefully during my next visit to London.

A beautiful and stunning building that adds to London's unique skyline and reputation as both a…read moremodern city and one with history that dates back hundreds of years. It's so much prettier than the plain steel and glass buildings dotted nearby. It's so *not* a Monet - it looks great from afar and from close up. I was in the City yesterday to meet my customers and it so happens that their office is right next door to the Swiss Re building, aka the Gherkin. We managed to pop out for lunch and sat under the building enjoying the fantastic view.

The Tower of London was founded in 1066 due to the Norman Conquest of England. The Duke of…read moreNormandy, William the Conqueror, had amassed thousands of troops and hundreds of ships and landed in southern England. In October 1066, the reigning Harold II died during the Battle of Hastings and was succeeded by William the Conqueror as king. A series of further victories had cut London's supply lines, and its leaders had surrendered the city. William then initiated an extensive program to fortify the city, which included the construction of the Tower of London in 1066. From then, the Tower had continued to play a significant role in England's regal history. For centuries, monarchs would begin processions at the Tower to Westminster Abbey for their coronations. However, during the Tudor period, the Tower declined in its use as a royal residence. The castle would also serve as a prison for those considered politically undesirable. Under the order of King Henry VIII, the execution of Anne Boleyn occurred at the Tower in 1536. Her daughter, Elizabeth I, was also imprisoned there before she became queen under the order of Queen Mary I. Today, the Tower of London is a popular tourist attraction in the country. Its proximity to Tower Bridge and other attractions along the Circle and District Underground lines help in bringing in many visitors. There is no need to purchase admission if one is walking beside it to view its walls. Fortunately, there are outdoor signs available to learn a little about the history of what you're looking at.

When I visited London earlier this month, it was the first I'd been in London for almost 20 years…read more I don't remember if I went to the Tower of London when I was in London in 2007, but I do remember that I went on my very first trip to London when I was a little girl. I was heavily into my King Henry VIII phase then, and I wanted to see the site where two of his queens lost their lives. Visiting as an adult was interesting. Some things I remembered and some things I didn't. There's no question that this is an incredibly historic site. The site dates back to 1066, and then William the Conqueror built his castle, the White Tower, in 1078. Then the site was expanded by the kings that followed. The purpose of the site changed over the centuries: armory, treasury, menagerie, Royal Mint, public record office, home of the Crown Jewels... For a few centuries, it was the place the next king would spend a few nights leading up to their coronation. And under the Tudors, it became what I knew it as when I was in my Tudor history phase - a prison. Guy Fawkes was tortured at the Tower in 1605. Anne Boleyn was held and executed at the Tower in 1536. Henry VIII's fifth wife was executed at the Tower in 1542. Lady Jane Grey was executed at the Tower in 1554. Queen Mary I imprisoned her sister Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth I, in the Tower for two months in 1554. It's a large site with several different buildings that explain and cover different eras and aspects of the Tower's history. Although I suspect the Crown Jewels are the highlight of many people's visit to the Tower, I really enjoyed and learned the most from the Medieval Palace (which has been preserved/reconstructed to demonstrate the palace where Henry III, Edward I, Eleanor of Provence, and Eleanor of Castile lived); the Chapel Royal of St Peter and Vincula (the final resting place of many prominent prisoners who were executed at the Tower); the Tower Hill Execution Memorial; the Bloody Tower (the tower tied to the imprisonment and disappearance of two young princes in 1483 and Sir Walter Raleigh); St John's Chapel inside the White Tower; and the Tower's ravens (legend says that the kingdom will fall if the resident ravens ever leave the Tower). It's a large property, and the map they provide is pretty terrible. So we just wandered and wandered. You need some time to do this, because there are towers and nooks and crannies - and every little corner of the property has something to teach visitors. I might be a little past my Tudor phase, but a visit to the Tower of London can still thrill this history nerd. A must include on an itinerary for a trip to London.

Beautiful place, great for lunchread more

This was SUCH a fun cool touristic thing to do :D I'd wanted to do it for a while and so glad we…read morewent! Came here with my boyfriend back in December. It was chilly but still well worth it. You take a staircase up (that has quite a few steps but is not too difficult) and then end up on a 360 view platform, with extraordinary views of London! You can recognize a lot of different landmarks from here. Really cute thing to do and I have a fantastic memory of our visit :)

When in London to run the marathon and doing some sightseeing a few days before we visited the…read moreTower of London. It's a 200+ foot tall monument dedicated to the Great Fire of London and close to the spot in Pudding Lane where the fire started Sept 2, 1666. There are inscription and texts describing the event, how the fire started, the damage it caused, and how it ended. If you're a history buff it's worth seeing to learn about the devastation the fire caused. Hard to miss as it's within eyesight of the London Bridge when crossing. You can also pay a small fee to climb 300 stairs to the top.

Date: August 29, 2026…read more Experience: We were able to check this place out with our tour group. The cathedral is Anglican and I was impressed by the architecture and took as much time as I could to immerse myself with the artwork and installations as our local tour guide gave us tidbits about the cathedral. It's always interesting to visit and compare non-Catholic cathedrals from the Catholic ones I've visited over the years. There was a wedding party taking pictures outside and services still go on within the building itself. We had the opportunity to visit the crypt area as well and they had a gift shop down there as well. I was most impressed with the art on the dome ceiling as well as various dedications and representations dedicated to the USA. Definitely their cathedrals and churches seem to be dedications to resilience and the lives that were lost in wars and battles fought.

I visited St. Paul's Cathedral during Evensong, which allowed me to experience the cathedral…read morewithout paying the standard sightseeing admission. The architecture alone makes this place worth visiting. There are so many details throughout the building to look at, and the history of the space adds a lot to the experience. Pictures and videos were not allowed once Evensong started. I did notice several people taking out their phones to record at different points. From my perspective, enforcement seemed uneven, with staff focusing more heavily on a few specific visitors. Even with that part of the experience, the cathedral itself is definitely worth seeing if you are interested in history or architecture. I personally would not pay extra for the sightseeing tour, but I can understand why others might, especially if they want access to the views from higher up in the cathedral.

Here Banksy rather humorously juxtaposes the cliché artist, with moustache, beret and palette,…read moreworking on a decidedly less high brow art work depicting a scribble of a huge male member. The artist is also wearing a ball and chain, with a dollar sign on the ball. I'm not sure what conclusion I'd want to draw, but I guess the piece certainly summarises the debates about Banksy himself. Art or just daubs? Pretensions of grandeur? Destroyed by money, or elevated beyond his natural position by the hype? A couple of changes have been made. The council (apparently) have partially obscured the male member, though it's still pretty clear what it's meant to represent. As for the person who's added their opinion that Banksy is a **, I don't think they've given much thought to what they are doing. Their banal addition rather demonstrates they are the one with pretensions of grandeur if they think they can comment! This is on the side of a restaurant on the junction of Shafton Road and Victoria Park Road.

I've found this piece of art yesterday night (Feb 21st 2012) by accident as I was surfing Hackney…read moreby car in search of graffiti. When I saw it I almost had no doubt it was made by Banksy, and as it took me a good hour to find this first and only painting in Hackney, I interpreted it not only as the sign of the end of free art this would be no news! but also as the end of street art. All in all this classic looking artist is not trying to paint a beauty on a canvas, but a rebel sign on a public wall, while his leg is locked with this ball with the money sign. So when I associate all this with the fact that all Hackney walls are now purified from graffiti, I'm just left with the impression that art was finally killed, both indoor and in the streets. Ciao, Nicola Principato

Love it or hate it, the '86 Building makes an architectural statement. All the essential services…read more(escalators, vents, toilets!) are on the external stainless steel pods, giving an open 'market' feel to the interior, as was the intention. From the inside, the once ground-breaking space has been eclipsed by some more recent buildings. The ground floor does still have an imposing ceiling, but the other floors are tiring and resemble many other open plan office spaces. An intriguing edifice; worked there for many years and am glad I did, but it is ultimately now a fading office space with a quirky exterior and 300+ year tradition.

Tourist sight foe those around St Pau'ls cathedral. Was a cool stop on the way to take some photos…read moreand catch your breath

The Great Fire of London occurred from September 2-5, 1666, and it's thought to have caused the…read moredestruction of 13,000+ houses, 80+ churches, Bridewell Palace, the Royal Exchange, St Paul's Cathedral, three city gates, and more. The monument is a column and stands 202 feet tall near the spot where the Great Fire started. There's a viewing platform near the top of the Monument, but we just stopped by to see the Monument when we were in the area earlier this month. It's quite a beautiful monument and I learned a little London history in a quick stop we made as we were walking through the area.

This building, as well as containing the Mayor of London, is open to the public, and there are many…read moredifferent reasons to take the time to visit. The building is wonderful, and - if you happen to visit at a time when "London's Living Room" (a space on the top floor used for events) is accessible, then the views are second to none. There is a café on the ground floor, with a good range of decent food, at reasonable prices. I would recommend stopping in as part of a trip to the area - London Dungeons, the Tower, HMS Belfast are all very close - rather then as an end in itself. Every member of the public has to go through a metal detector to get into the building. There is never a long wait.

Iconic building of London. You can see it along the walk from tower bridge…read more Interesting shaped building