London Best Bars With A View

Let’s be honest: London is a fantastic city to get lost in, but it’s an even better city to get elevated in. I’m talking about vertical elevation, people. We’re hunting for bars where the view makes your wallet weep but your Instagram feed sing. Forget the Tube; we’re taking the lift straight to heaven—or at least to a very expensive gin and tonic.

The Sky-High Swizzle Sticks

First up, we have the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street—affectionately known as the “Walkie Talkie” because it looks like a giant walkie-talkie that a very clumsy architect dropped. The view is utterly bonkers; you can see the Tower of London, the Shard, and probably your bank balance crying from 35 floors down. Pro tip: entry is free, but you need to book three weeks in advance. It’s easier to get an audience with the Queen than a table by the window here.

Once you’re up there, the garden is actually a mini-jungle. You’ll be sipping a £15 cocktail while surrounded by palm trees, wondering if you’ve accidentally stumbled into a very posh greenhouse from the future. Just don’t lean too hard on the glass—I swear I saw a pigeon give me a judgmental look from the ledge.

Madison’s Rooftop: The One That Makes You Pose

If you want a view of St. Paul’s Cathedral that makes you feel like you’re in a Netflix rom-com, head to Madison on the rooftop of One New Change. This place is famous for its giant, glowing “I <3 London” sign, which is basically a dare to take a selfie so good your ex will regret everything. The cocktail menu is written in such fancy language that you’ll need a translator: “The Elderflower Elixir” is just gin with a sad piece of cucumber.

But honestly, who cares about the drink when the dome of St. Paul’s looks close enough to touch? I once saw a guy try to propose here while his girlfriend was busy trying to get a photo of the sunset. Spoiler: she said yes to the view, then remembered he existed. True story, maybe.

The Shard’s Obligatory Rip-Off: Aqua Shard

Now, the Shard is unavoidable. It’s the giant shard of glass that pierces the London sky like a rich alien spaceship. The bar here, Aqua Shard, charges you roughly the same amount as a small car for a glass of sparkling water with a lemon twist. I’m not joking—my bill for two drinks was higher than my rent.

But oh, the view! You can see all of London from 31 floors up—the Thames looks like a ribbon of molten silver, and the tiny cars below look like ants with road rage. Fun fact: the Shard is 95% glass, so if you’re afraid of heights, you will absolutely wet your pants. Bring a change of trousers, and maybe a second mortgage.

The Copacabana of the South Bank: Radio Rooftop

Tucked away at the ME London hotel on the Strand, Radio Rooftop is the bar that makes you feel like a movie star who just got fired from their own movie. The music is loud, the crowd is beautiful, and the view of the London Eye blinking in the distance is pure magic. You can almost hear the Eye whispering, “Please don’t throw up on me from up there.”

The cocktails here are named after famous songs, which is a cute gimmick until you order a “Bohemian Rhapsody” and it arrives in a glass shaped like a tiny guitar. Surprising fact: Radio Rooftop has a strict “no trainers” policy, so leave your comfy shoes at home. Your feet will hate you, but your self-esteem will love the illusion of looking rich.

The Secret Lair: The Rooftop at Trafalgar St. James

For a spot that’s actually cool without being a genetic clone of every other sky bar, hit the Rooftop at Trafalgar St. James. It’s perched above the chaos of Trafalgar Square, so you can look down at the lions and Nelson’s Column while sipping a Pimm’s. It feels like you’re a royal watching a very loud, very drunk parade for poor people.

The bar serves a “Frothy Flamingo” cocktail that changes color as you drink it—it’s like science fair meets happy hour. The best part? You can wave at the tourists taking selfies with the giant pigeons in Trafalgar Square. They will never know you’re silently judging them. You’re welcome.

The Bizarre Bonus: The OXO Tower

Finally, OXO Tower on the South Bank is the oddball of the bunch. It’s a bar with a view, but it’s also a restaurant that serves food so fancy it comes with a tiny tweezers. The view of the Thames is stunning, and the interior is all chrome and velvet, like a spaceship from the 1960s designed by a very drunk James Bond.

Here’s the weirdest part: the bar is named “OXO” as a pun on a stock cube brand. Yes, you are drinking champagne in a place named after a beef bullion cube. It’s the most British thing ever, and I love it. If you order the “Beefy Martini,” they might actually throw a stock cube at you. Don’t test this theory.

So there you have it: London’s best bars with a view. Your wallet will never be the same, but your soul—and your Instagram—will thank you. Just remember: the higher the bar, the stronger the drink, and the more likely you are to try to pet a cloud. Cheers, you beautiful disaster.