Free public garden at the top of the Walkie Talkie building — 155 metres above the City with 360-degree views across London. Terraced gardens, floor-to-ceiling glass, and the strange experience of looking down at the Shard. The building is polarizing architecturally; the view is undeniable.
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Book online in advance (free but required). The top three floors are accessible — observation decks on 35, 36, and 37. Walk the full circuit for views in all directions: Tower Bridge, St Paul's, the Thames, Canary Wharf. The bars and restaurant upstairs cost extra but the viewing levels are free. Sunset is crowded but spectacular.
Early morning (10:00 opening) for the clearest air and smallest crowds. Sunset slots book weeks ahead. Weekday afternoons are easier to secure. Evening in winter for the city lights without the summer competition for tickets.
Opened in 2015 as part of the planning requirement for 20 Fenchurch Street — the developer had to provide public access. Free but booking essential (opens three weeks in advance). Security screening at entry. The Walkie Talkie nickname comes from the building's bulging shape. Architecturally divisive — won the Carbuncle Cup for worst new building in 2015. The view, however, is among London's best and entirely free.