One of the buildings that has recently joined the London skyline, known as the Walkie Talkie, has inside it a new public space called the London Sky Garden. It is a garden located on the 35th floor of a skyscraper located in the London City area. From this unique garden, we can get impressive 360º views of the British capital, and best of all, visiting it is free (for now!). What will you find in this article?
London’s Sky Garden: Garden, Cafe and Restaurants with the Best Views
Sky Garden
The Sky Garden is located on the 35th floor as mentioned before. When you go up you will see that it is distributed over several floors within the same 35th floor and that you can go up to several levels to admire the views. There is a terrace on this level overlooking the River Thames which opens depending on the weather outside.
Visit the Sky Garden
Going up to the Sky Garden is free, but it is necessary to book in advance through its website. Tickets go out every Monday, and sometimes tickets only go out for that same week, being able to book only a few days in advance, but sometimes you can book several weeks in advance. They will send you a reservation confirmation to your email that you must print and present at the entrance. Upon entering you must go through a security arch, and then take an elevator to the 35th floor. Schedules to visit the Sky Garden in London:
- Monday – Friday: 10am – 6pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 11am – 9pm
Bars and Restaurants in the Sky Garden
In addition to the garden, there are two cafes/bars and 3 restaurants here. To go to the restaurants it is necessary to have reserved a table through the official website, although it is always possible to ask downstairs at the entrance if there is availability in any if you have not been able to make a reservation.
For the bars, you will see that in the evening it is possible to enter without having booked on many occasions, you can go to the door and say that you want to go for a drink – if there are not many people, you can go up and visit the Sky Garden in addition to go for a drink, something to keep in mind if you have not been able to book to go up to the Sky Garden and you do not mind going in the afternoon, but keep in mind that you will not always be able to go up since sometimes there are events etc.
The Sky Pod Bar is a bar / cafeteria located at the bottom of the Sky Garden, with tables and chairs located next to the windows that offer impressive views, and in which surprisingly the prices are like those of any downtown cafeteria. From london. If you have booked a ticket to go up to the Sky Garden you can usually have a coffee here during the day without problems. In the evenings this place serves alcoholic beverages and they have live music events, and from 6 pm on weekdays and from 9 pm on weekends it is possible to go without having booked, as long as there is availability.
The City Garden Bar is also located between the Sky Garden, and offers us the option of a bar, cafeteria and restaurant throughout the day. To go during the day it is necessary to book through the official website, but it is also possible to enter without having booked from 6:15 pm during the week and from 9:15 pm during the weekend if there is availability. Fenchurch Rooftop Restaurant offers a contemporary British menu, and also has a bar and a private room that can be booked for business or family events. Reservation required.
The Fenchurch Terrrace is a terrace with great views, ideal for snacks and cocktails. To access this area during the day it is necessary to book through the official website, but it is also possible to enter without having booked from 6:15 pm during the week and from 9:15 pm during the weekend if there is availability. Darwin Brasserie is located on the 36th floor of the building, offering stunning views of London. It offers a British menu, from breakfast and brunches to lunch and dinner, as well as a bar available in the evening where they serve cocktails. It is necessary to book through the official website.
Opening hours of the bars and restaurants of the Sky Garden in London:
- Monday and Tuesday: 7 a.m. – 12 a.m.
- Wednesday to Friday: 7 a.m. – 1 a.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. – 1 a.m.
- Sunday: 8 a.m. – 12 a.m.
Visit the Sky Garden or The Shard in London
London’s Sky Garden really rivals the views from The Shard in London, which is the tallest building in Europe. The differences between visiting the Sky Garden or the Shard in London are basically that in the Shard you go up to the 72nd floor and you have to pay admission, while the Sky Garden is free but you only go up to the 35th floor. practically located one in front of the other (with the river in the middle!). If you have a London Pass, going up to the Shard is free.
Also Read: The Shard in London
How to get to the Sky Garden in London
- Address: 20 Fenchurch Street London, EC3M 3BY.
- Nearest metro station: Monument
What to do after visiting the Sky Garden in London
After (or before!) going up to the Sky Garden in London you can guide yourself with our Itinerary 4 to walk from the Monument to the Tower of London, cross the Tower Bridge and walk along the south bank of the Thames.