London Drum

Highest Viewing Spots

The highest observation platform is at The Shard (244m) followed by the Sky Garden (155m), London Eye (135m), St. Paul’s (85m), Westminster Cathedral (64m) and The Monument (62m)

ArcelorMittal Orbit

ArcelorMittal Orbit - The ArcelorMittal Orbit is a viewing tower that overlooks the old Olympic Stadium, but it also has a twisting tube slide around the outside

Battersea Power Station

Battersea Power Station’s chimney - Ride an express lift 109 metres up one of the iconic white chimneys for a panoramic view of London’s skyline

★★★Big Ben

Big Ben’s belfry - A guided tour that takes you up to the top of the belfry where you can stand behind the clock faces and next to Big Ben’s bell as it strikes the hour

★★★IFS Cloud cable car

Cable Car across the Thames - The cable car between The O2 and ExCel Centre gives you a great view of London as it carries you across the Thames

★★Greenwich Park

Greenwich Hill - The view from the top of Greenwich Hill takes in the entire span of London from the City skyscrapers in the west all the way round to the O2 Arena

★★★London Eye

London Eye - The London Eye is one of the most popular family days out. The queues can be long but it’s worth the wait for the fantastic views at the top

★★The Monument

The Monument - The Monument to the Great Fire of London in 1666 has a balcony at the top which gives you some decent views of the offices in the Square Mile

Climbing up the O2’s roof

The O2’s roof walkway - Climb to the top of the O2 Arena’s big tent roof and enjoy a spectacular 360-degree view of the London skyline from the viewing platform

★★★St Paul’s Cathedral

One New Change - One New Change is a shopping centre close to St. Paul’s Cathedral which offers some great views from their open-air rooftop terrace

★★Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill - See London’s skyline from the summit of Parliament Hill taking in the City, St. Paul’s, London Eye and Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers

★★Primrose Hill

Primrose Hill - Primrose Hill is a lot higher than it looks from the ground and has one of the finest views of the London skyline from anywhere in the city

★★★St Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s Whispering Gallery - St. Paul’s has three levels you can climb: the Whispering Gallery, Stone Gallery and Golden Gallery on top of the dome

★★★The Shard

The Shard - If your children are okay with heights then take them to the top of The Shard where they can see the whole of London laid out before them

★★★Sky Garden

Sky Garden - Their viewing deck is lower than The Shard’s, but the Sky Garden’s also has a tropical rainforest in it – thirty-five floors above London

★★Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge - Every tourist takes a photo of Tower Bridge. It looks gothic but it was built by the Victorians. The drawbridge opens up a couple of times a day

★★Wellington Arch

Wellington Arch - The balcony at the top of Wellington Arch has a view of Constitution Hill, Apsley House and part of the gardens at Buckingham Palace

★★Westminster Cathedral

Westminster Cathedral bell tower - The most important Roman Catholic church in England has a bell tower with an observation platform at the top