"There's lots of treasures to be found underneath the lovely London sky"
One of the most well-known and visited cities in the world, London. When taking in this metropolitan city, where can you go for the best view? Read my list below for 3 of the best views in the city. Be sure to take the time to fit these into your tour and take lots of pictures.
1) St. Paul’s Cathedral
A personal favorite. I loved this experience so much the first time on my first international trip that I did not forget about it 5 years later. My sister is afraid of heights, so my Dad and I took the 3-part journey together. I just remembered being wowed by the view of the entire city of London below us. Admittedly, I did not remember how many step it takes to get there. My friends and I were sore from the experience and the continued stairs we kept finding throughout our trip. However, they wholeheartedly agreed that the view was worth it! On the first level, the Whispering Gallery, you can look down into St. Paul’s Cathedral. As a place of worship, you are not supposed to take pictures inside of the building. The spot really allows you to take in the cathedral and has a nice bench all the way around to sit. For those wishing to continue on, the Stone Gallery lets you outside to see the city. While there is plenty of room to walk around, the downside is that there is a large stone fence. It allows you to see through and take pictures, but it takes away from the magic. For anyone able to take the 528 steps, the Golden Gallery offers the best view. It takes a narrower metal staircase to get up there and the ledge is not as large, but the view is more open. Without the stone in the way, you can get amazing pictures. For those who are able, I would highly recommend taking the walk up St. Paul’s.
Cost: 20 pounds (17.50 for concession tickets- students, older adults; 8.50 pounds for children)
Note that you can save 3 pounds by booking tickets ahead online!
Time: 2 hours (We spent several hours inside the cathedral because we did the free guided tour first)
Website: https://www.stpauls.co.uk/history-collections/history/explore-the-cathedral/climb-the-dome
2) The London Eye
As mentioned above, my sister is afraid of heights, so I had not done the London Eye or really any Ferris Wheel before. I really enjoyed this “tourist trap.” The Eye is located on the River Thames and is within walking distance to the Big Ben area. Although a bit overpriced and crowded, I would still recommend this experience for those who are interested. We were able to buy our tickets inside the building on a kiosk. There are timed slots and the Eye only runs until a little past 5:00 PM.
It was a bit overwhelming being in a long line with a crowd, including school groups. The line moved fairly quickly. The workers are able to keep everyone with their groups since the egg-shaped vestibules are quite large. The actual ride moves quite slow, but really allows you to take in the city. This was toward the end of our large touring day, so it was fun to see all the sights we viewed from above and frankly, to marvel at how much we walked.
Certain sights like Big Ben and Westminster Abbey would be hard to miss. You can also see the Buckingham Palace area, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and various modern buildings. I really enjoyed the experience, especially when we reached the top of London. For kids who are not scared of heights, this could be a really fun and memorable experience. We went at the end of the day and took one of the last time slots. It was nice to watch the sun starting to set while we were riding.
Cost: 27 pounds (Could save money by reserving online and/or buying a package sightseeing deal. These include the river cruise, Big Bus Classic, the London Aquarium, Madame Tussauds, Shrek’s Adventure London, or the London Dungeon).
Time: About an hour (You receive a timed ticket that you can buy in person or online. The staff does a good job of moving the line. The actual ride lasts about 20 minutes).
Website: https://www.londoneye.com/
3) Sky Garden
We did not get to visit the Sky Garden because they require a free reservation beforehand. It is supposed to have incredible views and comes highly recommend. To make a reservation, visit their website and select a time. There are also options to book reservations for their restaurant or bar. The prices are a bit expensive, but could be for a special evening.
Cost: Free besides food
Website: https://skygarden.london/
Whether you take steps, a ferris wheel, or something else, don't miss your chance to be a part of the lovely London sky.