The Sky Garden is a public space with incredible views of London, and it is one of the most famous free attractions in London.
The Sky Garden is a garden located on the 35th floor of the building known as the Walkie-Talkie, a skyscraper in London. From this unique garden, we can get impressive 360º views of the British capital and best of all; it’s free!
What to see in London’s Sky Garden
The Sky Garden is on the top three floors of one of London’s skyscrapers. The lift will take us to the 35th floor, but the public space is distributed over three floors.
Inside this space are several restaurants and cafes, and there is also a terrace overlooking the River Thames that will be open depending on the weather outside.
It is one of the places we recommend visiting if you are visiting London for a few days, but you must book before you go. It’s an excellent place to go with children, but children are not allowed in the evenings.
Visit the Sky Garden in London
How to Book Tickets to Visit the London Sky Garden
Going to the Sky Garden is free, but you must book tickets in advance. Tickets are released every Monday (approximately at 9.30 am BST) usually three weeks in advance. Tickets get booked up very fast!
They will email you a reservation confirmation you must show upon entry. They will ask for ID and also make you go through a security arch and bag check when you go in.
Can you go in without tickets?
Yes, but it’s not guaranteed. There is usually a queue for people who want to go up to the Sky Garden without a ticket, but this will depend on the number of people already there. One trick is to say that you want to go to one of the bars and ask if this is possible without a ticket and sometimes they’ll let you in.
Sky Garden Opening Hours
- Monday to Friday: 10 am – 6 pm
- Saturday and Sundays: 11 am – 9 pm
Bars and Restaurants in London’s Sky Garden
In addition to the garden, there are two cafes/bars and three restaurants.
Bars and Cafes at the Sky Garden
In the evening you can go to the bars at the Sky Garden without booking normally, you just need to say that you’re going for a drink. If there aren’t many people, you will be able to visit the Sky Garden as well as going to a bar, so this is something to take into account if you have not been able to book a ticket to visit the Sky Garden during the day and you don’t mind going in the evening. In this case though, you won’t be able to take children with you, and just have in mind that they may not let anyone else in if there’s a special event going on.
The Sky Pod Bar is a bar/cafe located on the lower floor of the Sky Garden, with tables and chairs next to the windows that offer impressive views. The prices here are surprisingly like those of any cafe in central London, which is great. If you have booked a ticket for the Sky Garden, you can normally sit down for a coffee here during the day without any problems. In the evening, this bar also serves alcoholic beverages and there are live music events. 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 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. 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.
The terrace has great views and is an ideal place for snacks and cocktails. To access this area during the day, you do have 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.
Restaurants at the Sky Garden in London
If you want to go to one of the restaurants, I would highly recommend booking in advance to guarantee a table. However, it is always possible to ask when entering if there is availability in any if you have not been able to make a reservation.
Fenchurch Restaurant offers a contemporary British menu and a bar and a private room that can be reserved for company or family events.
Larch Restaurant is an Italian restaurant with a cafeteria and a shop selling Italian products.
Darwin Brasserie is located on the 36th floor of the building and offers stunning views of London. It offers a British menu, from breakfast and brunch to lunch and dinner, plus a bar available in the evening for cocktails.
Bars and Restaurants’ Opening Times
- Monday and Tuesday: 7 am – 12 am
- Wednesday to Friday: 7 am – 1 am
- Saturday: 8 am – 1 am
- Sunday: 8 am – 12 am
Visit the Sky Garden or The Shard in London
London’s Sky Garden 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 for admission, while the Sky Garden is free, but you only go up to the 35th floor. As for views, they are practically located one in front of the other (with the river in the middle!).
If you have a London Pass, going up the Shard is free.
How to get to the London Sky Garden
- Address: 20 Fenchurch Street London, EC3M 3BY.
- Nearest underground station: Monument
What to do after visiting the London Sky Garden
After (or before!) going up to the Sky Garden in London you can guide yourself with our Itinerary to walk from the Monument to the Tower of London, cross the Tower Bridge and stroll along the south bank of the Thames.
Sky Garden Photos
