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Sky Garden vs Horizon 22: London's Best Free Views

Reviewed by TheOneToGo Editorial · Updated July 15, 2026

The verdict

Book Sky Garden for atmosphere and Horizon 22 for altitude.

Two free London viewpoints, two different moods: Sky Garden is social and established, while Horizon 22 is higher, quieter, and still slightly under the radar.

aerial photography of London skyline during daytimePhoto by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash

London's best free views are not casual walk-ins. Both Sky Garden and Horizon 22 require online booking, and both reward planning, but the experience is not the same.

The numbers set the scene. Sky Garden spans floors 35 to 37 of 20 Fenchurch Street, the building Londoners call the Walkie-Talkie, about 155 metres up, with three storeys of planting, bars and open-air terraces. Horizon 22, on level 58 of 22 Bishopsgate, is 254 metres up and is London's highest free viewing platform, a taller but plainer indoor gallery. Both are genuinely free; the catch is timing, and each releases its tickets on a different schedule.

Sky GardenHorizon 22
Height Floors 35 to 37 of 20 Fenchurch Street, around 155 metres up. High enough for a commanding view, low enough that landmarks like the Shard and Tower Bridge still read clearly. Level 58 of 22 Bishopsgate, 254 metres up, which makes it London's highest free viewing platform. You sit noticeably above Sky Garden and most of the City's towers.
View Lower, greener, more atmospheric. You get plants, bars, outdoor terraces, and strong views toward the Thames, Tower Bridge, the Shard, and St Paul's. Higher and cleaner as a pure lookout. Level 58 gives a wide 300-degree sweep, but it feels more like an observation floor than a place to linger.
Cost Standard public garden tickets are free, but popular slots go fast. Paid bar, restaurant, and event options can be the easier fallback, so check before you go. Standard viewing gallery tickets are free. Extras such as drinks, audio guide options, or special experiences may cost money, so book the free ticket if price is the point.
Booking Free tickets are released every Monday morning for visits up to three weeks ahead, so log on early that day for the slot you want. Walk-ins can happen during public hours, but I would not rely on that for a short London trip. Free timed slots are released every Monday for the following two weeks only, a shorter window than Sky Garden, so popular times go quickly. It is still often the simpler backup when Sky Garden has no good slots left.
Queues and security Expect airport-style security and a line even with a timed ticket, especially at busy times. The garden is popular and can feel crowded around sunset. Also has security, but the visit is more direct: lift up, look around, lift down. It tends to suit people who hate faff.
Time needed Allow 60 to 90 minutes if you want to wander, take photos, use the terrace, or have a drink. It is the better choice if the stop is part of the evening. Allow 30 to 45 minutes unless you are serious about skyline photos. It is better for a tight itinerary.
Best for Pick Sky Garden for atmosphere, plants, a drink, and a more memorable setting. The tradeoff is tougher booking and more crowd friction. Pick Horizon 22 for height, speed, and a sharper city view. The tradeoff is less character once you have taken the photos.
Getting there At 20 Fenchurch Street in the City. Monument, Bank, Tower Hill, and Fenchurch Street are all practical, so it pairs well with Tower of London or the river. At 22 Bishopsgate, also in the City. Bank and Liverpool Street are the obvious stations, so it fits neatly with Spitalfields, Leadenhall Market, or the Square Mile.
The verdict

Pick Sky Garden if

  • Garden setting
  • More social atmosphere
  • Strong river and City views
Sky Garden guide

Pick Horizon 22 if

  • Higher viewpoint
  • Less widely known
  • Clean skyline perspective

FAQs

Yes, both offer free entry with advance online booking. Availability can change, so reserve as early as you can.

Horizon 22 goes higher. Sky Garden sits lower but offers a more distinctive social setting.

Both fill up. Sky Garden releases tickets every Monday for visits up to three weeks out, while Horizon 22 releases slots every Monday for just the next two weeks, so its window is shorter and popular times go fast. Whichever you want, try to book the moment slots drop on Monday morning.

Sky Garden opens 10am to 6pm on weekdays and 11am to 9pm at weekends and on bank holidays. Horizon 22 opens 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday, so it closes earlier, worth knowing if you are chasing a late view. Always confirm current hours when you book.

Sky Garden, on balance. Its weekend hours run to 9pm and the terraces and bar make it a place to linger as the light goes, while Horizon 22 closes earlier and is more of a quick look. For a summer sunset drink, aim for a Sky Garden evening slot.

No. Both let you book a free timed ticket with no obligation to spend. Paid bars and restaurants exist at each, and at Sky Garden a booked bar or restaurant table can be a fallback when the free garden slots are gone, but neither requires a purchase to see the view.

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