21 Rooftop Bars In London You Need To Drink At Before You Die

Best views in the city.

1. Kensington Roof Gardens

Instagram: @petite.blondine

Undoubtably one of the most beautiful spots in London, Kensington Roof Gardens are a lovely way to spend a sunny (or not so sunny) afternoon. They're 100% free to enter, and cocktails from the restaurant start from £11. There are also real live flamingos wandering around!

Nearest station: High Street Kensington

2. Sky Lounge

Facebook: SkyloungeLondon

The drinks here aren't cheap, but that's to be expected with most rooftop bars – there's always a premium for the view (the view here is a particularly great one). It's minimum £6 for a beer, and £6.50 for a glass of wine.

I'd skip both and just go for one of the £12-a-pop cocktails. Sure, they're double the price, but they're also genuinely delicious, and in my mind it's far less ridiculous than paying £6 for a bottle of Heineken.

Nearest station: Fenchurch Street

3. Rooftop Film Club

rooftopfilmclub.com

Classic films screened on the rooftops of some of London's most famous buildings – more than a few of the locations these guys use are listed elsewhere on this list. Every screening always has a bar on hand, as well as food. If you want to make the absolute most out of your rooftop bar visit, you must definitely book into a screening.

Nearest station: Various

4. Queen of Hoxton

Facebook: thequeenofhoxton

The Queen of Hoxton is year-round rooftop delight. In winter they have a cosy teepee with hot buttered rum, roaring fires and s'mores. In summer it's a sunshine-y playground-themed delight. They even have a BBQ.

Nearest Station: Shoreditch High Street

5. Gong

Instagram: @petite.blondine

You know when I said most rooftop bars charge a premium for the view? When it comes to that, not all rooftop bars were created equal. Some will charge you an arm and a leg for food and drink that is mediocre at best, safe in the knowledge that people will come for the sunset regardless.

Gong is not that bar. They have the most incredible, breathtaking views of the city (they're at floor 52 of the Shard), and also some of the most incredible, breathtaking food and drink. The cocktails are of the same standard as any you'd find at the most infamous of the hotel bars – and the prices, miraculously, are actually a few pounds cheaper.

Nearest Station: London Bridge

6. Coq D'Argent

Thomas Alexander / Via Facebook: Coqdargent

A stunning bar high up above the city. For a rooftop bar, this is one of the more spacious ones – there's a huge open green out front, and tons of tables running throughout the terrace space within. Magically, while there's a lot of space, this place still feels like a little private world. I'm super into it.

Nearest station: Bank

7. Gardening Society

johnlewis.com

johnlewis.com

John Lewis has a garden rooftop bar. They've covered it in flowers and herbs and green things, and as well as cocktails there are pop up restaurants and occasional yoga classes. AND IT'S ONLY OPEN UNTIL SEPTEMBER GUYS, GO NOW WHILE YOU STILL CAN.

Nearest station: Oxford Circus

8. Franks Cafe

Instagram: @maxgoldthorpe

You know it's summer when Frank's has opened. A Peckham institution, this summer-only bar's speciality is Campari-based cocktails. Be sure to get there early, or you'll be queuing a long time to sip on one.

Nearest station: Peckham Rye

9. Faltering Fulback

Faultering Fulback

Faultering Fulback

This big local pub has a hell of a beer garden. Just look at it, it's so pretty with all its leafiness and oaky tones. Plus there's so many secret little spaces in it, as well as multi-layered terraces, that you'll always find a seat.

Nearest station: Finsbury Park.

10. Bussey Building

Instagram: @char_pook

Peckham is a bit of a ball-ache to get to unless you live there, but at least they have not one, but two great rooftop bars. Plan a trip and visit Frank's and the Bussey Building in one fell swoop. Where Frank's has Negronis a plenty, the Bussey Building is all action: there's always something going on (as well as rooftop cinema!).

Nearest station: Peckham

11. Dalston Roof Park

Dalston Roof Park

Dalston Roof Park

Craft beer and deck chairs in the sun. What's not to love? There's also tons of really good food on offer: in true east end spirit, there's rotating foodie pop ups in residency here. Currently you'll find burgers, including the Mac The Ripper: "truffled mac and cheese, deep fried, in a bun." FUCK. YES.

Nearest station: Dalston Kingsland

12. Mr Fogg's Botanical Garden

Mr Fogg's

Mr Fogg's

Mr Fogg's west end residence has the most genteel of drinking terraces: a Hendrick's Botanical Garden. The elevated terrace will put you up where the fresh air is, while the oh-so-dainty Victorian-inspired decor and cocktails will make you feel like you're in a novel.

Nearest station: Green Park

13. Radio

melia.com

Radio is very expensive and very over-subscribed – definitely book if you want to get in, being turned away from this place is very upsetting. The hype that draws the crowds and justifies the cost is worth it though: the cocktails are strong and the panoramic views of London truly spectacular.

Nearest station: Temple

14. Big Chill House

Instagram: @wearebigchill

Big Chill is erm, aptly named as it is very big and very chilled. The rooftop terrace is wonderfully spacious, the food is good and the drinks are fun and not too dear at £3.50 for a beer, and £3.75 for a shot – a rooftop bar once tried to charge me £11 for a shot of gin, so I now consider anything under a fiver served on a rooftop as dirt cheap.

Nearest Station: Kings Cross St Pancras

15. The Culpeper

Instagram: @theculpeper

The Culpeper not only use their rooftop as a beautiful drinking space, they also use it to grow their own vegetables and herbs. These are used in their kitchen, but also (more importantly) in their drinks – the cocktails are works of herbaceous art, using all manner of garden ingredients.

Nearest station: Aldgate East

16. Ace Hotel

Instagram: @petite.blondine

Ace hotel is a very cool hotel with a very cool rooftop. The space is usually closed to the public, but they're hosting a series of events this summer that do let us normal (ticket-holding) folk in. Definitely book in – the view of the sunset alone makes it worth it.

Nearest station: Shoredtich High Street

17. Sky Garden

skygarden.london

Three floors of gardens, all with the most incredible views of London. Ok, it's not technically a bar. But there is a bar in there, so you can have a cocktail or two while you wander. It counts.

Nearest station: Monument

18. Ham Yard Hotel

Instagram: @alittlelusciousness

Ham Yard Hotel has the most lovely little hidden rooftop bar up top. You can only get in (as far as I'm aware) if you book one of their ticketed events. Not to worry though – the tickets are always reasonably priced at around £10 - £15, and include at least a slap-up buffet. Their rooftop also has a garden, the produce of which gets liberally used in the cocktails. Hello rooftop jasmine sugar and homemade citrus-ade.

Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus

19. The Boundary

Facebook: boundaryproject

This roof top terrace is just so dreamy. The food here is great, as are the drinks (if it's chilly, order a hot negroni), and the setting is straight out of your most romantic rooftop fantasies.

You will most likely have to wait for a table, but there's no time limit once you're in, so you're free to set up camp for a full evening of drinking and eating.

Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street

20. Oxo Tower

Instagram: @petite.blondine

Friends, let me tell you, there is no simpler pleasure than sipping a G&T while looking out at the Thames from the OXO Tower bar.

Nearest station: Waterloo

21. Sushi Samba

Facebook: SUSHISAMBA

Facebook: SUSHISAMBA

Sushi Samba's 38th floor rooftop bar attracts city folk like honey attracts flies. I don't know what it is about being up high. People in suits just love it. Rubbing elbows with the moneyed young things is part of the charm of this place though, and even if it wasn't, the views and cocktails are still worth coming for. Both are seriously good.

Nearest station: Liverpool Street