The best rooftop bars in London have proliferated over the past decade to the point where the category now demands serious curation. London is not naturally a rooftop city — the weather sees to that — but the bars that have invested in heating systems, retractable covers, and genuinely good cocktail programs have created year-round destinations that justify the effort. These twelve are the ones we return to, recommend without hesitation, and consider genuinely worth the elevated prices that London rooftop bars invariably charge.
The Best Rooftop Bars in London: Central Picks
Central London's rooftop bar scene is anchored by a handful of hotel and standalone venues that have built genuine reputations beyond their views. These are the central picks that earn their position on every serious list of best rooftop bars in London.
01
Acqua Nueva Sky Bar
St. James's$$$$Panoramic / West End
The Sky Bar atop Acqua Nueva gives arguably the most complete central London panorama of any rooftop bar in the city — Buckingham Palace to the south, St James's Park directly below, and the West End skyline stretching north and east. The cocktail program is among the most considered of any hotel rooftop bar in London, with house-made cordials and seasonal garnishes that justify the price point. Arrive at sunset and request a table on the west-facing section for the best light.
Order: Champagne Cocktail, seasonal house spritz
02
Radio Rooftop — ME London
Strand$$$$Thames Views / Premium
ME London's rooftop bar on the Strand delivers Thames views from the tenth floor in a space that manages to feel intimate despite its scale. The cocktail list changes seasonally and maintains a quality level that matches the prices. The St Paul's Cathedral and South Bank view from the south-facing terrace is one of the most photographed in London — which means weekends fill quickly and walk-ins after 7pm are essentially impossible in summer. Book a minimum two weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday evenings.
Order: London Mule, Elderflower Collins
03
Madison — One New Change
City of London$$$St Paul's / City Views
Madison sits at the top of One New Change with St Paul's Cathedral directly at eye level — the view is arguably the most architecturally striking of any rooftop bar in the city. The cocktail program is well-managed under a team that clearly understands the difference between a venue selling views and one selling drinks. The City crowd fills the bar from 5pm on weekdays, and the weekend trade skews tourist and visitors from the surrounding area. The terrace heaters extend the season reliably into November.
Order: Classic Negroni, Porn Star Martini
04
Aviary — Montcalm Royal London House
Finsbury Square$$$City Fringe / Skyline
Aviary sits on the tenth floor at the edge of the City and Shoreditch, drawing both the post-work financial district crowd and the east London creative industry. The bar program leads with seasonal British cocktails using local spirits and foraged ingredients — an approach that has become a London cocktail bar standard, but which Aviary executes better than most. The 360-degree terrace gives views from the Shard to the Gherkin to Canary Wharf. Weekday evenings from 5pm are the most manageable.
Order: Seasonal British cocktail, English sparkling wine
The complete London rooftop bar guide
Every ranked rooftop bar in London, with maps, reservation guides, and the best views by area.
The most interesting rooftop bars in London right now are east of the City and south of the river. Shoreditch, Peckham, and the South Bank have each developed distinctive rooftop cultures that differ significantly from the hotel-bar format dominating central London.
05
Netil360
London Fields$$East London / Panoramic
Netil360 on the roof of Netil House gives genuinely 360-degree views across east London from Hackney to Canary Wharf, at prices that make every other rooftop bar on this list feel expensive by comparison. The bar program is simple and honestly priced — craft beer, natural wine, basic cocktails — and the crowd is the actual east London creative community rather than visitors to it. Summer weekends fill from early afternoon and the queue can be significant. Arrive before 4pm or accept a wait.
Order: Local craft beer, natural wine by the glass
06
Frank's Cafe — Multi-Storey Car Park
Peckham$$Seasonal / Iconic
Frank's is open only in summer and only in a converted multi-storey car park in Peckham, which means it operates on its own terms entirely. The Peckham skyline view — looking north towards central London with the City barely visible on the horizon — is one of the most unexpectedly atmospheric in the city. The bar serves natural wine and simple cocktails at prices that reflect the fact that Frank's is not trying to extract money from you. It regularly appears on lists of the best bars in London, full stop, not just rooftops.
Order: Natural wine, simple aperitivo cocktail
07
Oxo Tower Restaurant Bar
South Bank$$$$Thames / City Views
The Oxo Tower brasserie bar on the eighth floor of the South Bank's most recognisable building delivers the Thames river view that most visitors to London are actually imagining when they think of rooftop bars. St Paul's, the City skyline, and the full sweep of the north bank are visible from the terrace. The cocktail program is more serious than the tourist-adjacent location would suggest, and the service matches the prices. This is the recommendation for visiting guests who want the quintessential London rooftop experience.
Order: Classic Champagne cocktail, English gin and tonic
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The Best Value Rooftop Bars in London
Five more picks that round out the London rooftop list — including the best hotel rooftop currently operating in the city and two that have built genuine cocktail reputations independent of their views.
08
Sky Garden — 20 Fenchurch Street
City of London$$$$Walkie Talkie Building
Sky Garden atop the Walkie Talkie building is technically free to enter via pre-booked tickets, which makes it the best-value high-altitude bar experience in London. The cocktail prices bring the real cost in line with other City rooftop bars, but the calibrated views from 35 floors — covering the Thames, Tower Bridge, and both Canary Wharf and the West End simultaneously — are available to anyone with a booking. Reserve tickets online at least two weeks ahead for evening slots.
Order: Sky Garden Signature Cocktail, Champagne
09
Boundary Rooftop — Shoreditch
Shoreditch$$$East London Skyline
Boundary's rooftop sits above one of Shoreditch's original boutique hotels and has maintained its quality across a decade of competition. The cocktail program leads with classic and creative in equal measure. The east London skyline view — looking across Shoreditch rooftops to the City in the south — gives a perspective that neither central London nor Peckham manages. The heated outdoor area extends the season, and the kitchen serves a menu of light bites that pair well with evening drinking.
Order: Negroni, seasonal spritz
10
Loft at Ace Hotel
Shoreditch$$$Hotel Bar / Casual Luxury
The Loft at Ace Hotel operates as both a lobby bar that flows upward and a rooftop terrace with Shoreditch views, making it more adaptable to London's weather than most outdoor venues. The cocktail program is among the most creative in east London — Ace properties have always invested in their bar programs — and the bar-top seating at the rooftop level gives an informal perch above the action below. The DJ sets on weekend evenings elevate the energy without making conversation impossible.
Order: Mezcal cocktail, house Negroni variation
11
Nobu Hotel Shoreditch — Bar and Terrace
Shoreditch$$$$Japanese Inspired / Premium
Nobu's Shoreditch bar and terrace brings Japanese cocktail sensibility to the east London rooftop format — yuzu, sake, shiso, and premium Japanese whisky feature prominently on a menu that stands independently of the hotel's restaurant reputation. The terrace wraps around two sides of the building with views towards both the City and north London. The crowd leans heavily towards the fashion and creative industries. The omakase cocktail option — bartender's choice based on flavour preferences — is one of the best experiences on any London rooftop.
Order: Yuzu Margarita, Japanese whisky highball
12
Luna de Noche — Selfridges Rooftop
Marylebone$$$Oxford Street / West End
The Selfridges rooftop pop-up that became a permanent installation, Luna de Noche serves mezcal and tequila-focused cocktails from a terrace above Oxford Street with views towards Regent's Park and the West End skyline. The Mexican bar program is more committed than the retail-adjacent location would suggest — house-infused spirits, quality agave selection, and a food menu of elevated Mexican small plates. West End workers have made this their after-work default on warm evenings, and the crowd from 6pm onwards reflects that.
Order: Mezcal Negroni, Oaxacan Old Fashioned
Explore the full London bar guide
Cocktail bars, speakeasies, pub crawls and more — our complete guide to London's bar scene across every neighbourhood.
London's rooftop bar scene in 2023 has two distinct registers: the premium hotel rooftops where the views justify high prices if the cocktail program keeps up, and the east and south London independents where the experience is less polished but more authentic and considerably more affordable. Our picks for first-timers: Madison for the most dramatic St Paul's view, Netil360 for the most honest east London experience, and Frank's Cafe in Peckham in summer if you happen to be in the city when it is open.
Book ahead for everything on this list from May through September. The brief window of reliable London summer weather means every rooftop bar in the city operates at capacity from Thursday evening through Sunday, and walk-in availability at the best venues drops to near zero by 6pm on warm days. For a rooftop bar experience in a very different register, the Zurich rooftop bars offer Alpine panoramas and Swiss precision at altitude — a quieter, more considered experience than London's competitive terrace scene, but equally rewarding.
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