Is Sky Garden Worth Visiting in 2026? My Honest Review of London’s Famous Free Viewpoint

After recently visiting Horizon 22, I wanted to revisit and review one of London’s original free skyline attractions: Sky Garden.

I’ve actually been to Sky Garden a few times now – first in 2019, again in 2023 and most recently in 2026. One thing has remained consistent throughout the years: it is still extremely popular.

Even with newer viewing platforms opening across London – and numerous social media posts of people sharing other viewing spots – people continue to flock to the top of the Walkie Talkie buildings for the gardens, bars and sweeping city views.

Sky Garden is not the highest viewpoint, that honour belongs to Horizon 22. But after multiple visits over the years, I realise that Sky Garden is a different experience from Horizon 22. Whereas Horizon 22 feels minimalist and focused almost entirely on the skyline – Sky Garden is much more social, almost like a free rooftop lounge with some incredible views of London.

So, is Sky Garden still worth visiting in 2026?

I think yes…with a few caveats.

This guide shares my honest experience visiting Sky Garden over the years, including booking tips, queues, atmosphere inside, the views, and a few frustrations.

What is Sky Garden?

Surely everyone has heard of Sky Garden. But just in case, Sky garden is a free public viewing space located at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street – better known by Londoners as “The Walkie Talkie” building because of its unusual, curved shape which resembles a walkie-talkie handset.

Surrounded by a glass dome, Sky Garden is spread over multiple levels (3) which allow 360-degree uninterrupted views across all different sides of London. It combines these panoramic city views with landscaped indoor gardens, cafes, restaurants, bars and seating areas. Furthermore, Sky Garden offers an outdoor terrace which looks out to the Thames and iconic Tower Bridge.

Whenever I have visited, I find that instead of simply walking around, taking photos and leaving, I end up lingering for quite a while. This is true for many visitors, and it is what separates Sky Garden as a viewing platform.

It goes beyond being a mere observation deck, and feels like a giant elevated social space above the city.

You can expect to see:

• Tourists posing for skyline pictures
• Couples having drinks
• Friends chatting over coffee
• People working over laptops
• Families milling about
• Visitors simply sitting or watching London around

Even years after my first visit, I still find this relaxed atmosphere quite unique.

How to Book Sky Garden Tickets. Can you walk in?

I highly recommend booking tickets in advance.  Tickets are free and easy to book. Access is available for free weekdays 10 am- 6pm, and weekends 11am-9pm. Free tickets are released on the official website every Monday at 10 AM, 3 weeks in advance of a visiting week.

If you don’t get a ticket, then walk-ins are allowed if there is space available, you just need to go there and speak to a staff member. I would not fully rely on guaranteed walk-in especially if you’re visiting London for a short time.

A couple things to know in advance about tickets:

• Tickets have a time validity of 1 hour from entry, though I haven’t ever seen the 60-minute time slot being enforced.
• Tickets are only valid for the date and time states
• Allow extra time for queues and stay flexible in case of unexpected closures…

Even with a ticket, Sky Garden may be closed

On my first attempt to revisit Sky Garden in 2026, I actually arrived only to discover they were not letting people in that day because of an incident involving a fallen tree inside the garden area. It was very frustrating.

What made it worse was that there seemed to be no advance communication on email at all. A lot of people had clearly travelled across London expecting to visit. Staff explained that existing tickets would remain valid for the following seven days, but for tourists on tight itineraries, that could be a huge inconvenience.

While a tree falling would have been unexpected, you can expect for the outdoor balcony terrace to be closed at any time due to inclement weather conditions.

All in all, my second visit days later went much more smoothly. Even then, walk-ins were not guaranteed because the venue was already too busy – and this was early morning on a Thursday. That should tell you how consistently popular Sky Garden remains.

Sky Garden Experience: Queues and Security

If going to Sky Garden, you should definitely expect a queue. The good news is that the line tends to move fairly quickly.

The process is reasonably efficient with a staff member directing people to queue either on the ticketed side, or walk-in line. Staff will scan your ticket and then direct you through airport-style security where you will have your bags (and jackets) scanned and walk through a metal detector.

You will then head towards the lifts which are also manned by a staff member, ensuring an orderly flow of traffic in and about.

Overall, it was a roughly 20-30 minute process going in; about 10 at the queues outside and similar time going through security and waiting at the lifts. I felt like Sky Garden felt quite busy from the moment you arrive. There’s lots of movement, chatter and more people gathered around entrances and lift areas.

What Sky Garden Actually Feels like Inside

What makes Sky Garden unique is not just its panoramic London views, but everything that comes with the space and the feel. If you’re expecting a quiet, minimalist observation deck where everyone silently admires the city skyline, Sky Garden is not that experience.

The atmosphere

The atmosphere is very social. There are restaurants overlooking the city, bars on the higher floors, and a café with reasonably priced drinks and snacks.

And when they say free, they mean it. You can also find seating areas spread around, with no obligation to purchase anything. During my visit, people were settled into corners chatting, sipping drinks, and relaxing with the London sky view in the background.

As a space, it generally encourages a slower pace.

The Gardens at Sky Garden

Perhaps it’s the seating areas tucked amidst the greenery at Sky Garden that invites visitors to slow down. As you walk up and down the stairs, you also notice how the greenery is layered allowing for different view points of London in the background.

However, don’t expect expansive biodiverse gardens like you would get at somewhere like Kew or even the Barbican. In the initial plans, the gardens were apparently intended to have full-height trees that I imagine would be feel encompassing, like walking through a forest.

In reality, it’s more manicured terraces of tropical drought-resistant plants like ferns, succulents, and flower plants (African lily, birds of paradise). Still an experience, just not a garden in the true sense.

Restaurant & Bars at Sky Garden

Perhaps this is where Sky Garden excels the most – as an evening rooftop bar and floating party lounge with an observation deck.

I have only visited during weekdays (‘cause I love free things) and therefore the restaurants and bars haven’t been very busy then. A reservation at any of the rooftop restaurants comes with entry to the gardens, so you may want to arrive slightly earlier and check out the gardens.

The restaurant spaces generally don’t offer the clearest view of the city. If you want to enjoy city views as you dine, you can select a window table at an additional cost when selecting your time slot.

These are the food and drink options:

1. Sky Garden bars – 2 separate bars are available, Sky Pod and City Garden located near the balcony and on the rear side of the space respectively.
2. Darwin Brasserie – an all-day brasserie serving seasonal British-inspired dishes. As it’s open at 8:30, going by there for breakfast would mean you get to visit Sky Garden before they open at 10:30 for free public access.
3. Fenchurch Restaurant – a “British with Caribbean flavours” fine dining option open for lunch or dinner. Menu available here.
4. Larch Restaurant – a Classic Italian dining spot located on the ground floor near the entrance to Sky Garden

What are the views from Sky Garden

Of course, the main reason people come here is the amazing panoramic views of London.

You can either head to the balcony, if it’s open, or still enjoy views from inside as you walk around the gardens.

And yes – the views are genuinely fantastic. And endless; up and down, east and west. You can expect to spot The Shard, Tower Bridge, St Pauls Cathedral, Canary’s Wharf’s skyscrapers, the Thames winding through the city, and trains weaving through Central London.

One thing I particularly enjoy about Sky Garden is how dynamic the views of London feel. The space is large, open and layered, so you’re constantly moving between different angles and perspectives rather than standing at a single viewing window. The city almost unfolds gradually as you wander around.

So, Is Sky Garden Still Worth Visiting?

Yes – especially if it’s your first time in London.

For a free attraction, the experience is genuinely impressive, and this still stands 10+ years and thousands (millions?) of visitors later. The combination of indoor greenery, London views and the relaxed atmosphere make it feel quite different from a traditional observation deck.

However, do not expect expansive gardens with expansive biodiversity. In reality, it’s more manicured terraces that feel like a tropical garden.

If your main priority is a clean, high and dramatic view of London, then I personally preferred Horizon 22. If you want somewhere that feels more relaxed and atmospheric – somewhere you can really spend time rather than simply ‘visit’ – Sky Garden delivers.

And unless you go for the breakfast at Darwin Brasserie hack, expect it to be busy. Sky Garden may be free, but it is not a secret.

Check out other London Travel Posts

• Horizon 22 Viewing Platform: My Honest Visit + How to Go