Seek out each of these rooftop venues to find hidden gardens and some of the city’s most spectacular views. We take a look at the five best rooftop bars in London.
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The Berkeley, Knightsbridge
While it’s not strictly a bar, this is one of the best rooftop spots to escape to in London. The Berkeley’s Health Club & Spa extends out onto the seventh-floor rooftop garden and open-air swimming pool which is enclosed by arched windows framing the skyline and treetops of Hyde Park. Here you can take a dip in the pool and relax with a bite to eat or glass of wine from the spa’s food and drink menu. The pool is open to hotel guests and people visiting the spa for the day.
The Roof Gardens, Kensington
Instagram @theroofgardens
Considered one of the most enticing rooftops spaces in the capital, the Roof Gardens in Kensington encompass three gardens—the Spanish Garden, Tudor Garden and English Woodland—as well as a private members’ club and Babylon Restaurant, commanding views across the city skyline from its seventh-story position, 100ft above the streets of London. Lavish events take place throughout the summer months but the space is free to visit any other time and available to hire. Babylon Restaurant’s terrace is popular year-round as it’s transformed to suit each season.
The Roof Terrace, Ham Yard Hotel, Soho
Instagram @firmdale_hotels
Exhibiting designer Kit Kemp’s distinct style and boasting its own secluded enclave in the heart of Soho, Ham Yard Hotel has undeniable appeal. This distinct identity can be seen in the hotel’s rooftop terrace too. Home to a kitchen garden, outdoor art installations and two bee hives, this space feels like a hidden garden within this vibrant area of London. A lounge area and bar then transform the space into a venue that comes alive each evening as cocktails incorporating homemade ingredients are savored with a view.
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SushiSamba, Bishopsgate
Instagram @sushisamba
On the 38th and 39th floors of a skyscraper in Bishopsgate, SushiSamba commands breath-taking views over the capital. This panorama can be taken in from the main dining space complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, or out on the venue’s two open-air terraces where you can try the bar’s signature cocktails, from the Samba Sour, the restaurant’s version of a classic pisco sour, to the Nashi Martini, which takes inspiration from Japanese flavors with the inclusion of Japanese plum wine.
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Radio Rooftop Bar, ME London, The Strand
Instagram @radiorooftoplondon
This vibrant venue sits on the 10th floor of ME Hotel in London’s West End, providing both indoor and outdoor space to sip cocktails and champagne late into the night while looking out across the skyline; Tower Bridge, the Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Eye are all within sight. Pair one of the bar’s signature cocktails with a bite to eat from the Tapas con Vistas menu.
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