Best Rooftop Bars in London (2026)
Skyline views, rooftop gardens and the terraces worth planning a night around, plus which ones are actually open this winter.
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London's best rooftops aren't always the highest. One puts St Paul's right in front of your table, one serves cocktails in old Tube carriages, and a few have heated yurts, glass roofs or a wine list worth the climb.
We've sorted 38 of them by area and flagged what actually matters: who's open in winter, who takes bookings and who charges a minimum spend. Seven close for the cold months, so those come last in each section.
London's Best Rooftop Bars at a Glance
| Rooftop | Area | Best for | Open in winter? | Booking detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabine St Paul's | St Paul's | A close-up cathedral view | Yes, covered and heated from November | £50 per person minimum on bookings from 4pm |
| Madison | St Paul's | St Paul's with DJs | Yes, with heaters | Under 10 for drinks is walk-in only; £20 entry at peak times |
| SUSHISAMBA | Bishopsgate | A big high-rise dinner | Yes, indoors | Book the Heron Tower location |
| Wagtail | Monument | Views in every direction | Yes | Ninth and tenth floors are separate spaces |
| Coq d'Argent | Bank | A classic City dinner | Yes, then moves in January 2027 | Book online for up to 12 |
| Florattica | Aldgate | A floral cocktail date | Yes | Winter Buds book separately |
| Aviary | Finsbury Square | After-work drinks | Yes, indoors | Terrace is uncovered and not guaranteed |
| Savage Garden | Tower Hill | Tower Bridge views | Yes, indoors | Smart dress; over 18 after 6pm |
| Los Mochis London City | Liverpool Street | Rooftop dinner in any weather | Yes, terrace can be enclosed and heated | Ask for the terrace |
| Sky Garden | Fenchurch Street | A free view | Yes, indoors | Free tickets up to three weeks ahead |
| Flute at Broadwick Soho | Soho | A glamorous date | Yes | Six people max; £50 per person minimum Thu–Sat after 5:30pm |
| The Nest at Treehouse | Oxford Circus | A central rooftop with wide views | Yes | Parties of 1–5 are walk-in only Thu–Sat after 5pm; 21+ from 5pm |
| AMANO Rooftop Bar | Covent Garden | Drinks around a theater night | Yes, with indoor seating | Book online for up to 20 |
| Radio Rooftop | Strand | A dressed-up night with DJs | Yes, heated patios | No sportswear |
| 8 at The Londoner | Leicester Square | An intimate Japanese-inspired night | Yes, retractable skylights | Book ahead; open Tue–Sat from 5pm |
| Aqua Spirit | Oxford Circus | Cocktails above Regent Street | Yes, covered and heated | Enter on Argyll Street; drinks walk-ins welcome |
| Stanley's Rooftop Bar | Mayfair | A sheltered, quieter rooftop | Yes, retractable roof and heaters | Reservations only |
| Big Chill King's Cross | King's Cross | A big terrace for a night out | Yes, retractable roof | DJs Thu–Sat |
| Bar Arriba | Olympia | West London date night | Check before you go | Book ahead |
| CÉ LA VI | Paddington | A high-rise night in west London | Yes, indoors | Open daily from noon |
| The Rooftop at The Standard | King's Cross | A summer evening up high | Closed until 2027 | Runs April to October |
| Boundary Rooftop | Shoreditch | A slow lunch | Yes, glass Orangery | Tue–Sat only; 18+; cashless |
| Netil360 | London Fields | Pizza and a casual sunset | Yes, covered and heated areas | Thu–Sat only; free entry; no wheelchair access |
| Kaso Rooftop | Shoreditch | A date that turns into a late night | Yes | Thu–Sat only; terrace tables first come |
| Queen of Hoxton | Shoreditch | A winter yurt with DJs | Yes, heated yurt | Roof open Wed–Sat, until 10pm |
| Village Underground Rooftop | Shoreditch | Cocktails in Tube carriages | Check before you go | Order at the bar downstairs |
| Bōkan 39 | Canary Wharf | A view from 39 floors up | No terrace service in winter | Terrace can't be booked |
| The Culpeper Rooftop | Spitalfields | A small garden with food | Closed until spring 2027 | Six or more can book the greenhouse |
| Roof East | Stratford | Games with a group | Closed until spring 2027 | Check the new season's program |
| 12th Knot | South Bank | Thames views and DJs | Yes, indoors | Terrace tables can't be booked; terrace closes at 10pm |
| Seabird | Southwark | Seafood and oysters | Yes, indoors | Drinks-only bookings from 9:30pm |
| Forza Wine Peckham | Peckham | Wine and small plates | Check before you go | Book the Peckham location |
| London Bridge Rooftop | London Bridge | A lively group night | Yes, covered with heaters | About 98 steps, no elevator |
| Freight Brixton | Brixton | A huge open-air party | Check before you go | Check the events calendar |
| Frank's Cafe | Peckham | A big summer skyline | Closed until 2027 | No reservations |
| Bussey Rooftop Bar | Peckham | Summer drinks and pizza | Closed until spring 2027 | Not wheelchair accessible |
| Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden | South Bank | A green summer afternoon | Closed until spring 2027 | Step-free access through Royal Festival Hall |
| JOIA Rooftop | Battersea | A Battersea Power Station backdrop | Closed after Nov 7 party | £25 closing party ticket |
Rooftop Bars in the City of London
The City has London's biggest cluster of rooftops, from St Paul's terraces to towers 39 floors up. It's busiest on weeknights after work.
Sabine St Paul's
10 Godliman St, London EC4V 5AJ, UK
Nobody has to point out the view here. St Paul's fills the skyline from this seventh-floor terrace at the Leonardo Royal, and it's due to be fully covered and heated from November, so it now works year-round. DJs play Thursday to Saturday. Details: Carter Lane, EC4V 5AJ. Reservations from 4pm carry a £50 per person minimum; walk-ins don't. 21+ from 4pm. Tue–Wed from 4pm, Thu–Sat from noon, closed Dec 24–Jan 4. Fully accessible. Book St Paul's, not the Holborn branch.
Madison
Rooftop Terrace One, New Change, London EC4M 9AF, UK
Madison is the louder St Paul's option: a big terrace, a close cathedral backdrop and DJs that turn a couple of drinks into a whole night. It's a good call for birthdays. Details: One New Change, EC4M 9AF. Drinks parties under 10 are walk-in only, and a £20 entry fee may apply at peak times. 21+ after 3pm and all day Saturday. No dress code. Heaters help, but the terrace isn't fully weatherproof.
SUSHISAMBA
Heron Tower, London EC2N 4AY, UK
The glass elevator ride up Heron Tower is half the fun. The restaurant sits on the 38th and 39th floors, with Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian food and an orange tree sculpture on the outdoor Tree Terrace. Come for dinner, or for DJs in SAMBAROOM on Fridays. Details: Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY. The restaurant, terrace and SAMBAROOM are separate spaces, so book the one you want. Make sure you're booking Heron Tower, not Covent Garden.
Wagtail
68 King William St, London EC4N 7HR, UK
Wagtail looks out in every direction, with the Shard, Tower Bridge and St Paul's all in play. Dress up a bit and make a reservation, since this one feels more like a celebration than a casual drink. Details: 68 King William Street, EC4N 7HR. The ninth-floor restaurant and terraces are separate from the tenth-floor rooftop. The upper rooftop has no elevator or wheelchair access.
Coq d'Argent
1 Poultry, London EC2R 8EJ, UK
A landscaped roof garden and a French dining room make this the City's classic business dinner. It's a calmer night than most on this list. Go soon, since the restaurant is moving to a new rooftop at One Millennium Bridge, expected in January 2027. Details: No. 1 Poultry, EC2R 8EJ. Open Monday to Saturday, noon to midnight. Book online for up to 12. Closed Jan 1–11.
Florattica
11-15 Minories, London EC3N 1BJ, UK
Florattica gives you two things to look at: the skyline and a room packed with flowers. It's on the 11th floor of the Canopy by Hilton, with resident DJs on Fridays and Saturdays. It's a fun pick for a dressed-up date. Details: 11–15 Minories, EC3N 1BJ. Open daily from 4pm, from noon on weekends. The winter Buds are a separate booking, so check what your reservation covers.
Aviary
Royal London House, 22-25 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1DX, UK
Aviary is the City's all-rounder, ten floors up with a roof terrace and a full restaurant. It works for colleagues or a birthday, and weekend brunch comes with DJs. Details: 22–25 Finsbury Square, EC2A 1DX. A reservation doesn't guarantee a terrace table. The terrace is uncovered, and bad weather can push you indoors.
Savage Garden
Fl 12, 7 Pepys St, London EC3N 4AF, UK
This 12th-floor bar at the DoubleTree looks straight at Tower Bridge. The big indoor room keeps it going in winter, and it stays open until 2am Thursday to Saturday. Details: 7 Pepys Street, EC3N 4AF. Over 18 after 6pm, with physical ID. Smart dress: no caps, hoodies, sports trainers or athletic wear. Outdoor tables can't be reserved.
Los Mochis London City
100 Liverpool St, London EC2M 2AT, UK
This is one of the better picks when food matters as much as the drinks. The Mexican-Japanese menu runs from tacos to sushi, and the ninth-floor terrace above Broadgate Circle can be fully enclosed and heated. Details: 100 Liverpool Street, EC2M 2AT. Ask for the rooftop terrace, since the restaurant has other dining rooms. Book London City, not Notting Hill.
Sky Garden
1, Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF, UK
Sky Garden isn't technically a rooftop bar, but it's the best free view in the City, inside a glass dome at the top of the Walkie Talkie. You'll need a free ticket, and there are bars inside once you're up there. Details: 1 Sky Garden Walk, EC3M 8AF. Free tickets are released up to three weeks ahead. Free entry runs 10am–6pm weekdays and 11am–9pm weekends, with a one-hour limit. A restaurant reservation gets you in without a ticket.
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Rooftop Bars in Central and West London
These are the ones to know around a show, dinner or a day of shopping, plus the newer rooftops in west London. Most run year-round, and several have proper cover for bad weather. Bringing a crowd? Our guide to the best London bars for large groups has more options. The Standard, at the end, is closed until 2027.
Flute at Broadwick Soho
7th floor, 20 Broadwick St, London W1F 8TH, UK
Flute is as much about the room as the view. There's an onyx bar, mirrored ceilings, animal-print seats and a palm-frond carpet, with a terrace that takes you out over the Soho rooftops. Save it for a date. Details: 20 Broadwick Street, Soho. Bookings open 30 days ahead for up to six people, and larger groups can't be seated. Thursday to Saturday, tables after 5:30pm carry a £50 per person minimum.
The Nest at Treehouse
Floor 16, 14-15 Langham Pl, London W1B 2QS, UK
The Nest is the easy answer after a day around Oxford Circus, with wide views, indoor and outdoor seats and DJs from 8pm Thursday to Saturday. Sunday's Drinks on the Woof, from noon to 3pm, brings the dogs out. Details: 14–15 Langham Place, W1B 2QS. Thursday to Saturday from 5pm, parties of one to five are walk-in only, and six or more should contact reservations. 21+ from 5pm. Outdoor seats can be requested but aren't guaranteed.
AMANO Rooftop Bar
Drury House, 34-43 Russell St, London WC2B 5HA, UK
AMANO is an easy add-on to a Covent Garden theater night, with cocktails, tapas and views toward the London Eye and Big Ben. A retractable awning covers summer showers. Details: Drury House, 34–43 Russell Street, WC2B 5HA. Book online for up to 20. Open daily from noon, until midnight Friday and Saturday. The glassroom is used for private events, so don't count on it for indoor seating.
Radio Rooftop
336-337 Strand, London WC2R 1HA, UK
Radio is ten floors up at ME London, with modern Asian sharing plates and heated patios for the colder months. DJs play Thursday to Saturday, when it runs until 1:30am. For a cheaper visit, try happy hour, Monday to Wednesday from 4pm to 7pm. Details: ME London, 336–337 Strand, WC2R 1HA. No sportswear or sports shirts. Book ahead for a prime evening.
8 at The Londoner
38 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DX, UK
Eight floors above Leicester Square, this one trades a big terrace for a quieter, more composed night. Expect Japanese-inspired cocktails, a rare whisky list, sushi and wagyu, with retractable skylights over the lounge terrace. Details: 38 Leicester Square, WC2H 7DX. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm. Children are welcome until 9pm. Dress is "fashionably elegant." Shima Garden, the open-air space, is offered for private hire, so ask before planning around it.
Aqua Spirit
30 Argyll St, London W1B 3BR, UK
Aqua Spirit sits on the fifth floor with the Japanese restaurant Aqua Kyoto, on a covered, heated terrace above Regent Street. You're looking across rooftops here, so think cocktails after shopping more than skyline views. Details: Enter at 30 Argyll Street, W1F 7EB, not on Regent Street. Drinks walk-ins are welcome if there's room. The bar runs until 1am, and 1:30am Thursday to Saturday.
Stanley's Rooftop Bar
35 Charles St, London W1J 5EB, UK
Stanley's is a quieter Mayfair alternative to the big music-led rooftops. It has a retractable roof, heaters and blankets, plus a menu with lobster rolls, chicken satay and a cheddar toastie. Details: The Chesterfield Mayfair, 35 Charles Street, W1J 5EB. Reservations only, released four weeks ahead. Monday and Tuesday from 4pm, otherwise from 11am. Cigars are bring-your-own, from 8pm to 11pm when the roof is open, with a £50 minimum spend.
Big Chill King's Cross
257-259 Pentonville Rd, London N1 9NL, UK
Big Chill is a three-floor bar with a big roof terrace on top, complete with its own bar and a retractable roof. DJs take over Thursday to Saturday, and it's open until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays. It's a good night out for a group. Details: 257–259 Pentonville Road, N1 9NL. A short walk from King's Cross station. Private terrace areas can be hired.
Bar Arriba
2b Emberton Walk, London W14 8FJ, UK
Bar Arriba is one of the rooftops that came with the Olympia revamp, and it's already a solid date-night option in a part of London that doesn't have many. Expect cocktails, sharing plates and a DJ. Details: 2b Emberton Walk, W14 8FJ. Open most evenings from 5pm, and from noon on weekends. Hours can shift around Olympia's events.
CÉ LA VI
17 & 18, 1 Paddington Sq, London W2 1DL, UK
CÉ LA VI is 17 floors above Paddington Square, with a restaurant, a sky bar and a separate terrace. It's a dressed-up night with big views, and the bar works whatever the weather. Details: 1 Paddington Square, W2 1DL. Open daily from noon. Some events are 21+.
The Rooftop at The Standard
10 Argyle St, London WC1H 8NP, UK
The Standard's 11th-floor roof is a great open-air drink above King's Cross, less formal than a typical hotel rooftop. It runs from April to October. Details: Closed until 2027. 10 Argyle Street, WC1H 8EG. The hotel's other restaurants and bars are separate venues.
Rooftop Bars in East London
East London has the most casual rooftops on this list, plus a heated yurt, a Tube carriage bar and a terrace 39 floors up. The last two here are closed until spring.
Boundary Rooftop
2-4 Boundary St, London E2 7DD, UK
Boundary is the calm end of Shoreditch, with a heated glass Orangery beside the outdoor terrace and a Mediterranean menu worth sitting down for. It's a better lunch than a late night. Details: 2–4 Boundary Street, E2 7DD, entrance on Redchurch Street. Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 11pm. 18+, no dogs, cashless.
Netil360
1 Westgate St, London E8 3RL, UK
Netil360 proves a rooftop doesn't need a dress code. It's pizza, beer, natural wine and a Hackney sunset, with covered, heated areas and DJs on Fridays and Saturdays. Details: Netil House, 1 Westgate Street, E8 3RL. Open Thursday to Saturday. Entry is free, reservations are limited and it's 18+. The roof has no wheelchair access.
Kaso Rooftop
100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ, UK
Kaso pairs Eastern Mediterranean sharing plates with cocktails, then gets more music-led as the night goes on. Yappy Hour, Thursday and Friday from 5pm to 7pm, is one of the better deals on this list, with £10 cocktails and £6 wine and beer. Details: One Hundred Shoreditch, 100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JQ. Thursday to Saturday, 5pm to midnight. 18+. Terrace tables are first come and weather permitting.
Queen of Hoxton
1 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3JX, UK
The roof at Queen of Hoxton is about the night out, not the view. In winter that means a heated yurt with firepits, fairy lights, DJs and Caribbean food from BARBS. Details: 1 Curtain Road, EC2A 3JX. The roof runs Wednesday to Friday 5pm–10pm and Saturday 2pm–10pm, weather depending, so call ahead. It closes earlier than the club downstairs.
Village Underground Rooftop
8A Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3NT, UK
The two graffitied Tube carriages on this roof finally opened to the public in 2026, and they're as fun as they sound. Cocktails run about £12, and the pizza comes from Bad Boy Pizza Society. Details: 8A Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3NT. Listed hours are Wednesday to Saturday from late afternoon. Order at the bar downstairs and carry your drinks up.
Bōkan 39
Floor 38/39, 40 Marsh Wall, London E14 9TP, UK
Bōkan gives you a different London, 39 floors up over Canary Wharf. It's worth the trip if you're staying nearby, and the restaurant and bars sit on the floors below the terrace. Details: Novotel, 40 Marsh Wall, E14 9TP. The roof terrace is first come and can't be booked. There's no terrace service in the winter months, so don't make the trip just for an outdoor drink.
The Culpeper Rooftop
40 Commercial St, London E1 6LP, UK
The Culpeper's rooftop woodland garden is small, leafy and tied to the kitchen, with food from its rooftop grill. It suits a few people better than a big group. Details: Closed until spring 2027. 40 Commercial Street, E1 6LP. The indoor greenhouse stays available year-round for private dining and events for six or more.
Roof East
7 & 8 Stratford Multi Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Rd, London E15 1XE, UK
Roof East is the one to pick if your group wants something to do between drinks, with games, food and an outdoor cinema on top of a Stratford car park. Details: Closed until spring 2027. Floors 7 and 8, Stratford Multi-Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Way, E15 1XE. Check the new program when it's released.
Rooftop Bars in South London
The South Bank has the Thames views, while Peckham and Brixton are cheaper, louder and more casual. The last four here are closed for winter.
12th Knot
20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD, UK
The river and the City fill the windows here, but the bar holds up on its own, with good cocktails, small plates and DJs on Fridays and Saturdays. It's a strong pick for a date or a small group. Details: Sea Containers London, 20 Upper Ground, SE1 9PD. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm. Terrace tables can't be booked, and the terrace closes at 10pm. Over 18s only.
Seabird
14th Floor, South Bank, 40 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 8NY, UK
Think of Seabird as a restaurant with a great roof. It's on the 14th floor of The Hoxton, with Spanish- and Portuguese-influenced seafood, oysters and an outdoor terrace for the skyline. Details: The Hoxton, 40 Blackfriars Road, SE1 8NY. Drinks-only reservations start at 9:30pm, so pick somewhere else for an early drink. Terrace requests aren't guaranteed. Closed Mondays, and Sundays are for its Ronnie Scott's sessions.
Forza Wine Peckham
The Rooftop, 133A Rye Ln, London SE15 4BQ, UK
Forza comes down to natural wine, cocktails and Italian-ish sharing plates, with the Peckham skyline as a bonus. A drink turns into snacks and then dinner pretty easily, which makes it a great low-key date. Details: The Rooftop, 133A Rye Lane, SE15 4BQ. Open daily from noon, until 8pm Sunday. If you're on the South Bank, Forza's National Theatre terrace looks over the Thames, but book the right location.
London Bridge Rooftop
Colechurch House, Bridge Walk, London SE1 2SX, UK
This is a party terrace with DJs, cocktails and a big view of the Shard. Every table is covered and there are heaters and blankets, though you'll still want a coat. Details: Colechurch House, Bridge Walk, SE1 2SX. About 98 steps and no elevator. Over 18s only, and bookings are online, with walk-ins if there's room.
Freight Brixton
33 Brixton Station Rd, London SW9 8PB, UK
Freight opened in 2026 as one of London's largest open-air rooftops, with room for over 1,000, three bars and four kitchens. It's built for big nights, DJs and live screenings, so go in good weather. Details: 33 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PB. Check the events calendar first, since it's open-air and listed hours are limited in the colder months.
Frank's Cafe
Bold Tendencies, 7th-10th Floor Multi Storey Car Park, 95A Rye Ln, London SE15 4ST, UK
Frank's is the stripped-back London rooftop: an open car park roof in Peckham, a huge skyline and long summer evenings. Its 2026 season ran from May 15 to September 12. Details: Closed until 2027, and dates aren't out yet. Bold Tendencies, Peckham Multi-Storey Car Park, Rye Lane. No table reservations, and it's card only.
Bussey Rooftop Bar
Roof B, Bussey Building, 133 Rye Ln, London SE15 4ST, UK
Bussey is a good summer group option, with cocktails, cold beer and pizza above Rye Lane. It's the easygoing choice when Forza feels like too much of a dinner. Details: Closed until spring 2027. Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4SL. Access is by stairs or a service elevator, and the roof isn't wheelchair accessible.
Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden
Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden, Southbank Centre, London SE1 8XX, UK
This is the best rooftop for an unhurried summer afternoon: planting, a lawn and a bar above the South Bank. It's more garden than cocktail terrace, which is the whole appeal. Details: Closed until spring 2027. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. For step-free access, go to the Welcome Desk on Level 2 of Royal Festival Hall.
JOIA Rooftop
15th Floor, 1 Electric Blvd, Nine Elms, London SW11 8BJ, UK
JOIA's 15th-floor roof puts Battersea Power Station right in the frame, with Portuguese small plates and DJs in season. It's worth saving for a warm night. Details: Closed for the season, apart from a ticketed closing party on November 7 (£25, with one drink). art'otel, 1 Electric Boulevard, SW11 8BJ. The restaurant and Perola Bar are separate.
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