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Perched 155 meters above the streets of London, Sky Garden claims the title of the city’s highest public garden. This unlikely combination of urban jungle and observation deck occupies the top three floors of 20 Fenchurch Street, better known as the “Walkie Talkie” building for its distinctive bulging shape.
Sky Garden Tickets
Start your day at the top with early access to London’s highest public garden. Beat the crowds and enjoy panoramic views from the famous Walkie-Talkie building while savoring a breakfast treat.
🥞 Sky Garden Early Access Ticket & Breakfast Treat
Get exclusive early morning access before the crowds arrive. Your ticket includes a breakfast pastry, hot beverage, and time to explore the lush indoor gardens with panoramic views of the Shard, Tower Bridge, and more.
Highlights
- Experience London’s highest public garden with 360-degree views from 155 meters up
- Wander through an indoor garden filled with drought-resistant Mediterranean and South African plants
- Choose between free daytime visits or paid experiences including early morning breakfast access and evening cocktails
Tickets & Booking
Entry to Sky Garden is free, but you need to book a timed slot in advance.
The venue releases tickets up to three weeks ahead, typically on Monday mornings around 10am. They vanish fast, especially for weekend slots and sunset times.
Weekday mornings offer your best shot at availability.
If you’re willing to spend money, booking a table at one of the restaurants or bars guarantees entry without the ticket scramble. The Sky Pod Bar and City Garden Bar accept walk-ins during quieter periods, though weekend evenings fill up quickly.
For those who want guaranteed access with minimal hassle, the Early Access Breakfast Treat ticket gets you in from 8:15am before the general crowds arrive. It includes coffee and a pastry plus two audio guides.
What to See and Do
Take in the Views
Unsplash LicenseYoav Aziz/UnsplashThe main draw is obvious. London spreads out below you in every direction. On clear days, you can spot landmarks up to 40 kilometers away.
The Thames snakes through the center, with Tower Bridge and the Tower of London prominent to the east. The Shard looms nearby, while Canary Wharf’s cluster of towers defines the eastern horizon.
The viewing experience happens across three levels. Level 35 houses the main Sky Garden with its planted terraces and indoor observation areas. Glass walls provide unobstructed sightlines, though reflections can frustrate photographers.
Level 36 hosts Darwin Brasserie restaurant and another viewing gallery.
The outdoor terrace on Level 35 opens during general visiting hours. It’s relatively small and can feel crowded on busy days, but the unfiltered views make it worth squeezing through. Wind can be fierce up here, especially in winter months.
Explore the Garden
Unsplash License Karsten Winegeart/UnsplashThe landscaped garden area, designed by Gillespies, features terraced levels with walkways winding between planted sections. You’ll find tree ferns, olive trees, and various Mediterranean species chosen for their drought resistance and architectural appeal.
The garden does serve a purpose beyond aesthetics. It’s part of a partnership with Thrive, a charity promoting therapeutic horticulture for mental and physical wellbeing. The arrangement provides a pleasant space to relax between viewing sessions.
Visit the Restaurants and Bars
Unsplash Licenseorva studio/UnsplashThree dining venues and two bars occupy the upper floors.
Darwin Brasserie on Level 36 offers British brasserie fare in a smart-casual setting. Fenchurch Restaurant, also on Level 36, steps up to fine dining territory with a more formal dress code (no sportswear after 6pm). Larch Restaurant brings Italian cooking with British ingredients to the mix.
Sky Pod Bar and City Garden Bar serve cocktails and light bites in the garden setting. Prices match what you’d expect for a premium London venue. Cocktails around £12-15, small plates £8-12. The bars don’t require advance booking during weekdays, making them useful backup options if you missed out on free tickets.
Plan Your Visit
Unsplash LicenseYoav Aziz/UnsplashSky Garden:
- Monday–Thursday: 9am–6pm
- Friday–Sunday: 9am–9pm
- Bank Holidays: 11am–9pm
Last building entry is 11pm Sunday through Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday. The outdoor terrace closes during breakfast hours and may close due to weather.
Monument station (District and Circle lines) sits closest, about 3 minutes walk. Bank station (Northern, Central, DLR, Waterloo & City lines) is 5 minutes away.
Bus routes 40, 15, 25, and 133 stop within a couple minutes walk. Route 40 stops at Monument Street (Stop T) and Eastcheap (Stop W).
The distinctive Walkie Talkie shape makes navigation easy on foot. From London Bridge, it’s a 10-minute walk north along Gracechurch Street.
Sky Garden
1, Sky Garden, Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF, UK · Google Maps
The entrance sits at the base of 20 Fenchurch Street, not immediately obvious if you’re approaching from certain angles. Look for security desk signage inside the building lobby.
Tower of London stands 10 minutes east, where you can spend hours exploring royal history and crown jewels.
Tower Bridge offers walkway tours and Victorian engine room exhibits, with the famous bridge walk providing its own elevated views.
The Monument to the Great Fire of London sits 5 minutes away, offering different perspective views after climbing 311 steps.
Leadenhall Market provides Victorian covered shopping arcades and appeared as Diagon Alley in early Harry Potter films.
- Small bags only. Large backpacks, suitcases, and wheeled luggage aren’t permitted, and there’s no storage available.
- Airport-style security screening happens at the entrance, so arrive with time to spare.
- Lifts serve all floors, making the venue wheelchair accessible.
- Accessible toilets are available.
- Photography is permitted throughout, though tripods aren’t allowed.
- A small gift shop on Level 35 sells gardening items and London souvenirs.
Tips for Your Visit
- Book early and flexibly. Tickets release three weeks ahead on Monday mornings. Have multiple date and time options ready. Weekday mornings offer better availability than weekends or sunset slots.
- Arrive 10-15 minutes before your slot. Security checks take time, and late arrival means losing your booking. The venue enforces time windows fairly strictly during busy periods.
- Check weather forecasts. Views are impressive even on overcast days, but clear conditions make the experience significantly better. The outdoor terrace may close in strong winds or rain.
- Best times for photos: Sunset and early morning offer the most dramatic lighting. Early morning visits mean fewer people blocking shots.
- Dress appropriately. The outdoor terrace can be surprisingly windy and cold, especially October through March. Layers help. If dining at Fenchurch after 6pm, smart-casual attire is required.
Events & Special Experiences
Regular evening events at Sky Pod Bar feature live bands and DJs, usually starting around 7pm. Tickets typically include a welcome drink. Music varies from acoustic sets to upbeat dance tracks, with the city lights providing an atmospheric backdrop. These events book out quickly, especially Friday and Saturday nights.
Morning yoga and pilates classes happen among the plants with city views as your backdrop. Weekday sessions cost around £22, weekends £27. Classes typically run 60 minutes and welcome all levels. The novelty factor is strong, though practicing yoga 35 floors up feels slightly surreal.
Fenchurch Restaurant and Larch host themed dining experiences throughout the year. Wine pairing dinners, seasonal tasting menus, and holiday celebrations provide reasons to return beyond the standard visit. These events require separate bookings and tickets.
Is Sky Garden Worth It?
The free entry makes this an easy recommendation. Views are genuinely impressive, and the combination of greenery with city panoramas creates something different from typical observation decks.
The booking process can be frustrating. Tickets go quickly so spontaneous visits are basically impossible during peak times unless you book one of the restaurants.
For photographers and Instagram enthusiasts, Sky Garden delivers strong content potential, especially during golden hour or at night when the city lights sparkle. The indoor-outdoor option means weather won’t completely ruin your visit, unlike purely outdoor viewing platforms.
Families with children will find the space manageable, with lifts making access easy for pushchairs. The garden areas give kids something beyond just looking at buildings, though active toddlers may find the space limiting after 30-45 minutes.
Did You Know? (5 Interesting Facts!)
- The Walkie Talkie building gained fame (or infamy) for an unexpected reason: its curved glass façade acted as a giant magnifying glass, focusing sunlight into a concentrated beam that melted car parts and scorched shop fronts on the street below. Developers installed permanent sun-shading after a Jaguar suffered £946 in damage when its panels warped from the heat.
- Rafael Viñoly designed the building in 2004, though its distinctive top-heavy shape divided opinion from the start. The design won the Carbuncle Cup in 2015, an annual award for Britain’s ugliest building.
- Sky Garden opened in January 2015, three years after the building’s completion. The decision to make it free to the public was part of planning permission requirements, ensuring some community benefit from the development.
- The therapeutic gardening partnership with Thrive extends beyond just maintaining the plants. The charity uses the space for horticultural therapy sessions, helping people with disabilities, mental health challenges, and other difficulties.
- During the building’s construction, workers removed 40 ancient Roman relics from the site, including pottery and leather shoes dating back 2,000 years. The finds provided insight into London’s development during Roman occupation.
FAQ
How far in advance should I book Sky Garden tickets?
Book exactly when tickets release (typically Monday mornings, three weeks ahead) for the best selection. Weekend and sunset slots disappear within hours. Weekday mornings offer better availability but still require booking several days ahead during summer months.
Can I visit Sky Garden without booking?
Booking a table or seat at one of the bars or restaurants is the most reliable walk-in option. Sky Pod Bar and City Garden Bar sometimes accept walk-ins during quieter weekday periods, though this isn’t guaranteed. Free entry requires advance booking.
Is Sky Garden suitable for young children?
Yes, with some caveats. Lifts make access easy with pushchairs, and the garden areas provide some interest beyond just views. However, the space is relatively compact, and very active children may become restless after 30-45 minutes. The venue is climate-controlled, making it comfortable year-round.
What’s the difference between Sky Garden and The Shard?
Sky Garden offers free entry (with advance booking) and indoor-outdoor viewing from 155 meters up. The Shard’s viewing platform sits at 244 meters, providing higher views for £28-35 per adult.
How long should I plan to spend at Sky Garden?
Most visitors spend 45-90 minutes. This allows time for viewing all levels, taking photos, exploring the garden, and possibly grabbing a drink. If you’re dining at one of the restaurants, add 1-2 hours. Early access breakfast experiences typically last 1-1.5 hours.
What happens if I’m late for my booked time slot?
The venue enforces arrival windows, especially during busy periods. Arriving more than 15 minutes late may result in losing your booking. Security checks take time, so arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled slot to be safe.
Can I visit at sunset?
Sunset slots are the most competitive and typically sell out within minutes of release. Your best chance is booking immediately when tickets become available. Alternative options include booking drinks at a bar or dining at one of the restaurants during sunset hours (though table reservations also book up quickly for these times).