Sky Garden

What it’s like

Free glasshouse gardens 35 floors up the City, with wraparound views you get for the price of booking ahead.

You go up to level 35 of a City skyscraper and find a glasshouse full of Mediterranean and South African planting, with the whole of London laid out through the glass. It's free, which is the headline, but you do need a ticket booked up to three weeks ahead, and each one only gets you an hour inside. That hour is plenty for a wander round the terraces and a look over the river, but don't expect to linger over lunch unless you've booked one of the restaurants too.

Kids are welcome during public hours, but there's a real rule here worth knowing: under-16s need an adult with them, and one adult can only bring three kids at a time. If you've got a bigger group than that, you'll need two adults, not just a headcount. Under-16s also can't get in after 6pm on weekdays or 9pm at weekends, so this isn't an evening spot for families, it's a daytime one.

Walk-ins happen daily if you don't fancy booking, with early tickets at the door for £11.50 that come with a hot drink and garden access, or evening ones from £15.50. There's a café on the ground floor plus two restaurants and two bars upstairs if you want food, though the fancier spots ask for smart casual after 6pm. Step-free access and lifts run throughout, though the visitor lift is currently out of service and capacity's been cut back because of it, so it's worth allowing extra time to get up.

The outdoor terrace is the bit to save for last, weather permitting. It shuts if conditions turn, and they don't always give much warning, so a clear day makes a real difference to how much you get to see.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

Families with school-age kids, given the daytime-only rule

Last entry

Sun-Thu 11pm, Fri-Sat 12am

Booking

Free tickets booked up to 3 weeks in advance

Food

Two restaurants (Darwin Brasserie, Fenchurch Restaurant), two bars (Sky Pod, City Garden), plus ground floor café and gift shop

Wheelchairs

Step-free access throughout. Lifts from street level and between levels

Dogs

Assistance dogs only (guide dogs, hearing dogs, and other recognised assistance dogs)

Getting there by bus or train

Monument tube station a short walk away

• The outdoor terrace can close without warning if the weather turns
• Groups bigger than 10 can only visit on community days, held every second Wednesday of the month
• Over-18s who look under 25 should carry ID as they run a challenge 25 policy
• Nearest stations are Monument, Tower Hill and Bank, all under a 10 minute walk

Plan your visit

Featured in 2 Huddlepin lists

See all Gardens & Arboretums in London · Things to do in London