Anyone got any suggestions on towers, other than The Shard, to go up, and get a good view of the city? Done the London Eye a couple of times. In London tomorrow, and would like to get a good panorama. Happy to do a meal / drinks in with it to make it work. Alternatively, suggestions on something different to do with 3 hours to spare? Done the usual attractions, parks, royal palaces, museums, river cruises, Olympic Park etc. Looking for something a bit different. Any ideas?
All in The City: Heron Tower near liverpool street (Couple of Bars/restaurants up their and a nice outdoor terrace in Sushi Samba). Tower 42 (old Nat West tower). Champagne bar at top but you'd need to book as its tiny. Theres a cocktail bar at the top of the Gherkin also called Searcys although never been in. Theres also sky garden in the top of the walkie talkie which Ive not been in either
The missus has been in the sky garden several times and raves about it. Can also go and have a drink in the bar in the shard which is much cheaper than having a meal there or the viewing platform. Two of my favourite views are from Primrose Hill and from the royal observatory in Greenwich looking down on the old naval college and docklands. No drinks on those two though. And if you've not wandered Greenwich, its a great little place, the cutty sark, the park, a few nice pubs, gipsy moth is good and a new fullers one (cant recall its name), theres a nice little market but not sure if open in the week or just a weekend. And the painted ceiling in the royal naval college is stunning and rivals many church frescos of Italy, and not very visited at all. Tower 42 is pretty good, especially early evening, but the prices are pretty hefty and it depends how busy it is as to were you can sit with it being pretty small. Have a great time
Oh, another option if you like st pauls, go to the roof of one new change, decent little bar and a stunning view of st pauls from there, and Jamie olivers barbecoa is downstairs with a few other eateries, recommend Byron if you like a burger ;-)
One final bit of advice. If you're in London quite a bit and like to get off the beaten track, I thoroughly recommend a trio of little guide books called hidden London. Think they are about a tenner each, or can get all 3 online for about £20. We often do a walk (about 12-14 per book) and they range from 2-7 miles typically and highlight 30-60 things. From blue plaques, to influences of authors, old buildings and stories behind events and names. Once you've done the main attractions, London really starts to come into it's own.
Sky Garden is great ,partly cos it's free - but you do need to book well in advance. But also the cafe at the top isn't (or at least wasn't) ridiculously expensive.
If you've got time (and energy), the view from the top of Primrose Hill gives some fantastic views of the city over Regents Park. I went up there last time I was in London and it was well worth the exercise
Thanks all for the tips. we ended up walking from Kings Cross to The South Bank, then up to Drury Lane for a show. Then walked into Chinatown for a meal, and after that walked back to Kings Cross. Plenty of miles covered. Next time we are down there, we will definitely book one of the restaurants in the Walkie Talkie or one of the others.
Too late but Tate Modern viewing platform is great. And free. And an amazing building. There's a fantastic exhibition on at the moment too, Soul Of A Nation: Art in the age of Black Power
We always go to Chinatown for a meal when we're in London. Last time we were there was on a week night and none of the lights were on. Don't know whether some maintenance was being done or they only turn them on at weekends, but it didn't feel the same vibrant place as our previous visit.
