Which is the best viewing observatory to check out London skyline?

#londontraveltip

London has one of the most prominent skylines among all cities in the world—I personally find it even more exciting than that of Tokyo. So viewing the skyline has to make it to anyone’s travel itinerary in London.

London has a lot of options of such viewing decks: the Shard, Horizon 22, the Post Building, Sky Garden, Garden at 120, Level 10 of Tate Modern. Except the Shard, the rest of them are free of charge! which makes it kinda hard to choose which one to go.

From my previous visits to London, I have explored almost every one of them. Here’s some of my comparison analysis:

【Cost】

Horizon 22: Free entry with online booking (up to a month ahead); walk-ins are limited but possible
The Post Building: Free, no booking required
Sky Garden: Free with advance booking (up to two weeks out), no walk-ins possible due to long queue
Garden at 120: Free, no reservations needed
The Shard: £28-£32 per ticket

【Views】

Horizon 22: (pic 4-8); through window panels with some glare but ultra wide view, and it’s even taller than the Shard, giving unobstructed view
The Post Building: (pic 1-3); almost head-on view of British Museum
Sky Garden: (pic 9-12); outdoor terrace closed before 10am and after 6pm, not ideal for sunrise/sunset.
Garden at 120: (pic 13-15); at 69 meters, it’s dwarfed by surrounding towers.
The Shard: (didn’t go)

【Verdict】

Personally, I found Horizon 22 the best experience for the ultra wide view. The glare could be minimized by bringing the lens close to the window panel, and one can frame their shots using window panel. The queue is also much acceptable, unlike Sky Garden, which could take up to 45min to get up.