What to do · London
Sky Garden
Information
- Price
- Free · booking required
- Duration
- 1 h
- Who it's for
- All ages; under-16s until 18:00 on weekdays
What it is and what you see
The Sky Garden is an indoor garden at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street, the City skyscraper Londoners call the Walkie-Talkie because of its transmitter-like shape. The 160 m tower was designed by Rafael Viñoly and completed in 2014, and the garden opened in January 2015. At the top, on the uppermost floors, there are gardens, bars and restaurants beneath a great glass roof.
From up there you see the Thames and the City, with the Tower of London nearby. It is a free way to see London from above.
How to get tickets
Entry is free, but you must book on the official website:
- Free tickets can be booked up to three weeks in advance, and the website recommends booking early, especially for the weekend.
- Each ticket is for a specific day and time. The visit has a one-hour limit from the moment you go in.
- If you are not going to come, cancel: you free up the place for someone else.
- Without a booking you may be let in if there is room: ask when you arrive. On weekdays nobody is admitted without a booking after 17:00.
- If you book a table at one of its restaurants or bars, the booking includes access and you do not need a separate ticket.
At the end of 2026, one of the visitor lifts is out of service and capacity has been reduced: some people with tickets have been unable to go up at their time. If you are flexible, the website offers a switch to another day.
Opening times
- Monday to Friday: 10:00 to 18:00.
- Weekends and public holidays: 11:00 to 21:00.
The bars and restaurants open for longer, with their own bookings.
Ages and ID
Under-16s cannot enter after 18:00 on weekdays or after 21:00 at the weekend. The Sky Garden applies the Challenge 25 policy: if you are over 18 but look under 25, bring a passport, a photo driving licence or a PASS card. Entry can be refused.
Getting there
The address is 1 Sky Garden Walk, EC3M 8AF. The nearest Underground station is Monument, a few steps away; Tower Hill, Bank, Aldgate and Mansion House are all less than 10 minutes' walk. By train, Fenchurch Street, Cannon Street and London Bridge. Pay with contactless or Oyster, as we explain in Oyster and contactless.
When to go
A weekday morning is the easiest to get. For sunset, book a weekend, when it opens until 21:00, with the full three weeks' notice. In fog or low cloud, the views are lost: if the day is overcast, switch your ticket to another.
Combine it
Tower Hill, the station for the Tower of London, is less than 10 minutes' walk away: do the Tower in the morning and go up the Sky Garden afterwards. From the Tower you can take the Uber Boat to Greenwich. For lunch, Borough Market is on the other side of London Bridge.
Tips
- Book as soon as you know the date You can book up to three weeks ahead, and the weekend is what fills up first.
- Bring ID With Challenge 25, if you look under 25 you will be asked for it.
- Try without a booking in the morning On weekdays, before 17:00, there is sometimes room at the door. Ask when you arrive.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sky Garden free?
Yes, but you must book on its website. Tickets are released up to three weeks ahead.
How long can you stay?
One hour from the moment you go in.
Can children go?
Yes. Under-16s cannot enter after 18:00 on weekdays or after 21:00 at the weekend.
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