When visiting London for the first time, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the city. With two millennia worth of development and 1500 square kilometres of land designated as the city, London can be hard to manage. It’s all well and good staying at central hotels like the Park Grand Hyde Park, but you won’t get a sense of the area from your hotel room, or a true idea from your smartphone’s map app. Instead, you have to traverse the city yourself, get lost in its streets, and most importantly see the skyline for what it is, magnificent and breathtaking. We’ve compiled some of the best spots to see London from up high, and the sort of view which comes with them.
London Eye
Located right on the south bank of the River Thames, the iconic London eye is a 36 capsuled ferris wheel which makes one full rotation every half an hour. Peaking at 135 metres, the London Eye is one of the easiest ways to see the cityscape, giving you a 360 degree view of up to 40 kilometres. If you’re accommodation is one of our Grand Park London Hotel’s then you can easily reach the South Bank via walking or public transport.
Greenwich Park
The expansive and pristine Greenwich Park is located close to a wide range of attractions including the Greenwich Observatory and the iconic Cutty Sark ship. To make your East London excursion even more fulfilling, the parks hill offers one of the best views of London’s skyline. From afar and across the Thames river, you can see for miles, through the Docklands area and all the way through to the Canary Wharf financial hub.
Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill is a famous mound at the end of Regent’s Park. Located on Western edge of the park, this hill has been used as a filming location for rom coms such as Bridget Jones and family films such as the Paddington series. Making for the perfect spring picnic spot, Primrose Hill is especially beautiful during the summer, the titular roses blooming in bright colours in the nearby flower beds.
Emirates Airline
Another East London hidden gem, the Emirates Skyline may be a public transport service for busy commuters in the Docklands area, but it also offers up some stunning vistas across the Thames East London area. Travelling over the O2 arena and much of the docklands, this journey may only last ten minutes, but will stick in the mind forever.
The Shard
Entering one of the thirty-something floors of the Shard will give you a vast array of restaurants and cocktail bars to indulge yourself in. Whilst you feast and make merry, you have the chance to soak in the incredible views from 95 floor skyscraper in the London Bridge area. If you;re visiting the Park Grand Kensington on business, this is the perfect spot to unwind with your co-workers.
Skygarden at 20 Fenchurch Street
Another London Bridge located skyscraper is the walkie talkie building on Fenchurch Street. This amazing structure is home to the free to visit (between 10 and 4pm) Sky Garden, which brings a wide range of beautiful platlife to the upper floors of the building. On top of this you can find bars and restaurants up there alongside an amazing view over the City of London.
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill is a hill on the edge of the beautiful nature reserve of Hampstead Heath. This North London view gives you an amazing meadow clad vista across to the centre of the city, and is well worth the trek through the forest.
