My friend Enikő of Travel Hacker Girl is sharing her favorite spots for fantastic views in London… for FREE!
We all know London is expensive. Eating out, transportation, attraction tickets are all very pricey. To keep expenses low I collected some of the best views in London for free or on a budget.
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Best Views London: Primrose Hill
My all-time favorite place in London. Whenever I have friends or family in the city I take them to Primrose Hill. They all really appreciated the views you can get from the top of the hill. People often come here to have a picnic. It is a fun game to play “can you spot the zoo/London Eye/Big Ben, etc”. You can look at the dogs running, kids playing, people exercising running up and down the hill. It is a lovely place for all seasons. It is not just the top of the hill that is worth a visit. You should walk around in the area. There are some really cute cafes and many posh houses. Camden Market is also just a short walk away for some amazing street food.
How to get there: The nearest tube station is Chalk Farm. (10 min walk) and Camden Town (15 min walk) or you can get bus C11, 274 and 31.
Best Views London: Skygarden
Also known as the Walkie-Talkie building. From the top of the 38-story building, you can enjoy stunning 360-degree views across London. You will need to book tickets ahead. Contrary to the Shard it is free. No surprise tickets sell out quickly. Tickets go live on Mondays, so be prepared to snap those tickets. Skygarden is the capital’s highest public garden. I have visited Skygarden 3 times. My visit was always different. I saw the city daylight and after dark as well. I have witnessed a giant rainbow and a glorious sunset. Both are unforgettable experiences. A restaurant (needs to be booked ahead) and cafe are also located on the top floor, so you can enjoy a drink and some food with a spectacular background.
How to get there: The nearest tube station is Monument. (3 min walk) and Tower Hill, Tower Gate, Aldgate, Bank and Mansion House are less than a 10-minute walk. You can also get bus 40.
Views of London: Emirates cableway
While the cableway is a great way of transportation to cross the River Thames it also offers great views. Wouldn’t it be just awesome to commute this way every day? The journey approximately takes 10 minutes. It is extended to approximately 12-13 minutes each way in the evenings for the Night flight experience. It costs £3.50 with an Oyster pay as you go or you can purchase a Boarding Passes for £4.50 at the Emirates Air Line ticket office. The cabins arrive every 30 seconds, so no need to wait for a long time.
How to get there: The nearest tube station is North Greenwich or you can use the DLR to Royal Victoria station. Another option is to get bus 188 from Central London.
Best views of London: Greenwich
There is so much Greenwich has to offer. Markets, The Curry Sark, The Meridian Line, museums and a huge park. If you climb to the top of the hill in Greenwich Park you will get a great view of the city.
How to get there: The most fun way to get to Greenwich is to get a boat from Central London. They also operate high-speed boats from Westminster to Greenwich, which is a pretty epic way to start your day out.
Another option is to get the train to Greenwich, Maze Hill or Blackheath.
Best London Spot with a View: Hampstead Heath
Parliament Hill offers great views of the city. We came here several times to fly a kite and have a picnic. The park is huge. It is less organized than most parks in London, which is part of the reason I love it so much. It has some great foresty bits, ponds and grassy lands.
How to get there: Best way to get here is by overground to Hampstead Heath or Gospel Oak. Alternatively take bus C2, H3, C11, 24, 46, 168, 210, 214, 268.
As you can see there is plenty to do in London for free or on a budget. Hope you will enjoy the spectacular views of our gorgeous city.
Looking for something different? Check out this London Off The Beaten Path Bucket List!
