11 Of The Best London Views

Take a step back from the hustle and bustle that London is known and loved for to marvel at her in all her glory from these heady heights.

Every major city has a tall building offering outstanding views to entice tourists, from Dubai’s Burj Khalifa to New York’s Empire State Building. But London does things a bit differently.

Given her ripe old age, there are a variety of interesting scalable structures both old and new, natural and man-made to give you a different take on one of the best cities in the world.

1. The Monument

311 steps will take you to the top of The Monument, a stone column that marks the point where the Great Fire of London started in 1666.

Opened in 1677 it has been providing visitors with 360-degree views of the city for over 300 years. Edge your way up the spiral staircase that takes you to the viewing platform where you can squeeze around the periphery of the column amongst your fellow visitors while you take in the views.

The Monument in London, UK — The Monument has been providing visitors with 360-degree views of the city for over 300 years.

Cost: Adult £6 ($11.20); Child £3 ($5.60)

Address: The junction between Fish Street Hill and Monument Street, London

2. St Paul’s Cathedral

Not everyone knows you can climb to the top of St Paul’s Cathedral, making it a unique and affordable experience and one of my favourite places to take visitors when I lived there.

The climb to the top is in three phases, and before you have visions of harnesses and belays, it is all done inside the cathedral via steps – 528 steps to be precise.

The first phase takes you to the main dome where you can peer down inside the cathedral and try to talk to your companion from the other side of the ‘whispering gallery’ as your voice magically travels around the inside of the dome.

Next climb to the Stone Gallery before the final push up the narrow stairs to the Gold Gallery which is almost at the very top of the cathedral dome, where you can marvel at your achievement and the views.

a magnificent stairway at St Pauls Cathedral, London — Walk up the magnificent stairway at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Cost: Adult £20.50 ($38); Child £9 ($16.80)

Address: St. Paul’s Churchyard, London

3. The Sky Garden

Opened in 2015 the Sky Garden is notably one of the younger vistas to visit. The garden sits across the top three floors of a 37-floor commercial skyscraper nicknamed the ‘Walkie Talkie’ by Londoners due to its shape.

It’s London’s highest public garden with the bonus of 360-degree views. Built post the introduction of health and safety and accessibility requirements, unlike some of the older vantage points on the list, lifts and wide spaces make the Sky Garden more user-friendly than its more historical counterparts.

crowds of people at The Sky Garden, London — Be surrounded by lush greenery at The Sky Garden.

Cost: Free, but you need to book in advance (available up to three weeks in advance)

Address: 1 Sky Garden Walk, London

4. The Tate Modern

The Tate Modern Kitchen and Bar in the museum offers fantastic riverside views of London. My favourite time to arrive was at doors opening at 10 am for a coffee at one of the high-top tables facing the window so I could marvel at the beautiful London skyline and watch the boats on The Thames before the crowds arrived.

a couple sitting in front of the panoramic London skyline at The Tate Modern — Admire panoramic views of the London skyline at The Tate Modern.

Cost: Free with a food or beverage purchase

Address: Bankside, London

5. Parliament Hill

Your surroundings might feel familiar as you walk to the top of Parliament Hill which has featured in a number of movies including Eternals, Notes on Scandal and Run Fatboy Run to name just a few. A gentle incline up this grassy knoll takes you to a height of 98 metres – making it one of the highest points in London. Take a picnic and a can of gin and tonic to enjoy while you admire the view.

a man sitting on the grass while admiring the scenic view at Parliament Hill, London — Enjoy a picnic with a view at Parliament Hill.

Cost: Free

Address: Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath

6. Tower Bridge

The two enclosed walkways connecting the towers of Tower Bridge had glass walkways installed in 2014 enabling visitors to gain an impressive bird’s eye view, in addition to the panoramic view, from 42 metres above The River Thames. If you’re lucky enough to time it just right, you may even see the bridge open.

visitors standing on the edge of a glass pathway at the Tower Bridge, London — Conquer your fear of heights at Tower Bridge.

Cost: Adult £12.30 ($23); Child £6.20 ($11.50)

Address: Tower Bridge Rd, London

7. The Shard

As London’s highest building, unsurprisingly The Shard offers the highest viewing gallery with 360-degree views of the capital.

‘The View from the Shard’ experience can be accessed across three floors. On level 72 you can access the ‘Sky Deck’ which is outside.

an aerial view of the capital on top of Shard, London — Capture spectacular views atop London’s highest building.

Cost: Tickets from £28 ($52.50) for both adults and children with various add-ons available, such as a glass of champagne

Address: 32 London Bridge St, London

8. IFS Cloud Cable Car

The Cable Car transports you 90 metres above the Thames between Greenwich on the south of the river and the Royal Docks on the north.

A novel way to travel across the city, the 1-kilometre journey takes approximately 10 minutes. As part of Transport for London, you can use your oyster card or tap your debit card to pay while you rub shoulders with the locals on their commute.

cable cars hovering above the city at IFS Cloud Cable Car, London — Get whizzed across the city 90 metres above the Thames.

Cost: Adult £6 ($11); Child £3 ($5.50) for a one-way journey

Address: Greenwich Peninsula Terminal, Edmund Halley Way, London or Royal Docks Terminal, 27 Western Gateway, London

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9. The London Eye

You can’t help but notice the massive Ferris wheel jutting up into the London skyline as you explore the city.

A ride on the London Eye provides excellent 360-degree views and a fun experience from a very central location. Its well-known tourist attraction status comes with a high price tag.

a ferris wheel at dusk, The London Eye — Get a bird’s eye view of the city on The London Eye.

Cost: Adult £38 ($71); Child £34 ($63)

Address: Riverside Building, County Hall, London

10. Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden

Not the highest vista on the list but definitely one of the coolest. Enjoyed by both locals and tourists the gardens include 200 different species of plants and even a lawn.

Sit amongst nature where you least expect to find it and enjoy looking down on the South Bank and across the river while enjoying a coffee from the cafe and, if you’re lucky, some sunshine.

an overhead shot of Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden — Bask in warm sunshine with a cup of coffee at Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden.

Cost: Free

Address: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London

11. Big Ben

Heading to London this winter to enjoy the Northern Hemisphere’s summer? Big Ben (also known as Elizabeth Tower) is set to resume tours this year, after a five-year hiatus due to extensive renovations of the iconic London landmark.

the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster, Big Ben, London — Big Ben is a true spectacle you shouldn’t miss when in London.

Cost: TBC

Address: Palace of Westminster, 67 Bridge St, London

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.