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Looking Down on London |
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london-footprints.co.uk |
London is a large but distinctive city so there is much to be gained by viewing it from above. The ideas on this page are grouped into three categories: freeview, reasonably priced and expensive. All the places listed are generally open to the public. There are lots of others available if you have friends in high places (excuse pun!). Unfortunately threats of terrorism have closed many venues. If you know of any good vantage points I haven't included I would be interested to hear about them. Please use my Guestbook.
Tip: when visiting
'lookouts' you will probably want to take your camera and
binoculars are useful.
If you are not familiar with London it is helpful to have a map
of the area you are viewing.
FREEVIEW
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The OXO
TOWER has viewing galleries on the 8th floor (accessed by
lift). [website] CITY HALL (GLA building) designed by Foster & Partners opens its 9th floor to the public on some weekends and gives panoramic views. Fixed binoculars allow close-up study of buildings. A virtual tour can be accessed on the website. Installed on the lower ground floor (open weekdays 8am - 8pm plus open weekends) is the Photomat, covering 16m X 10m, an aerial image of 1000 square miles of Greater London. Tel 020 7983 4100. [website] [pix] |
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There are good views from the upper floors of TATE MODERN which is open daily with late nights (until 10pm) on Fridays and Saturdays. Tel 020 7887 8008. [website]
Look down on Covent Garden from the upper terrace of the Royal Opera House (also gives a view of the costume making workshops). Open to the public 10am - 3:30pm Monday - Saturday. Tel 020 7304 4000. [website]
London can be viewed from vantage points away from the centre. To the south try Point Hill in SE3 and One Tree Hill & Wolfe's statue (by the Obsevatory) in Greenwich Park. To the north try Primrose Hill or Hampstead & Highgate. To view Docklands climb Stave Hill (an artificial mound with steps) at Surrey Docks.
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Transport
for London have produced 2 free 3D London maps called A
NEW PERSPECTIVE TO LONDON covering Waterloo to the City
and Kings Cross & Euston southwards to the West End
as part of their inniative to get people walking in the
capital. website. The STREETMAP website has aerial photos for some areas. Find the place you are interested in on a map and then click on the camera icon. |
View London from space (at night) on the NASA website.
REASONABLY PRICED
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One of
London's most popular attractions is the BA LONDON EYE.
Glass capsules on the 450' high wheel rotate slowly to
give splendid views. Tickets are bookable but you chance
the weather or turn up on a clear day. Open daily but
closed for maintenance in January. Tel 0870 500 0600. [website] The MONUMENT (202') has a viewing gallery, enclosed after it became popular with suicides, but you have to climb 311 steps to reach it! Open daily. Tel 020 7626 2717. WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL however has a lift to its 284' bell tower. Open Thursday - Sunday. [website] |
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Gallery of ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL overlooks the city and is
included in the Cathedral admission. Tel 020 7246 8348. [website] The walkways of TOWER BRIDGE give views up and down stream and are included in admission. Open daily. Tel 0845 166 4377. [website] |
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WELLINGTON
ARCH, in the care of English Heritage, is open to the
public Wednesday - Sunday and has a 82' high viewing
platform. Tel 020 7930 2726. [website] CENTRAL HALL, Westminster conducts dome tours on its open days (first Sunday of the month in summer). Tel 020 7222 8010. [website] |
The MUSEUM IN DOCKLANDS has the Rhinebeck Panorama - an 80' long watercolour showing London from above in the early years of the 19th century. [website]
Travel on the upper deck of a bus or ride the Docklands Light Railway to look down on the streets/docklands. Check out the Transport for London website for details.
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For
armchair study Jason Hawkes has produced a number of books featuring aerial photos of London. London From the Air Check out the Amazon website for details |
EXPENSIVE
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Dine in one
of the elevated restaurants at TOWER 42 (former Nat West
Tower), OXO TOWER or NO 1 POULTRY. Charter a helicopter and fly over
London. |
© london-footprints.co.uk 2005
