London is a spectacular city with jaw dropping views. Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend in the city, a trip with the kids or you just want to catch one of the world’s most famous cities from a more scenic angle, getting a great view of London can be so rewarding. The only problem with amazing views is finding them – from the ground it’s not always obvious where the best places to see the city are. It’s easy to look up and see buildings like the Shard or famous landmarks like the London Eye, and while they do have great views, they can also be on the pricier side of a break on a budget.
But great views don’t have to be expensive if you’re #InnTheKnow. We’ve created a list of some of our top 10 favourite views in London, which are either free or fairly cheap to get to.
Panoramic views are the perfect addition to any city break in London, and so is a Premier Inn hotel. Don’t spend your whole trip worrying about how you’re getting home or cutting short seeing some of the best sights because you don’t have enough time. Book one of our great value Premier Inn London hotels and enjoy more of what matters.
Free London views & sightseeing
Greenwich Park
1. Royal Observatory, Greenwich Park
See Canary Wharf and the heart of London like never before, surrounded by the leafy shade of wonderful Greenwich Park and the Royal Observatory. There’s a little bit of an incline up to the Royal Observatory from Greenwich Park, but it just makes the view at the end that much better. It’s a romantic, comfy, unique spot, and you’d be surprised how much quieter Greenwich Park can be compared to other parks in London.
Greenwich is a little out of the way and closer to the river, so after you’re done admiring the view there’s plenty more to see like the historic Cutty Sark ship or the Maritime Museum. The Royal Observatory has a charge to get inside, but the amazing view is outside its grounds and free for everyone.
Explore Greenwich Town Centre, see the Greenwich Mean Time line and catch a gig at the O2 when you book at our Premier Inn London Greenwich hotel. We’re right on Greenwich High Street, close to the park and the Thames, ideal for weekend breaks or family trips to this wonderful part of the city.
Alexandra Palace
2. Alexandra Palace, Haringey
It’s been the filming location of a famous Doctor Who episode, the site of the World Darts Championship, an ice rink and a world-class concert hall – Alexandra Palace has an amazing history, and through it all it’s been a hilltop beauty spot and one of North London’s best places for sightseeing.
From Alexandra Palace you can see out all the way to Central London, and it’s a good spot for seeing the fireworks on New Years Eve without battling through the crowds.
Our nearest hotel to Alexandra Palace is our Premier Inn New Southgate hotel, which is just a 25-minute bus or Tube ride away or a 35-minute walk. It’s ideal for exploring the rest of North London too.
Primrose Hill
3. Primrose Hill, Regent’s Park
From this idyllic spot in Regent’s Park, you can see the Shard and the Cheesegrater over hundreds of beautiful trees and miles of parkland. Of all the park spots in this list, Primrose Hill is probably one of the most famous, which means it can get busy – but it’s worth a few crowds to see a view like this.
If you fancy getting a head start on everyone else and really taking your time at the top of the hill, our Premier Inn London Hampstead hotel is just a 10-minute Tube or bus ride away, and it’s great for exploring the rest of Regent’s Park.
Lose yourself in this amazing part of London and ditch the rush with a stay at this great value hotel.
Parliament Hill
4. Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath
There are a few hills on this list, so get ready for some walking! The views are always worth it though, and that’s especially true for Parliament Hill.
As the name suggests, from the top of Parliament Hill you can see the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben as well as staggering views across the rest of the city. Parliament Hill is one of the most romantic (and most filmed…!) spots in London, and for good reason.
This is another one where our Premier Inn London Hampstead hotel really shines – we’re only a few minutes away from Parliament Hill. Watch the sunset without worrying about getting home before dark by booking with us.
Emirates Air Line
5. Emirates Air Line, Docklands
Fancy travelling from Greenwich to the Royal Docks in a cable car? It’s not one of London’s busiest or fastest transport routes, and it doesn’t cover a lot of ground, but it does have some of the best views from anywhere in the city.
The Air Line costs a little to ride, but compared to some of the other sightseeing spots in London it’s incredibly cheap and turns getting from A to B into a scenic sightseeing trip. If you get off at the Royal Docks you’re also next to one of London’s urban beaches, which is a sight to see in itself!
If you’re planning on making a day of it, our Premier Inn London Docklands (Excel) hotel is right next to the Docklands station and London City Airport, as well as Gallions Point Marina and the Thames Barrier.
Millennium Bridge
6. Millennium Bridge, South Bank
It’s not the tallest bridge in London, nor the most scenic or historical. But the shiny, almost otherworldly metallic construction and aesthetic of the Millennium Bridge brings something a little more unique if you’re looking for a great view.
Overlooked by St. Paul’s Cathedral on one side and the Tate Modern on the other, you can see London Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, Tower Bridge and other great spots along the Thames from this strange and wonderful bridge.
As it’s a major connection between Central London and the South Bank it does tend to get busy, but if you want to feel part of the city and have Londoners of all shapes and sizes bustling past it’s the place to be.
There’s almost too much to see in the South Bank in a single day, so why not make it a long weekend with one of our great value London hotels near all the sights? Our Premier Inn London Southwark (Tate Modern) and Premier Inn London County Hall hotels are in the best spots for popping by the London Eye, the Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern and all the other big attractions along the South Bank in Central London.
Sky Garden
7. Sky Garden, Bank
It sounds like it’s going to be pricey, doesn’t it? But no, the Sky Garden is completely free to enter, and you can see the whole of London from this skyscraper’s terrace area. The Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden, and as well as the views down below, it’s also full of mesmerising plants indoors.
The Sky Garden has limited opening times and you’ll need to plan your trip in advance, but for one of the best views in the city, rivalling even the Shard at the cost of absolutely nothing, it’s a must-see if you’re after a good view.
Our Premier Inn London Bank (Tower) hotel is just a two-minute walk away from the Sky Garden. We’re also next to London Bridge station and right across the river from the Shard. Talk about a convenient location for sightseeing!
The Monument
8. The Monument, Bank
The Monument is an important part of London’s history and was built between 1671-1677 to commemorate the Great Fire of London in 1666. Climbing to the top means tackling 311 steps up to the viewing gallery. It’s not free, but at £5.40 per adult with cheaper tickets for kids, it’s worth the price of admission for such a unique view of the city. Plus, you’ll get your steps in for the day, and you even get a certificate for reaching the top!
After all those stairs, you’ll probably want to take the lift at our Premier Inn London Bank (Tower) hotel. As above, it’s just around the corner from the Monument and makes exploring the city as simple as can be. Don’t just settle for one spectacular view when you could do every single one on this list, give yourself more time for what’s important and enjoy a proper break at one of our hotels.
Oxo Tower
9. Oxo Tower, South Bank
This is another one of those ‘I bet it’ll cost so much I can’t even enjoy the view!’ looking buildings, when in fact entry is free!
The Oxo Tower is a mainstay of the London skyline and a beloved building by many Londoners due to its unusual architecture and history.
Its viewing tower has a great vantage point across the Thames to St. Paul’s Cathedral and beyond.
Staying in the city doesn’t have to be expensive. When you book a great value Premier Inn hotel like our Premier Inn London Angel Islington hotel you can enjoy hotels close to Central London for less.
North Hill
10. North Hill, Highgate
Yes, we’re ending on another hill. They’re just so good for views! From the top of Highgate you can see all the way down to glitzy Leicester Square. This one’s on the outskirts of London, so there might be a little more travel time involved. But it’s a great spot for views and one of the less well-known spots on this list.
Our Premier Inn London Archway hotel is only a 10-minute bus or Tube ride away, and it’s a great value hotel for exploring the rest of London on a budget.
There we go, that’s 10 free or affordable places to see more of London for less. 10 places to lose yourself in the view, or to take a romantic trip with that special someone, or to take the kids on an adventure or, well, anything really. You can’t beat a good view.
And you can’t beat a good hotel either! If you’d like to spend more time looking at what matters and less time travelling, or worse, giving up on reaching a great view because you ran out of time, book one of our brilliant value Central London hotels and rest easy instead. A view’s so much better when there’s nothing weighing on your mind, and with our safe, reliable and great value London hotels you’ll be able to take a step back and enjoy London from a whole new perspective.