London by Rooftop

For the first time in what seems like years, the sun has shone on London this week! The winter jumpers have been put away, barbecues have been lit and commuters are even in slightly better spirits!

Walking around the capital’s many parks and gardens, you’d think that the city’s population has doubled as everyone flocks to the great outdoors. There are certain parts of London that often go unseen for most of the year, but as soon as the sun makes an appearance and the temperature starts to improve, the rooftops open up.

There’s long been an appeal of rooftop bars that offer stunning views across London that can’t be seen from the sidewalk. More recently, rooftop socialising has taken a new turn with visitors enjoying yoga, film screenings and even crazy golf from great heights!

For the early risers, Southbank Centre offers weekly yoga sessions in the Queen Elizabeth Hall roof garden at 7.30am while Sky Garden classes take place at 6.30am for unrivalled views across the city as the sun rises. A multi-storey car park may not seem like the ideal location for relaxation, but Secret Yoga Club has often taken to Peckham’s rooftop car park for classes.

There are an abundance of rooftop bars and restaurants to choose from – some more well-known than others – and I am continuously adding more to my London bucket list! Pergola on the Roof, a food court set 170-feet-high under a canopy of flowers in West London, is the latest on my list. The Culpeper, in Spitalfields, combines a 17th century bar with a herb and vegetable garden, complete with barbecues on summer days and views of the Gherkin and Heron Tower.

Birdies Crazy Golf has returned to Roof East, high above the streets of Stratford this summer and rooftop cinemas are popping up across Peckham, Shadwell, Kensington and Shoreditch.

Even rooftop pools are getting in on the fun and The Berkeley in Knightsbridge is no exception – but at a cost. Non-members can enjoy the hotel’s rooftop pool at a hefty price of £150.

There is something about being elevated across the skyline – momentarily away from the hustle and bustle of London’s streets – that makes rooftop socialising all the more appealing.

By Natalie Garland