An unexpected visit to London’s highest free viewing gallery
My partner and I had been looking forward to visiting the Sky Garden in London. We’d heard so much about it and thought we’d booked our tickets online.
Well, imagine our surprise when we arrived, only to discover we were in the wrong place!
Unbelievable! How on earth did we manage that?
We’d taken the train to London Bridge, spotted the famous Walkie Talkie building from the bridge and headed straight towards it. After all, that was where we thought we were going.
We joined the queue, ready to enjoy the views, only to be told by a member of staff that our tickets were not for the Sky Garden at all.
We’d actually booked Horizon 22!
My goodness! How did we both manage to get that wrong?
Fortunately, the lady directed us to Horizon 22, which was only about five minutes’ walk away. What a relief! There was no queue when we arrived, and we were still in time for our allocated entry slot.
Up, Up and Away!
We were still laughing about our little mix-up as we entered the building.
After passing through security, which reminded me of an airport with its bag scanners and body checks, we followed the signs to the lift.
We waited a couple of minutes before piling in with the other visitors. The doors closed and, before we knew it, they opened again.
We’d arrived on Level 58!
It all happened so quickly that I barely noticed the journey. I later discovered that the high-speed lift takes just 41 seconds to reach the viewing gallery, travelling at speeds of up to eight metres per second.
Oh my word!
I’m rather glad I didn’t know that beforehand. I might have spent the entire journey worrying about how fast we were travelling!
London From a Different Perspective
Now, let me tell you, the views were breathtaking!
I walked slowly towards the enormous glass windows, taking my time to absorb what was in front of me.There was London, spread out beneath us.
Horizon 22 offers 300-degree views across the capital, and from that height, everything looks quite different. I could hardly decide where to look first!
My partner and I began pointing out the landmarks we recognised as we wandered around the viewing gallery.
There was Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, The Shard, Canary Wharf, St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and, of course, the River Thames winding its way through the city.
We tried spotting some of the other famous landmarks, but identifying buildings from such a height wasn’t always easy!
The sky wasn’t completely clear that day, so some of the distant views were a little grey. But that didn’t spoil our enjoyment.
I took photographs from almost every angle. Nobody seemed to be in a hurry. People were taking their time, admiring the views, taking photographs and pointing out familiar places. We did exactly the same.
And There Was the Sky Garden!
One of the things that amused us most was spotting the Sky Garden in the distance. There it was, at the top of the Walkie Talkie building on Fenchurch Street — the very place we’d confidently marched into earlier!
We had another good laugh about our mistake. And do you know what? We were actually rather pleased with how things had turned out.
We’d intended to visit the Sky Garden but had accidentally booked somewhere else. Yet here we were, enjoying magnificent views of London from its highest free public viewing gallery. We certainly didn’t feel we’d missed out. Sometimes, things don’t go quite according to plan, but they turn out wonderfully anyway.
Is Horizon 22 Worth Visiting?
Absolutely!
If you’re in London and looking for something different to do for an hour or so, I’d certainly recommend Horizon 22.
It’s a wonderful opportunity to see the capital from a completely different perspective, particularly if you enjoy photography or spotting famous landmarks.
And the best part?
Admission to the viewing gallery is free!
We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, even if we did arrive at the wrong building first!
Planning Your Visit to Horizon 22
Where is it?
Horizon 22 is located at 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London. The viewing gallery is on Level 58.
Tickets and booking
General admission is free. I recommend booking your preferred date and time in advance through the official Horizon 22 website.
A limited number of walk-in places may be available, but I wouldn’t rely on getting one.
Getting there
We travelled by train to London Bridge and walked from there, although we took a little unintended detour to the Sky Garden! There are several Underground stations within walking distance, including Liverpool Street and Bank.
Security
Expect security checks before entering the viewing gallery, including bag screening.
Food and drink
There is a café on Level 58 where you can purchase drinks and light refreshments.
Photography
Photography is allowed, so don’t forget your camera or mobile phone. You’ll certainly want to capture those views.
What can you see?
Depending on visibility, landmarks include Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard, Canary Wharf, the London Eye and many more.
Check the official website for current opening hours and booking information before your visit.
A Final Thought
We still laugh about our little mix-up whenever we remember that day. Two people, both convinced they’d booked the Sky Garden, and neither of us thought to double-check the tickets!
But what a lovely discovery Horizon 22 turned out to be.
And who knows? Perhaps we’ll eventually get around to visiting the Sky Garden too.This time, we’ll make sure we check the tickets first!
More from my other London day outs here:-
An Unexpected Surprise at Tower Bridge
A Day Out at St Katharine Docks: A Marina and Afternoon Tea
