The Lookout is right next door to Horizon 22. A great alternative if the other Viewing Platforms are fully booked. Read on to find all the information you need to plan your visit.
It is warm, cosy and a more intimate experience. Situated on the 50th floor of 8 Bishopsgate it is higher than Skygarden and slightly lower than Horizon 22.
You arrive at street level and once through security checks and your bag is passed through an x-ray machine (just like an airport), a small lift takes you up the 50 floors where you enter into the wood lined viewing platform.
It is a lot smaller than Skygarden and Horizon 22. It is a single (Large!) room with three sides overlooking London. There is a member of staff on hand for any questions who is friendly and chatty, more than happy to point out historic architecture and landmarks of interest.
It would have been great to have some information on what you could see as the view stretches as far as the Docklands to the East with the Tower of London in the foreground. You look down slightly onto Skygarden with the Garden at 120 just to the left and the Shard directly ahead. A bit tricky to spot the London Eye to the right but easy to see the Art Deco building of Charing Cross. I actually preferred The Lookout to Horizon 22. I liked the feel of the room and that it wasn’t as busy.
Getting to The Lookout
Located at 8 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4BQ, next to Horizon 22 and behind Leadenhall Market. Within a 5 minute walk, there are three train stations; Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street and Cannon Street and four tube stations; Monument, Bank, Liverpool Street and Cannon Street. Bus Numbers 8, 25 and 26 all pass the entrance too.
The Lookout tickets
Free tickets need to be booked online. Tickets are released bi-monthly on a Monday. They do accept walk-ins so give it a try.
Read more: Book tickets online for The Lookout.
Opening Times
Mondays and Fridays 12pm – 9pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10.30am – 5.30pm, Saturdays 11am – 6pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays 10am – 5pm
Eating and Drinking
No cafe available and it is frowned upon to eat whilst there.
Toilets
On the same level, around the corner from the entrance, through the glass doors.
Accessibility
The lift is on the ground floor and when you reach the viewing platform, it is all one level. The lift is very small so you may have to wait a while if there is a queue.
Top Tips to visit The Lookout
- This is less busy than the other viewing platforms so a great alternative to Horizon 22 or Skygarden. If you have missed out on tickets then it is worth trying on the door.
- Tickets go quite quickly so start checking the website a month before your visit.
- It is open quite late during the week so perfect for catching a sunset if you time it right.
- Bring a camera but be aware that because of all the glass, the reflections make taking fantastic photos a little tricky.
