Six years after my first visit, I returned to the Sky Garden in the City of London and took in the spectacular views from the top of the landmark skyscraper.
Located in the Walkie Talkie tower at 20 Fenchurch Street, the garden is open to the public for free, but you need to pre-book your visit.
Designed by architect Rafael Viñoly and costing over £200 million, the 37-storey building was opened in 2004 and stands 160 m (525 ft) tall.
Visitors have to go through airport-style security to get into the lift, with metal detectors and bag inspections.
The skyscraper hit the news in 2014, when it was discovered that reflections from the curved building were starting fires and causing damage to nearby businesses, and, famously, melting parts of a parked Jaguar car.
Old and new.
Happily, the outside terrace was open this time, but was soon closed again because of high winds.
The remodelled London Bridge railway station.
The BT Tower – see photos from my 2004 visit here.
Tower of London.
On the viewing platform.
Canary Wharf. Compare with my photo taken six years ago (below):
Railway tracks to the east.
London Bridge.
The totally pointless, rarely-spinning turbines of the Strata Tower in south London.
St Paul’s.
Ordering in the top floor restaurant.
Architectural details.
Join the discussion
Discuss the Walkie Talkie tower and sky gardens on the urban75 forums (over 200 responses)
More info
Related posts:
The Sky Garden at the Walkie Talkie tower, 20 Fenchurch Street, London – photos
Walkie Talkie tower at 20 Fenchurch Street, City of London nears completion as work starts on Europe’s highest roof garden
Views from The Shard skyscraper: Shangri-la hotel, London landscapes and a high tech toilet
Walkie Talkie tower at 20 Fenchurch Street rises into the London sky
Developers unveil plans to stop the Walkie Talkie tower’s car-melting rays
Photos: London’s Cheesegrater skyscraper topped out and due to open next year
London in miniature: the fabulous scale model at the Building Centre
In photos: London Transport Museum opens Canteen, a new cafe/bar in the heart of Covent Garden
