With a British summer which has been unusually hot, there is no better time to spend a warm evening sipping cocktails on one of our capital’s many great alfresco rooftop bars.
From upscale, year-round favourites, to quirky new kids on the block, read our quick guide to six of the best sky-high drinking spots that London has to offer.
Frank’s Café, Peckham
While you might first associate Peckham with a certain well-known classic British Comedy, Only Fools & Horses, the area has in recent years become a hotspot for arty types, bringing with them a plethora of hip new cafes and bars.
Open only during the summer months, from May through to September, Frank’s sits atop a disused multi-storey car park, offering beautiful panoramic views of the London skyline. And with fairly cheap Negroni cocktails being the drink of choice, it might be the perfect place to impress a first date.
Be sure to snap a photo of yourself on the perpetually-Instagrammed pink staircase as you ascend to the top!
Piculpeper, Liverpool Street/Aldgate East
This quirky new outdoor bar on the top of the Culpeper pub is gherkin-themed and features a large pickle, placed in picture-perfect juxtaposition with many nearby skyscrapers, including the actual gherkin building itself.
Aside from its unusual theme, what makes this place so special is that fresh vegetables and herbs are grown on the roof space and then served to customers on the menu at the pub below.
Netil 360, Hackney/London Fields
A firm favourite for many years, this panoramic rooftop bar based in Hackney offers amazing views and lively music, under a large, centrally-placed disco ball.
It is certainly not the most accessible, as you’ll have to walk up a whopping nine flights of stairs to reach it, but the refreshing Aperol Spritz and breath-taking scenery waiting up top more than makes up for the shortness of breath!
Dalston Roof Park, Dalston Junction
Perhaps the trendiest on our list, Dalston Roof Park creates a more ‘exclusive’ atmosphere by charging entrants £3, after which they become ‘friends’ and can gain access forever. Seating is in the form of bean bags and deck chairs, making it the perfect spot the kick-back with their signature cocktail, the aptly-named Dalston Sunset.
The views might not be as fantastic as the others on the list, but with various activities going on, including DJ sets from local radio station Rinse FM, regularly changing street food residencies, outdoor movie nights and sunrise yoga sessions – this is the place to hang-out, come rain or shine (it’s got a retractable roof for that very reason)!
Skylight, Tobacco Dock
This Wapping-based rooftop playground is home to several floors, with bars, street food stalls, dance floors and light-hearted games such as croquet and pétanque.
It provides a great alternative setting to a traditional work summer social, allowing staff to sip cocktails, challenge each other to a game and listen to the in-house DJs spinning tunes into the night, all under the lovely London skyline.
Radio Rooftop Bar
A lot swankier than its neighbouring counterparts, Radio Rooftop on the Strand is the place to go to sip expensive cocktails and people watch. From the comfortable soft seating, to the outdoor heaters, this isn’t your average London rooftop bar.
Yes, it’s overpriced, and yes you can get equally great views at the aforementioned joints, but with an eclectic, lively crowd and a wide selection of gin and tonic concoctions to choose from, it’s worth venturing here at least once during the summer heatwave.
This piece was provided by First Migration, an immigration consultant which specialises in UK spouse visas and other types of visa for people moving to the UK.
All pictures courtesy of https://www.timeout.com/london
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