Top, Best & Fun Rooftop Bars in Barnes

"Located on the 43rd floor of the Walkie Talkie building in the City of London, the Sky Garden is the capital’s highest public garden and one of the coolest places to visit in London for free. The garden’s large plant-filled atrium has floor-to-ceiling windows with amazing panoramic views out over the city below and is open throughout the day and into the evenings on weekends – making it one the best free things to do in London at night too!. There’s also an open-air covered terrace on one side."

"The ferns, fig trees and purple African lilies that clamber up the final three storeys of the 'Walkie Talkie' skyscraper are mere wallflowers at this 155m-high rooftop garden – it's the rather extraordinary 360-degree views of London (the best in the City) that make this vast, airport-terminal-like space so popular (advance booking recommended). Located on the 35th floor of 20 Fenchurch St, the Sky Garden has front-row seats for the Shard and vistas that gallop for miles east and west."

"Get the lift to the top of 20 Fenchurch Street and let your toddler explore London’s highest public garden. There are 360 degree views of the London skyline, gardens to run around in and a café where you can buy cakes and pastries. Cost – Free, but you need to prebook."

"Imaginative, modern-European food and no-expenses-spared decor tempts A-listers such as Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez through the doors of Sketch. The Mayfair hot spot contains three Michelin star restaurants, but the Lecture Room is the place with wall-to-wall celebrities."

"From artwork plastered on the walls to the egg toilets and that pink gallery room, this Maddox Street restaurant is instantly distinguishable amongst Londoners and tourists alike."

"A real sought-after restaurant in Mayfair, Sketch initially grabs attention with its unique decor. Then the grub takes over. Is it an art gallery?"

"It's part of London's vast culinary mythology, and it feels a bit like stepping back in time to Covent Garden's theatrical heyday. J Sheekey offers a cornucopia of the city's freshest seafood in a darkly lit, brass embellished ambience which is perfect for highbrow romancing or laid back business dealings. Start with scallops in a halfshell with garlic and chilli for £17.50, and move on to a grilled Dover sole with bearnaise for £39.50."

"If it’s enduring love you’re looking for, J Sheekey’s passion for prime seafood has burned for more than 100 years. The West End restaurant has hosted many a star of nearby stages over the last century, and images of some of those famous faces line the walls. The Champagne bar makes a glamorous spot for two to linger, accompanied by shellfish aplenty and J Sheekey’s famous selection of oysters."

"Vermuteria is an all-day cafe/bar in Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross inspired by the origins of Vermouth distilling. There is a terrace with space for up to 40 to enjoy their food and drink menu, with dishes such as duck rillettes with cornichons and Highland venison ragù with potato gnocchi and aged Parmesan."

"Clapham Common is about to be the latest in a string of slightly eccentric, ‘fictitious-flatshare’- inspired cocktail bars from The Little Door Co. The aim is to feel like you’ve wandered into someone’s home: to embrace the house-party vibe, try some experimental cocktails, perhaps ad-lib some poetry, and wind up as a regular with a set of keys and your own personalised mug."

"With a picture-perfect terrace overlooking Clapham Common, The Little Orange Door is a gorgeous spot for an alfresco brunch or outdoor cocktail date. Sip on movie-themed tipples and chow down gourmet bar snacks while watching the buzz of South London's streets."

"If it’s the real American feel you’re looking for to accompany your stack of thick pancakes, then The Diner is the place for you. These funky restaurants are decked out pretty authentically, and serve stacks of either three of five pancakes. Not the widest selection, but if you want to branch out there is always their massive breakfast menu to wade through, served all day everyday."

"With 8 locations across London, you can nail your pancake craving in super quick time. These guys are taking pancakes up a notch with inspiration from all those treats that always find their way on to your desk: choose from the Jaffa pancake, the Oreo Cookie Cake or the Red Velvet Wonder. Wanna keep it plain Jane?"

"Rootin'-tootin' and big on flavour, this is cowboy food by way of central London. When you can get 20 chicken wings as a starter, you know you're ordering from the right place. The Diner does a fine line in fries, dogs, milkshakes and salads, but that's not why we're here."

"13/06/2021: Non so se sia cambiato qualcosa nel corso degli anni, ma come rapporto qualitá / prezzo è sempre stato ottimo. Si puó scegliere il grado di piccante del pollo ( veramente buono ) e le bibite sono self service e a volontá ,con un prezzo fisso nel menú che si sceglie.Mi sono fermato piu volte da Nando's e sono contento che questa catena sia resistita nel corso degli anni.Consigliato. 29/05/2021: Went to Nando's because we were starving."

"This Portuguese chain is the people’s choice for peri-peri chicken, but also makes its money with burgers, wraps, pittas, salads and steaks. As a family-friendly go-to option, it has special menus for young ‘nandinos’ too. Flagship site: 10 Frith Street, W1D 3JF"

"Hours:Mon to Fri 1200 – 1500, 1730 – 2300; Sat 1230 – 1530, 1730 – 2300; Sun 1230 – 1530, 1730 – 2230"

"Channel your inner Jack Johnson and pretend like it's the weekend with The Detox Kitchen's delicious banana pancake pop-up, serving up fluffy pancakes right in the office. There's so many tasty toppings to choose from!. Try almond butter and berry compote, pomegranate and coconut yogurt or keep it classic with maple syrup."

"A little too ramshackle and homely to be properly trendy, this small café on Holloway Road is part of a rising number of new vegetarian and vegan venues focussed on good coffee. Cold brew in a glass tumbler clinking with ice cubes is a must on a hot day, particularly when paired with stunningly delicious, feather-soft, dairy-free banana and walnut cake. Main course dishes include a slender, cheesy quesadilla stuffed with thinly sliced roasted peppers and onions, topped with a poached egg, with freshly made guacamole and salsa on the side."

"Along the south bank (always worth a wander), you can stop in at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern Art Gallery, and even quickly cross the Millennium bridge for a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Globe and St. Paul’s Cathedral are both included on the London Pass, whilst the Tate Modern is free to enter."

"Giles Gilbert Scott (1963), Herzog & de Meuron (2000, 2016)📕 Page 199. Before the National Theatre was erected, the south bank was a polluted and horrible place. Factories pestered an already problematic area, historically known for its prisons and brothels."

"Explore Tate Modern’s world-famous collection of modern and contemporary art from Picasso to Warhol. 🧑‍🎨 Like London’s other national museums, entrance is free!"

"Frederick John Horniman was quite the hoarder, but with his eclectic collection of natural history specimens, anthropology artefacts and, er, musical instruments now on display, we’ll let him off for that. Among the natural science galleries you’ll find taxidermied animals aplenty – including a hilariously overstuffed walrus – alongside living exhibits in the form of the inhabitants of an aquarium and a butterfly house. 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ, horniman.ac.uk"

"The Horniman’s far-out location (almost an hour from central London) means that you can expect lots of lovely breathing space at a museum that would otherwise be packed. The huge building, with its looming clocktower, looks a bit like a very ornate train station and is surrounded by 16 acres of garden. You’ll find large natural history and anthropology galleries, as well as an aquarium, carefully curated wild-looking gardens, and a beautiful Victorian conservatory."

"PRACTICAL INFORMATION: The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Admission is free but you must book your visit in advance here. NEAREST METRO STATION: Forest Hill (Overground)"

"For many years the East End has been a hub for artists and Whitechapel Gallery has been there for over a hundred of them. Its focus, however, is largely on what’s happening now and next. Although it’s not averse to a 20th century artists’ retrospective, its links with London’s working artist community is strong and ongoing, so it’s a great place to find work by new artists on their way to becoming household names."

"Aldgate East’s next door neighbour may look traditional from the outside, but step inside and you’ll be blown away by this hub for talent, where ‘history has always been the future’. The gallery has premiered world-class artists, from modern masters Pablo Picasso and Mark Rothko, to contemporaries such as Sophie Calle and Sarah Lucas."

"The Whitechapel Gallery is a touchstone for contemporary art internationally, plays a central role in London’s cultural landscape and is pivotal to the continued growth of the world’s most vibrant contemporary art quarter."