London overlooks: Best views and hidden vantage points in the city

When you think of London overlooks, elevated spots offering sweeping views of the city’s skyline, landmarks, and rivers. Also known as London viewpoints, these are more than just photo ops—they’re quiet escapes where the noise of the city fades and you get a real sense of place. You don’t need to climb the Shard or wait in line at the London Eye. Some of the best views are tucked away in parks, along riverbanks, or on quiet hills where locals go to breathe, think, or just sit with a coffee.

Richmond Park, a vast, wild green space with deer roaming freely and panoramic views of the city skyline is one of those places. From its highest points, you can see St. Paul’s Cathedral poking through the haze, the Tower of London glinting in the distance, and the winding Thames like a silver ribbon. Then there’s Hampstead Heath, a sprawling natural area with rolling hills and a famous swimming pond, where the Parliament Hill viewpoint gives you a straight-on shot of the city’s tallest buildings without a single tourist in sight. These aren’t just parks—they’re London green spaces, areas designed for relaxation, nature, and quiet reflection that double as the city’s best-kept scenic secrets.

Overlooks aren’t always about height. Some of the most powerful views come from low angles—like standing on the south bank of the Thames near Tower Bridge, where the glass towers of Canary Wharf rise behind you, or sitting on a bench in Primrose Hill as the sun sets behind the Gherkin. These spots don’t charge entry, don’t require tickets, and rarely have lines. They’re where you’ll find people reading, sketching, or just staring at the skyline like they’ve never seen it before—even if they’ve lived here twenty years.

What makes a great London overlook isn’t the height—it’s the feeling. It’s the moment you realize you’re not just looking at buildings, but at layers of history, culture, and life unfolding below. Whether it’s the quiet hush of a winter morning at Alexandra Palace or the golden glow over Greenwich Park at dusk, these places give you space to pause. And in a city that never stops moving, that’s priceless.

Below, you’ll find a collection of posts that dig into the quiet corners, hidden trails, and overlooked spots where London’s best views live—not the ones you see in guidebooks, but the ones locals whisper about. From romantic sunsets to solo escapes, these are the places that make you fall in love with the city all over again.