London
Rooftops in London
London's rooftops are a summer thing that stretches. Most open properly from late spring to September, some put up covers and heaters and keep going through the winter, and a few are open all year. The permanent rooftop bars are easy to find. The one-off rooftop events, a DJ on a car park roof in Peckham, a film on a hotel terrace, a supper club above the city, go on the map.
On the map this week in London
Updated 16 Oct, 13:20
Waterloo · London · Wed 7 Oct, 13:00
LFF Expanded: Red The Ocean Around U
by BFI London Film Festival
Walk-inSend me the drop →Mayfair · London · Mon 12 Oct, 10:00
Hauser & Wirth Publishers Pop-Up
by Mount Street Neighbourhood Arts Festival
Walk-inSend me the drop →Hackney · London · Thu 15 Oct, 11:00
YMC Archive Sale
by YMC at The BOX
Tickets · From £0Send me the drop →Mayfair · London · Thu 15 Oct, 11:00
PAD London 2026
by PAD
TicketsSend me the drop →Regent's Park · London · Thu 15 Oct, 13:00
Frieze London & Frieze Masters 2026
by Frieze
Tickets · From £59Send me the drop →Strand · London · Fri 16 Oct, 11:00
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair 2026
by 1-54
Tickets · From £18Send me the drop →Kew · London · Fri 16 Oct, 18:00
Halloween at Kew
by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Tickets · From £19.50Send me the drop →Wapping · London · Fri 16 Oct, 19:00
3 Evenings: Experiments in Performance and Technology
by Somerset House Studios
Tickets · From £20Send me the drop →South Bank · London · Fri 16 Oct, 21:00
LFF for Free DJ Night: 7 Miles Out, Journey to The Haçienda
by BFI London Film Festival
Walk-inSend me the drop →
How to use this page
Drops don't have a rooftop label yet, so the list above is everything on the map in London this week. Rooftop ones say so in the title or description. Most rooftop events run between May and September, so in winter there are fewer.
Where the rooftops are
- The City and London Bridge. High bars on towers and hotels, with views of St Paul's, the Shard and the river. Some of the City's viewing terraces are free but need booking ahead. See London Bridge and Bermondsey.
- Shoreditch. Hotel rooftops and terraces on converted warehouses. See Shoreditch.
- Peckham. Car park roofs with the best skyline views in south London, busiest in summer. See Peckham.
- Dalston and Hackney. Roof gardens and terraces above bars, more relaxed and cheaper. See Dalston.
Tips
- Book at weekends from May to September. Walk-ins work best on weekday afternoons.
- Check the weather policy. Some rooftops close in rain or wind; others move inside.
- Many have a smart-casual dress code and an age limit. Check before you go.
- For sunset, look up the time and get there an hour before.
Rooftop events
Rooftop cinemas, DJ sets, yoga, supper clubs and launches run through the summer. Most are ticketed and sell out. When an organiser drops one, it goes on the map with the area and time, and the app tells people nearby.
Questions
What's the best rooftop bar in London?
It depends what you want. The City's towers for the highest views, Peckham's car park roofs for the skyline and the crowd, Shoreditch's terraces for a night out. The best rooftop events change every week.
Are London rooftop bars open in winter?
Some are, with covers, heaters or a glass roof. Many seasonal ones close from October to April. Check each one's own site.
Are there free rooftops in London?
A few viewing terraces and gardens in the City are free, usually with a booking. Most rooftop bars are free to enter but busy, and rooftop events are usually ticketed.
Catch the summer ones first
Rooftop events go on the map as organisers drop them. The app tells you when one goes on near you.
