Rooftop Bars in London

“London is a roost for every bird.” – Benjamin Disraeli. You can accuse us of taking this quote a little too literally, but what better place to roost above the gabled roofs and glinting steel of London than to perch yourself comfortably on a rooftop bar, drink in hand, surrounded by friends and good vibes?

The nation’s capital has no shortage of stunning rooftops to explore: from Babylonian gardens to heated roof terraces, there is a London rooftop bar for any occasion. Of course, come summer, you and every other Londoner will be storming the staircases of London’s best rooftops, eager to secure yourself a sundown seat. Beat the crowds by booking your own private rooftop event early - this HeadBox long guide will walk you through the planning process and get you taking in the city sprawl in no time at all.

Great expectations

So you've done the smart thing and decided to plan an amazing London rooftop event. What's next? You could start to browse through all the many venues with a skyline view, but scrolling can soon turn to the mundane and put you off your noble quest. We recommend making a detailed list of the things you want for your dream elevated event. So grab a pen and paper and start jotting down the details you think are essential to your rooftop romp.

Don't forget to include what you'll need to set up, like tables and chairs, or audiovisual equipment. It's also handy to jot down your "must-haves"; for example, it may be unrealistic to ask for a professional mixologist in a flat-roofed shack, but you can specify that you need a licensed bar.

Details, details, details

Think carefully about the number of guests, budget, theme, location and time of year. The latter in particular is important – there's nothing wrong with having a winter rooftop event, but you'll want to make sure the bar of your choosing has heaters and shelter to compensate for the reliable dour British weather.

Getting these details sorted can help you get straight to your ideal venue, which really cuts down on your browsing time. Once you have a list of your requirements, you should be able to find a venue that fits them. But don't just rush into the first venue you see. You may find yourself overlooking the rest of the venues on your list. Ideally, you should put your event brief out to as many venues as possible, and let the rooftop bars reach out to you. This way you can sit back and get on with the important things.

Transport for London

Perhaps the least enjoyable aspect of any event is the journey there. We know you want to be enjoying the views given from a city rooftop, not choking on underground fumes or at the mercy of London's traffic-bloated roads. Planning the best way to and from a venue is a sensible move when it comes to your rooftop event. If you've got people coming in from outside London, it may be worth while looking for bars near a major train station - like Euston or King's Cross.

If you are planning on driving you may want to look for a rooftop bar outside the city centre - London's central zones are not known for their wealth of cheap parking options. And, as ever, we recommend walking if you can - it helps the environment and will get you warmed up from climbing the stairs to that hallowed rooftop.

London belongs to you

The best advice we can give you, as planners, is this - it's your London rooftop event, so you should make sure you're getting everything you want. We can't make the decisions for you, but we can get the very best rooftop bars in London to respond to your requests. Let the professional planners work for you.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best rooftop bars in London?

Everyone has their own take on this, but here are a few of the HeadBox teams' favourites.

Skylight Summer, Tobacco Dock - Nothing proves its rooftop bar credentials like a renovated carpark. This multi-level marvel provides an outstanding seasonal cocktail menu and unparalleled 360 degree views over London.

Sky Garden - An iconic London venue with an iconic rooftop space. Scale the bulging ‘walkie-talkie’ building in a high-speed elevator before emerging in London’s highest botanical space. You can hire the Sky Garden exclusively and have your friends talking about it for, well, ever.

Century Club - Get down to Soho for this chic rooftop space that emanates summer party vibes. With an unrivalled vantage point and retractable roof, the team at Century won’t leave you high and dry (or they will - the metaphor gets muddled at this point).