Sky Garden

The lift shoots you up 37 floors in seconds, and suddenly you're standing 135 metres above the City of London with floor-to-ceiling glass all around you. Sky Garden isn't a park in the traditional sense - it's a public viewing gallery at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street, and it's free, which still catches most people off guard.

What you get is proper unobstructed panorama. St Paul's Cathedral sits directly across, the Thames winds through the financial district, and on clear days you can see all the way to Canary Wharf and beyond. The space itself is a bit sterile - stainless steel railings, polished floors, the works - but the views do the heavy lifting. There's a small restaurant and bar if you want to linger over a drink and watch the city change light as the afternoon fades.

Families with teenagers will find it absorbing for 45 minutes or so. Younger kids can get restless quickly, especially if there's a queue. History buffs might find the audio commentary about the skyline useful, though it's a bit corporate in tone. Solo travellers often make straight for the viewing benches and stay longer than expected.

Booking ahead online is essential - walk-ups rarely get same-day slots. Weekday late afternoons are quieter than weekends. It's genuinely free, no hidden charges, which makes it a genuine find for a London trip. Lovat Parks sits just a few miles out, so you can base yourself there and hit the City for the day.