Stave Hill

You climb up a proper steep landfill-turned-parkland on the Isle of Dogs and suddenly London sprawls out below you in every direction. That's Stave Hill - not exactly a secret, but one of those spots locals use and tourists miss. The view from the top takes in the Thames curving round, Canary Wharf jabbing up, and on clear days you can pick out landmarks all the way across the city. It's a short walk from the base to the summit, maybe ten minutes if you're not rushed, but the gradient catches people off guard.

This is a viewpoint first and foremost, so you're not here to spend hours. Walkers love it because it's free, accessible, and genuinely rewarding. Families can manage it easily enough, though toddlers might struggle with the slope. The grass gets waterlogged in winter, so go in drier months if you can. Early morning or late afternoon gives you the best light for photos and fewer people about.

If you're staying at Lovat Parks nearby, it's absolutely worth the detour - less than five miles away and takes the better part of an hour with the walk and views combined. The hill itself sits within Stave Hill Ecological Park, so you get greenery and the unexpected bonus of spotting birds and insects around the wetland areas. It won't change your life, but it's a genuinely useful London vantage point that costs nothing and beats fighting crowds at the Shard.