20 Fenchruch St. London Sky Garden

Just returned from a post-cruise visit to London and had to let those of you who don't know about 20 Fenchurch St. Building (the one that looks like a walkie-talkie) about their Sky Garden.

If you want views, skip paying for the London Eye and go online and get a free ticket for the Sky Garden. The views are fabulous and so much better then the Eye plus they have a restaurant and coffee shop at the top. Here is the website for tickets:

https://skygardentickets.com/skygardenpublic_ui/events/

Just returned from a post-cruise visit to London and had to let those of you who don't know about 20 Fenchurch St. Building (the one that looks like a walkie-talkie) about their Sky Garden.

If you want views, skip paying for the London Eye and go online and get a free ticket for the Sky Garden. The views are fabulous and so much better then the Eye plus they have a restaurant and coffee shop at the top. Here is the website for tickets:

 

https://skygardentickets.com/skygardenpublic_ui/events/

Let's keep all the information about this new attraction in one place. Here's the URL for an earlier thread that contains a bit more information about the reservation process:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2200650

I haven't looked at the menu for 20 Fenchurch's Sky Garden restaurant, but I've found that restaurants with a view tend to be pricey. Here are some nearby lunch alternatives:

Loch Fyne: located in Leadenhall Market, a historic nearby market. Part of a chain. The foodies in London are horrified that tourists order fish and chips any place other than a fish and chips specialist, but fish and chips is one of the less expensive items on Loch Fyne's menu and acceptable to many.

Lamb Tavern: a historic pub also located in Leadenhall Market

Konditor and Cook: a bakery and cafe with locations throughout London; the most useful site for visiting 20 Fenchurch is the one located on the ground floor of the Gherkin.

Rajasthan: well-regarded Indian restaurant, also in The City; Tandoori oven reparations their specialty

Cafe Below: a very atmospheric cafe located in the crypt below Mary Le Bow church

Not all of these are equal distance from 20 Fenchurch, but each represents a reasonable walk and a reasonable experience for its price.

We're taking the HOHO bus and then will tour the Tower of London our first day. I just reserved tickets for the Skygarden later that same afternoon. What is the easiest way to get there from theTower or does the HOHO have a stop near there?

We're taking the HOHO bus and then will tour the Tower of London our first day. I just reserved tickets for the Skygarden later that same afternoon. What is the easiest way to get there from theTower or does the HOHO have a stop near there?

We're walking from the Tower. Also touring the Tower our first day. Lunch at Rajasthan. Then, our Sky Garden reservation

If you go to Google Maps and use the directions feature. Specify walking mode and you'll discover that the Tower and 20 Fenchurch are .4 mile (10 minutes walking time) apart via Great Tower Street.

We're walking from the Tower. Also touring the Tower our first day. Lunch at Rajasthan. Then, our Sky Garden reservation

 

If you go to Google Maps and use the directions feature. Specify walking mode and you'll discover that the Tower and 20 Fenchurch are .4 mile (10 minutes walking time) apart via Great Tower Street.

Perfect--thanks so much!

Just returned from a post-cruise visit to London and had to let those of you who don't know about 20 Fenchurch St. Building (the one that looks like a walkie-talkie) about their Sky Garden.

If you want views, skip paying for the London Eye and go online and get a free ticket for the Sky Garden. The views are fabulous and so much better then the Eye plus they have a restaurant and coffee shop at the top. Here is the website for tickets:

 

https://skygardentickets.com/skygardenpublic_ui/events/

Thanks! I've got it bookmarked--they only take reservations a month in advance so I've marked my calendar, too. We were going to go to the Chard, but Fenchurch is free. We've been on the London Eye several times so this will be a nice change.

Thanks! I've got it bookmarked--they only take reservations a month in advance so I've marked my calendar, too. We were going to go to the Chard, but Fenchurch is free. We've been on the London Eye several times so this will be a nice change.

To avoid frustration, please read up-thread for details about the reservation process. Unless the procedure has changed in the last two weeks, you won't be able to make a reservation a full month in advance.

Thanks! I've got it bookmarked--they only take reservations a month in advance so I've marked my calendar, too. We were going to go to the Chard, but Fenchurch is free. We've been on the London Eye several times so this will be a nice change.

To avoid confusion it is the SHARD!

To avoid confusion it is the SHARD!

Oops! Is it free because it's a lower floor?

To avoid confusion it is the SHARD!

NO, according to the Google maps I checked they're on different sides of the river.

NO, according to the Google maps I checked they're on different sides of the river.

Whoops! You missed the point OrchestraPal was making.

You typed "Chard." The name of another tall building with a viewing platform is The Shard.

No one is disputing that The Shard and 20 Fenchurch are on different sides of the river. But ask for directions to The Chard and you'll be given directions to the produce aisle of the closest grocery store.

Whoops! You missed the point OrchestraPal was making.

 

You typed "Chard." The name of another tall building with a viewing platform is The Shard.

 

No one is disputing that The Shard and 20 Fenchurch are on different sides of the river. But ask for directions to The Chard and you'll be given directions to the produce aisle of the closest grocery store.

Sorry! I missed my typo; I knew it was the Shard, not Chard.

Just returned from a post-cruise visit to London and had to let those of you who don't know about 20 Fenchurch St. Building (the one that looks like a walkie-talkie) about their Sky Garden.

If you want views, skip paying for the London Eye and go online and get a free ticket for the Sky Garden. The views are fabulous and so much better then the Eye plus they have a restaurant and coffee shop at the top. Here is the website for tickets:

 

https://skygardentickets.com/skygardenpublic_ui/events/

Just back from a very pleasant visit to 20 Fenchurch. Some additional detaila:

The specific door you'll need to use for Sky Garden access is actually off Philpot Lane, perpendicular to Fenchurch. Definitely reserve in advance; they were turning away walk-ins at 1:00 PM on a Wednesday. One thing that would make the experience better: a photograph of the city from several points along the viewing platform with notable buildings/sites identified. No one wii have problems with The London Eye or Tower Bridge but there are many interesting buildings I would have liked help identifying.

Go to the Tower early! We walked right onto the Crown Jewels exhibition at 10:00. By noon, the line completely filled the snake in the courtyard waiting to go into the jewel house

One thing that would make the experience better: a photograph of the city from several points along the viewing platform with notable buildings/sites identified. No one wii have problems with The London Eye or Tower Bridge but there are many interesting buildings I would have liked help identifying.

Good feedback, thanks!

Post some photos and I'm sure we can help :)

How was your lunch at Rajasthan? Were you at 1 or 2?

Good feedback, thanks!

 

Post some photos and I'm sure we can help :)

 

How was your lunch at Rajasthan? Were you at 1 or 2?

Thanks for the offer but we just chatted and enjoyed the view. No photographs. Other buildings we identified with confidence: St Paul's, Millennium Pedestrian Bridge, Tate Modern, London Bridge.

Did our paths cross in real life at Rajasthan? I'd say we arrived somewhat before 1:00. Very nice meal. Very convenient for our purposes.

Thanks for the offer but we just chatted and enjoyed the view. No photographs. Other buildings we identified with confidence: St Paul's, Millennium Pedestrian Bridge, Tate Modern, London Bridge.

 

Did our paths cross in real life at Rajasthan? I'd say we arrived somewhat before 1:00. Very nice meal. Very convenient for our purposes.

I believe poster meant Rajasthan 1 or 2 out of two restaurants that they own and not what time were you there.

I believe poster meant Rajasthan 1 or 2 out of two restaurants that they own and not what time were you there.

On second read I believe you're right. I think I knew there were two locations when I first started figuring out my plans but I'd forgotten that. We went to the branch on Monument.

Our favorite dish was a braised lamb preparation -- medium spicy -- recommended by the waiter but whose name I don't recall. The second best saag paneer we've esten. (One afternoon the mother of a student drove to my house and gave me some saag paneer she had just made. Delicious. I've been on a quest to find its equal in every Indian restaurant we've patronized. So far Rajasthan is number two. It beat saag paneer tried last year at Bombay Bistro (off Cromwell if I've got the restaurant's name wrong).