I saw many recommendations for Sky Garden when doing research for my trip to London, and I can say…read morethat it's well deserved. You really can't beat a free observation deck. Though Sky Garden is free, you still need to book a timed reservation in advance...as in, right when they release the dates 3 weeks in advance. They will run out pretty quickly even if you wait a few days, especially if you're going during busy season. I saw that the reservation is good for one hour, but honestly, they didn't check when I went so they might not be strict on that depending on the crowd level. I went in about 20 minutes early because I wasn't doing anything. You'll check in and go through security. Then you'll get in an elevator to the top. My reservation was at 10:00am, so I got through the initial line and security quickly, but I imagine it would be a long wait later in the day. The view out is great, and there's a balcony so you can take pictures outside. I think the interior architecture was the highlight though along with the greenery. There's so much natural light that gets in the room. It would have been amazing to go during sunset, but that didn't fit in with my plans. Luckily, the view in the morning was good, and the sunny weather was on my side. They have a cafe and a restaurant there. Though overpriced, I still got a flat white to sip on while I took in the views. Overall, I spent about an hour at a slow pace. You definitely don't need that much time, so if you have the chance to visit, it's definitely worth it. Only issue was the line to go back down took longer than expected since people don't maximize elevator space.

Sky Garden ended up being such a fun experience while we were in London…read more We started at the restaurant on the 27th floor and ordered a bottle of champagne for my friend's birthday. They gave us a really nice birthday discount which was unexpected and appreciated. The service the whole time was fantastic and the views were honestly incredible. After that we went down to the 26th floor and stayed there for a while because the vibe was just really good. Live music, more amazing views, people hanging out and enjoying themselves... it felt very "London night out" in the best way. Touristy? Sure. Worth it? Absolutely. Definitely something I'd recommend making time for if you're visiting London.

Very cute place. Lots of small cafes and restaurants from all over the world. And the best…read morepart--the Harry Potter fan will notice a resemblance to Diagon Alley.

This place felt like a movie set. You could feel the energy as soon as you enter. It is open with a…read morecool roof. The bar on the corner had people flowing out of it and the drinks were flowing. We walked around and there were a lot of god food options. We took some pictures and saw the Harry Potter filming location and Wonka inspiration. We spent about an hour there as the market is small, but we all got different food from various places. There is no community seating so we brought food from one restaurant to another and no one seemed to care. I would recommend this for those who want to feel like they have been taken to another land.

The Tower of London is one of the most recognizable historic landmarks in London and offers a…read moreunique look into centuries of royal history, architecture, and important events. We walked up to a complex that combines a medieval fortress, royal palace, museum, and collection of historic exhibits all within the same grounds, the kind of place where the scale and preservation of the structures immediately set the tone before we even entered. The site was vast and layered, and exploring the different towers, courtyards, and rooms made it easier to understand how the location changed roles throughout history, with each section offering a slightly different perspective on the Tower's past. The Crown Jewels are the biggest highlight of the visit and one of the main reasons many people come to the Tower of London. We made our way through the exhibition and found seeing the collection in person giving the experience a much bigger impact compared to simply reading about it. The displays were carefully organized, and the history behind the pieces added another layer to the visit. We also enjoyed exploring the armory exhibits, which provided more context about the Tower's role as a military and royal site rather than just a famous landmark. The architecture itself is one of the strongest parts of the experience. The stone walls, towers, and preserved medieval structures created a feeling that we were stepping into a different period of London's history, and walking along the grounds and through the different sections gave us a better appreciation for how much has been preserved over hundreds of years. The Tower Bridge views from the surrounding areas also made it a great location for photos. One thing to plan around is the amount of time needed to fully experience the attraction. There is much more to see than just the Crown Jewels, and rushing through the exhibits would take away from the experience. Arriving earlier in the day is worth doing, especially if you want to spend time exploring the different buildings and joining one of the included guided tours. The Crown Jewels can also develop longer lines as the day goes on, so visiting that area earlier can help save time. The staff moved visitors through the exhibits efficiently, and the pacing of the visit kept the experience smooth without feeling rushed. The Tower of London works well for both history enthusiasts and casual visitors because it combines storytelling with impressive visuals. Even without knowing every detail of British history, the exhibits and preserved spaces made it easy to understand the importance of the location. The combination of the fortress design, royal connections, and historical displays created an experience that felt much more immersive than a typical museum visit. Overall, the Tower of London is one of the most worthwhile historic attractions in London. The Crown Jewels, medieval architecture, and variety of exhibits make it a place where you can easily spend several hours exploring. It offers a great balance between learning about history and experiencing one of the city's most iconic landmarks.

We bought tickets a few days in advance and was able to get an 11am entry time. There was no line…read morewhen we got there, but had to snake through before entering. There was a guided tour starting right when we entered, but we did the audio tour on our own. I had also prepaid for a kids's book that we picked up at the gift shop. I wouldn't get it again if I had a redo. We also picked up our audio guides, which were included in the price of admission. This was great as it had a kids program and the guided map let us pick and choose what path we wanted to take. We chose to hit the highlights, which takes 90 minutes and we ended up being there for 2 hours. The line for the crown jewels wan't too bad and was the highlight of the visit. They also had live shows in the common area that the kids loved.