Visiting Horizon 22 with children: everything you need to know

Perched high above the bustling streets of London, Horizon 22 is one of London’s newest attractions and offers a thrilling experience for families looking to see the city from a new perspective. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about visiting Horizon 22 with children, making sure that you are prepared to enjoy your visit with minimal fuss.

Horizon 22: the essentials

What is Horizon 22?

Horizon 22 is a new observation deck located on the 22nd floor of the iconic 22 Bishopsgate skyscraper in London’s financial district.

View from the mezzanine level of Horizon 22, a free viewing platform in London, looking down over Tower 42

Where is Horizon 22?

Horizon 22 is located in 22 Bishopsgate, a commercial office space located in the City of London.

How high up is Horizon 22?

Horizon 22 is located on floor 58 of 22 Bishopsgate. It is a double-height space with small mezzanine areas when you enter and exit.

How old is Horizon 22?

22 Bishopsgate, the building in which Horizon 22 sits, was completed in late 2019. Construction began in 2016, and the building officially opened in 2020. Horizon 22 was opened to the public in September 2023.

How much does it cost to go to Horizon 22?

Entrance to Horizon 22 is free.

Do you need tickets for Horizon 22?

Yes, you will need to book tickets for Horizon 22. Book tickets online in advance. Some tickets are released on a daily basis on the website for up to 60 days in advance. If tickets are unavailable, keep checking back.

In addition, it may be possible to arrive without a booking and use the QR code provided outside the entrance to complete a booking for tickets on the spot. Walk-in availability is subject to capacity limitations and cannot be guaranteed.

View looking South over the River Thames from Horizon 22, a free viewing platform in London. The Shard, Walkie Talkie and HMS Belfast can be seen.

What is the capacity of Horizon 22?

The number of tickets available in each timeslot for Horizon 22 has not been made public, but for private events, the space hold 500 standing guests, so it is a big space. Tickets available for public visits are likely to be much fewer than 500 though.

When is Horizon 22 open?

Horizon 22 is open:
Weekdays 10.00 – 18.00
Saturday 10.00 – 17.00
Sunday 10.00 – 16.00

Hours on Bank Holiday weekends may differ, therefore check before you visit.

The last admission is 30 mins before closing.

Getting to Horizon 22

What is the nearest tube to Horizon 22?

The nearest Tube stations to Horizon 22 is Liverpool Street (Central Line, Metropolitan Line, Hammersmith and City Line, the Elizabeth Line and the Overground). Only slightly further away, but still an easy walk are Aldgate (Metropolitan Line and Circle Line), Tower Hill (Circle Line and District Line), Bank (Central Line, Northern Line, Waterloo and City Line, and the DLR) and Monument (District Line and Circle Line)

How do you get into Horizon 22?

22 Bishopsgate is most notable for its colourful glass canopy, just above street level. Finding the entrance can be a little tricky as the main reception to the building (pictured below), is not the entrance to Horizon 22. The entrance to Horizon 22 is in a separate part of the building that is just across from the junction with Threadneedle Street.

22 Bishopsgate, main building entrance, note this is nit the entrance to Horizon 22, the free viewing platform

After showing your QR code to the staff at the entrance to the building, entrance to Horizon 22 is via lift and after passing through airport style security. Once through security there are two lifts which serve Horizon 22.

How long is the queue for Horizon 22?

As tickets are for a half hour time slot during which you can arrive at any time, the queue for Horizon 22 should never be too long, but there is a need to pass through an airport style security screening process. Bags will be X-Ray scanned and visitors are required to go through a walkthrough metal detector before entry is granted. This may cause a bit of a queue to build up, but it should not be too long and should move constantly.

Is there baggage storage at Horizon 22?

Bags and luggage larger than L 58cm x W 45cm x D 25cm are not permitted inside and there are no locker facilities. Therefore, if you have larger luggage with you, you should find somewhere to store this before you visit.

At Horizon 22

What can you see from Horizon 22?

Horizon 22 provides a 300 degree view over West, South and East London. Here’s what you and your family can expect to see in terms of iconic London landmarks:

Wembley;
The Barbican;
St Pancras;
St Paul’s Cathedral;
The Walkie Talkie;
The Shard;
HMS Belfast;
Tower Bridge;
Monument;
The Tower of London; and
Canary Wharf.

View East to Canary Wharf from Horizon 22, a free viewing platform in London

What facilities are there for children at Horizon 22?

The main attraction at Horizon 22 is the view, so the facilities are minimal. There are toilet facilities at the ground floor lobby level and on level 58 and the mezzanine level. There is no buggy park, so you will need to keep prams and strollers with you. Bikes, scooters, and skateboards are not permitted.

The ULTIMATE map of things to do and see in London with kids

How long can you spend at Horizon 22?

Although the terms and conditions note that ‘we may limit the length of time guests can spend at Horizon 22 to 40 minutes after their booked arrival time’, this is probably unlikely to be enforced as people will naturally leave once they have seen the view.

How long you spend there will depend on your children and their interest in seeing the view from above. You should allow for at least half an hour to fully take in the sites once in the building, plus time to go through security.

Can you eat at Horizon 22?

Only food and beverages purchased in the Horizon 22 may be consumed on the premises. Food and liquid in open containers (including canned drinks or take-away drinks) cannot be taken to Horizon 22. Such restrictions will not apply where such food or drink is required for medical reasons, or for infants. No alcohol is permitted at Horizon 22. Alcohol will be confiscated as a condition of entry.

At ground level there is a cafe. At the viewing platform level there is a small kiosk offering a range of hot and cold drinks and snacks. Kiosk opening hours are the same as the viewing platform.

How does Horizon 22 compare to other viewing platforms like the Shard or the Sky Garden?

The viewing levels at the Shard are higher than Horizon 22 and have the benefit of more facilities. But, the big advantage that Horizon 22 has over the Shard is that it’s free. The view from each is also very different. The Shard offers a view north of the river towards the city, whereas Horizon 22 offers a view south over the Thames.

Compared with the Sky Garden, Horizon 22 is significantly taller, but again, offers fewer facilities and does not offer 360 degree views, which the Sky Garden does.

If you can’t get tickets for Horizon 22, a great alternative is The Lookout. Located next door, it is a similar viewing platform to Horizon 22. It is eight floors lower and with a slightly less expansive panoramic view, but it may be easier to book tickets for or to walk into. Read our post on everything you need to know about visiting the Lookout with kids to find out more.

All offer great views, so you will need to decide which is best for you. Check out our post that will help you decide which viewing platform in London to visit.

Is there a question you have about visiting Horizon 22 that we haven’t answered here? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to address it.