Visiting The Lookout with children: everything you need to know

Perched atop the impressive 8 Bishopsgate skyscraper in the heart of London, The Lookout offers families an unforgettable adventure in the sky. This viewing platform provides a breathtaking panorama of London’s iconic skyline, making it an exciting destination for children and adults alike. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about visiting The Lookout with kids. Whether you’re local Londoners or tourists exploring the city, The Lookout promises an exhilarating journey above the bustling streets below.

The Lookout: the essentials

What is the Lookout?

The Lookout is a high-rise viewing platform located at the top of a skyscraper in the City of London. This free public space offers panoramic views of the London skyline.

Where is the Lookout?

The Lookout is located at 8 Bishopsgate, a commercial office space located in the City of London. It is located just down the road from Horizon 22.

How high up is the Lookout?

The Lookout is located on the 50th floor of 8 Bishopsgate, at a height of 220 meters (722 feet) above street level.

How old is the Lookout?

The Lookout opened to the public in August 2023, just a few months before nearby Horizon 22 opened. As a result of being lower (Horizon 22 is on the 58th floor compared to the Lookout which is on the 50th) and ever so slightly less new than Horizon 22, it has perhaps been a little overshadowed and is less well-known about.

How much does it cost to go to the Lookout?

Entrance to The Lookout is free.

Do you need tickets for the Lookout?

It is recommend that you book tickets for The Lookout to guarantee entry. Walk-in visits can only be accepted if there is availability.

What is the capacity of the Lookout?

The number of tickets available in each timeslot for The Lookout has not been made public, but for private events, the space holds up to 280, so it’s a good-sized space. Tickets available for public visits are likely to be much fewer than 280 at any one time though.

When is the Lookout open?

The Lookout is open:
Mondays and Fridays 12.00 – 21.00
Tuesdays to Thursdays 10.30 -17.30
Saturdays 11.00 – 18.00
Sundays & Bank Holidays 10.00 – 17.00

(accurate as at July 2024)

Getting to the Lookout

What is the nearest tube to the Lookout?

The nearest Tube stations to the Lookout are Liverpool Street (Central Line, Metropolitan Line, Hammersmith and City Line, the Elizabeth Line and the Overground), Bank (Central Line, Northern Line, Waterloo and City Line, and the DLR) and Monument (District Line and Circle Line).

Only slightly further away, but still an easy walk are Aldgate (Metropolitan Line and Circle Line) and Tower Hill (Circle Line and District Line).

How do you get into the Lookout?

The entrance to The Lookout is on Bishopsgate, just across from the junction with Threadneedle Street. It should be easy enough to spot as the entrance is marked by a large sign saying ‘The Lookout’. It’s also right next door to the entrance to Horizon 22.

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

How long is the queue for the Lookout?

Tickets are for 15 minute time slots during which you can arrive at any time. 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. The lifts are relatively small (comfortably fitting 6-8 people at a time) and so it may take a little while to get up to platform level at peak times.

Is there baggage storage at the Lookout?

Large bags and suitcases are not permitted in The Lookout. Therefore, if you have large luggage with you, you should find somewhere to store this before you visit.

At the Lookout

What can you see from The Lookout?

The Lookout provides a 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 BT Tower;
• The Walkie Talkie;
• The Shard;
• HMS Belfast;
• Tower Bridge;
• Monument;
• The London Eye;
• Big Ben;
• The Tower of London; and
• Canary Wharf (partial view only).

What facilities are there for children at the Lookout?

The main attraction at The Lookout is the view, so the facilities are minimal. There is one (accessible) toilet on the 50th floor. Just outside the toilet in a little waiting area is a baby change table, although this isn’t private.

How long can you spend at the Lookout?

All tickets are valid for 45 minutes, although this is probably unlikely to be enforced as people will naturally leave once they have seen the view.

How long you spend at The Lookout 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 the Lookout?

Bottled water is permitted in The Lookout, however no food is allowed. Food and drink are not sold at The Lookout platform.

Alcohol is not permitted, individuals visiting must not be under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances. Anyone believed to be under such influence will be refused entry.

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

The viewing levels at the Shard are higher than The Lookout and have the benefit of more facilities. But, the big advantage that The Lookout 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 the Lookout offers a view south over the Thames.

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

The biggest question is, The Lookout vs Horizon 22, which is better? The two are located right next to each other and so offer very similar views. The Lookout is lower than the Shard and offers a more limited view of Canary Wharf. However, being lower, it does offer a slightly closer up view of the streets and so it offers a better vantage point for small people and spotting details, like cars, buses, boats and trains. This post features similar views to those taken in our post on what you need to know about visiting Horizon 22, all of which were taken with the same camera and lens, so you can compare them and see which you might prefer.

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 The Lookout that we haven’t answered here? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to address it.