Bars
The 6 Best Summer Terraces in London
Six London terraces worth the gamble on a clear evening, from a riverside spot under Tower Bridge to a King's Road garden and a roof in the City that catches the last of the sun.
In short: our top picks are Coppa Club Tower Bridge, The Culpeper and Madison. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
London does roughly forty good terrace evenings a year, and the trick is knowing where to be when one lands. Not all of them are rooftops. Some of the better ones sit at ground level behind a wall of wisteria, or on a mezzanine with a retractable roof for when the sky turns on you, which it will. What we’ve gathered here are the suntraps that earn the trip: a clear line of sight, a drink that arrives cold, and a crowd that isn’t filming it. A few need booking weeks out. One opens only when the weather holds. Pick the evening, then pick the place, and keep an eye on the forecast like a Londoner should.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Coppa Club Tower Bridge | Tower Hill | £££ |
| The Culpeper | Whitechapel | £££ |
| Madison | The City | £££ |
| The Ivy Chelsea Garden | Chelsea | £££ |
| Pergola on the Wharf | Canary Wharf | ££ |
| The Hari Bar and Garden Terrace | Belgravia | £££ |
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Editor’s choice
Coppa Club Tower Bridge
Why we pick itThe terrace sits right on the river with Tower Bridge filling the view, and the igloos famous for winter stay put through summer for anyone who wants shade. Get there for the early evening light before the after-work crowd lands.
All-day riverside bar and restaurant
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The Culpeper
Why we pick itA proper woodland roof, birch and hazel and a crab apple tree, with herbs and vegetables grown up there for the kitchen below. It opens only when the weather holds and runs walk-in, so a clear Tuesday beats a booked-out Saturday.
Pub with a rooftop kitchen garden
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Madison
Why we pick itSt Paul's dome sits close enough to touch from the terrace, which is one of the larger open-air roofs in the City. Come for a drink at the outdoor bar rather than the full dinner if you just want the view and a negroni.
Modern American rooftop restaurant and bar
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The Ivy Chelsea Garden
Why we pick itA 3,500 square foot garden off the King's Road with firepits, fountains and wisteria climbing the pergolas. It runs all year, but late June, with the Chelsea roses in full swing, is when it earns its reputation.
Worth knowingThe garden is the reason to book rather than the kitchen: standard Ivy Collection staples done competently, and the indoor room is far less special.
All-day brasserie with a walled garden terrace
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Pergola on the Wharf
Why we pick itBuilt into the Crossrail Place roof garden, so you drink among ferns and palms with the dock below. The 200-seat terrace fills fast on a Thursday, but the canopy means a sudden shower doesn't end the night.
Leafy roof-garden bar and food hall
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The Hari Bar and Garden Terrace
Why we pick itA quiet Belgravia suntrap walled in living ivy, with a retractable roof for the inevitable. It's the grown-up option here, an aperitivo and a plate of something from Il Pampero next door rather than a scene.
Hotel cocktail bar with a mezzanine garden terrace
Before you book
Book ahead for all six, especially Coppa Club and The Ivy Chelsea Garden, which go weeks out in July. The Culpeper roof is weather-dependent and walk-in only, so go early evening on a clear day. Expect roughly 12 to 16 pounds a cocktail at the City and riverside spots. Most have heaters and cover for when the sun ducks behind cloud.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Coppa Club Tower Bridge is our editor's choice: The terrace sits right on the river with Tower Bridge filling the view, and the igloos famous for winter stay put through summer for anyone who wants shade. Get there for the early evening light before the after-work crowd lands. Coppa Club Tower Bridge, The Culpeper and Madison lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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