London unveils Horizon 22: Europe's highest free public viewing platform

A look at 22 Horizon, Europe’s tallest public viewing platform, offering spectacular panoramic views over London's skyline.

Image: Horizon 22, Europe's highest free public viewing platform. Photo by MTotoe.

Horizon 22, Europe's tallest free public viewing platform, is now open at 22 Bishopsgate in London. This towering 278m mixed-use development, located in London’s Financial District, boasts 62 storeys and an impressive 1.4m ft2 of floor space. It ranks as the second largest building in the UK, just below The Shard, which holds the record as the tallest at 310m with 87 floors. 

Europe’s tallest free viewing platform

Horizon 22 boasts the highest free viewing platform in Europe, positioned at 254m, surpassing the Shard's 72nd-floor viewpoint by 10 metres. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of London’s stunning skyline at no cost. The 58th floor features triple-glazed windows, offering splendid views of iconic landmarks like the Walkie-Talkie, the Shard, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf in the distance. Ticket holders are granted 1½ hour to take in the views, which even extends as far as the South Downs on clear days.

Image: Horizon 22 surpasses the Shard's 72nd-floor viewpoint by 10 metres. Photo by MTotoe.

Planning your visit

Visiting Horizon 22 is a popular experience, and although tickets are free, they can be in high demand. You can plan ahead by reserving tickets online up to two months in advance. If you can't find your preferred dates online, don't worry. Around 20 walk-in slots are available daily at 10 am for spontaneous visits, with availability changing throughout the day.

22 Horizon is open seven days a week, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Eve.

Location: 22 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4BQ. Opening hours: 10 am - 6 pm on weekdays, 10 am - 5 pm Saturdays, and 10 am - 4 pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Book now.

The design and build of 22 Bishopsgate

The construction of 22 Bishopsgate was a marvel of innovation, employing a pioneering self-erecting jumpform system—a first in the UK. This unique approach allowed concurrent construction of the core structure alongside demolition and basement work, showcasing exceptional efficiency and speed in the construction process. Developed by Lipton Rogers and constructed by contractors Careys Civil Engineer, 22 Bishopsgate stands on the foundations of the ill-fated Pinnacle, whose construction was halted during the 2007 financial crisis. The new structure incorporates new piles and required ingenious engineering solutions. Collaborating with PLP Architecture and structural engineers WSP, the project pushed the floor plates to the limits of the site boundary, increasing lettable floor space by 30%.

Image: 22 Bishopsgate, alongside the Cheesegrater (Leadenhall) building, The Gherkin, and The Walkie Talkie building. Image by Dorin Seremet.

Additionally, the tower's lift strategy enhances its commercial appeal, enabling seamless access to any office floor from the ground level without transfers. Structural engineers at WSP devised a clever solution, utilising existing and additional piles to support the colossal building, ensuring stability and safety. Utilising under-reamed piles from the site's previous incarnation, 38 Bishopsgate, and a series of transfer beams effectively handled the immense loads generated by the towering structure.