London's free roof terraces: New walk-in spot opens at 1 Leadenhall

A new free public roof terrace has opened at 1 Leadenhall, London's financial district, continuing a trend where developers include public viewing spaces to secure planning permission. The Terrace, on the 4th floor of a 36-storey skyscraper, offers walk-in access without prior booking—unlike the city's more famous free terraces. Inside, a 40-metre-long wedge-shaped space with eight benches and shrubbery provides views mainly of Leadenhall Market's roof and nearby towers like the Lloyds Building and the Cheesegrater. However, the view south is blocked by construction at 85 Gracechurch Street, which will eventually have its own fifth-floor public terrace. A security guard patrols, and a restaurant is planned but not yet open, leaving the space quiet—a hidden oddity rather than a must-see destination.

Older free terraces remain more popular. Sky Garden at the Walkie-Talkie (35th–37th floors) requires three-week advance booking. Horizon 22 at 22 Bishopsgate (57th floor) releases tickets each Monday, often snapped up quickly. The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate (50th floor) follows a similar system. In contrast, The Garden at 120 on Fen Court (15th floor) accepts walk-ins after a brief security queue, offering the City's largest roof garden with wisteria and 360° panoramas of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and beyond. These free terraces have become a valued urban amenity, democratising high-rise views in a city where private offices dominate the skyline.