London's Vantage Points - the Oxo Tower

The top of the Oxo tower is an exclusive bar and restaurant, but also a free public viewing gallery. I've passed by the sign hundreds of times, I've eaten in the restaurant, but it was only today that the words sunk in and so I went up to have a look. Nobody else seems to have noticed, either, but it must be the highest, free, central London viewing area.

London's Vantage Points - Beckton Alps

Beckton was pretty much just the gasworks for a long while, now just the vestige of one of the spoil heaps remains.

For a while it was a dry ski slope, now it has been left to nature. Clamber up the hill and you will be presented with probably the most extensive 360 degree view in London. Given where it is, I'd hesitate before saying it was the best view. Looking around the Internet, this rather infrequently-updated site caught my fancy, and you can read the Diamond Geezer's Beckton visit here.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map
For the first 200 Map places, click here.

London's Vantage Points - Suicide Bridge

This gorge was created inadvertently when the original road tunnel collapsed in the early 19th century; there has been a bridge here ever since.

The view across London is fantastic, but standing here it is hard not to be jostled by the spirits of the troubled souls who must have stood in exactly the same place before ending their lives. It is apparently one of the most frequented such places worldwide. Here is a picture looking down; I'm not inclined to provide links, if you want, just search for Suicide Bridge, London.


See where on the London Daily Photo Map
For the first 200 Map places, click here.

London's Vantage Points - Greenwich Point

You know I said on Monday I was too mean to pay £7 to go up in the wheel? This is why. At the top of Point Hill is one of the very best views of London, to rival Primrose Hill. On a day like this you can see clearly to Wembley, Battersea, the world is laid out infront of you. If you're driving, all you will see is tantalising glimpses - you need to be on foot or bike to get to this viewpoint. And, just to add to the interest of the place, the Greenwich Phantom has tales of wild goings on just there.

The Greenwich-fest week continues. Some higer res sections of this photo are here.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

London's Vantage Points

London, like many other cities around the world is at the bottom of a bowl and you get great views from the outskirts. Part of the art of being a Londoner is knowing where to stand. I've shown you two others previously, here is a view from my edge of town. You might find it interesting that most of the nature photos from this site have been shot within a half mile of this point.

See where on London Daily Photo Map.

London's Vantage Points - Alexander Palace

Today I have climbed to the top of one of the highest points in London, Alexandra Palace it has probably the widest panaromic view available in London. Affectionately known to Londoners as "Ally Pally", it has a history dating back to Victorian times and has burnt down twice. However, given the levels of pollution the view is normally obscured, like this.

There is a fairly widely known, but fascinaing bit of trivia that I'll leave for tomorrow. Another image from the top is on My Other Stuff.

London's Vantage Points - Primrose Hill

The park, Primrose Hill is only a footstep from central London and has one of the best views, certainly worth the trip.

In fact if you want to:

Walk your dog

Sit and watch London go by

Get mown down by an army of joggers

Make out with a nanny while little spoiled brats play

then Primrose Hill is the place to go.
Don't forget, this is the place where Mary Poppins belonged.