I pre-booked my free visit a few weeks prior but since we were there midday, during the week, it wasn't all that busy and people were showing up off the street and getting up.
We wandered slowly around the unobstructed views, taking photos and enjoying the gorgeous, sunny sky.
I think one day I'd like to go back for a cocktail at sunset. To watch the sun descend over west London and the twinkling lights of the city spring on. I bet it's something special.
What is it about being able to experience a place from a new perspective that really makes you appreciate it? There's only so much you can see from street level. In fact, while we were here looking down, we could see an interesting facade, but didn't know what it was. Back down on ground level we hunted for the building we had seen and discovered St. Dunstan-in-the-East, a WWII bombed out church made into a beautiful city garden.
PS. re-read this post and count how many landmarks you can see from the 20 Fenchurch Street window views.
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When you go to any vantage point over central London, whether it be the Shard, Walkie-Talkie, Tower 42 etc, the secret is to look down and look for those landmarks that are easily missed. The beauty of London is that new and old literally sit side by side. Churches (some of which can trace their origins back to the 7th century), ancient lanes and remnants from Roman Londinium are amongst some of the things that can be glimpsed. The juxtaposition is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt is also worth pointing out that St Pauls Cathedral was the tallest building in London until the mid 1960s.
-D
www.stepintolondon.com
Well said, Daren. That's my favourite bit of London, that juxtaposition is never ending and also surprising.
ReplyDeleteWe did do just that, looking straight down from the top and spotted some interesting looking remains. Going back down, we found what we saw from above and it turned out to be a very cool old church cum community garden, hidden away on a quiet street. Never would have discovered it otherwise.