Best viewpoint for a London sunset?

London at dusk can be best described as magical because as it approaches sundown, the skyscraper over the city gently turns orange. The streets are usually filled with life but at night they are quiet, and the houses as well as the landmarks in London are only touched by a warm, golden hue. It is also a good time to go to a viewpoint and watch the sunset over the capital to the ground.

What can be better than enjoying the sunset admiring such well-known sights as Big Ben, Tower Bridge, The Shard, and the London Eye? This must surely be one of the best backdrops to view nature’s splendor where the sun sets from an orange to pink to purple sky. As the sun starts setting, the twinkling of the city lights can also be observed.

If you are lucky to be there at the right time, you will be privileged to capture beautiful reflections of the sun setting in the River Thames. The hustle and bustle of the day and the boats moving around reflect the colors of the sky on the calm water body. Some of the best sites to view sunset river reflections in London include bridges like Westminster, Waterloo, or London Bridge.

We've rounded up some of the top spots in London to soak in a sunset panorama:

Primrose Hill

The best place to watch the sunset in London is probably one of the most famous and lovely landmarks – Primrose Hill Park. This is a small park without many facilities to offer and is located on top of the northern part of the city looking at the center near Regent’s Park. At the top of the hill you can get an almost panoramic view of what can be described as London City. Look at the sun being set to the horizon with the tall structures in the city such as The Shard, the BT Tower, and The Gherkin in the background. There may be a lot of people visiting the park, but the park is very spacious and one will always find a good spot for watching the view.

Greenwich Park

Southeast London boasts of Greenwich Park whose grounds afford one stunning prospect of the park. Ascend through the south-facing slopes and associated woodlands of old oaks up to the terraces that provide excellent views of the Canary Wharf, O2 Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and many other landmarks. There is also an ideal vantage point for a picture frame with a view of the sunset, the historic Royal Naval College, and the Cutty Sark ship in the background. Interior lighting in these buildings appears spectacular when lit by golden light later in the evening.

Sky Garden

Be sure to catch the sunset from the Sky Garden observation decks to get a better view of the location. This is an open public amenity placed at the top of the 20 Fenchurch building which is located within the city’s financial core. Their terraces face westwards to capture the best view, especially for sundowners. This is a great place to observe the beautiful view of the city at night, as the sun sets behind The Shard, the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliament. It may be crowded during the day, so if you can spare the time, consider going early in the morning or during weekdays just before sunset.

South Bank

One can take a walk in the evening and walk along the part of the street that is closed for auto traffic – the South Bank, and enjoy the sunset behind the River Thames. Beginning at the London Eye, one can capture great sunsets behind the Westminster Palace and Big Ben. Following that, stroll east to find the National Theatre and Tate Modern glowing in the golden light until you turn to see the pink sky over Tower Bridge. Sit on a bench or along the banks of the river to capture a beautiful sunset with St Paul’s Cathedral clearly in the background.

Waterloo Bridge

Regarded as one of the most romantic areas to watch the sunset in London, Waterloo Bridge is a crossing over the River Thames allowing views in both directions along the river. Observe how the sun sets over the water and the small waves against the backdrop of the Royal Docks, the west of the city with the big wheel and Westminster in the distance, and the city skyscrapers to the east. For this reason, besides the beautiful sunsets, the reflection of these colors on the water's surface makes this particular spot ideal for photographing sunset viewpoints.

Kensington Gardens

While strolling through the vast area of green rectangle known as Kensington Gardens there is a hill called Kensington Palace Gardens. It is located to the west of Kensington Palace (the residence of Prince William and his wife, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge). Ascend to the superior, it offers unsurpassed panoramic views of the western side of London at sunset. In the background, Wembley Stadium can be spotted in the far distance against the backdrop of twilight settling over the city.

Parliament Hill

In North London, there is one of the most popular territories called Hampstead Heath which hosts Parliament Hill, one of the highest points of the city. The name of this place is quite appropriate, as one of the most memorable London sunsets is observed here – the one that sets behind Big Ben and the spires of the Houses of Parliament, which are also known as the Palace of Westminster. Around them, you can also see reflections of The Shard, St Paul’s, The Gherkin, and Canary Wharf sparkling as the last of the gold light begins to die off.

Richmond Hill

Drive twenty-five minutes west of Central London to Richmond Hill to capture the bewitching sunset shots overlooking Kew Gardens and the River Thames countryside with central London in the backdrop. Proceed to the upper part of Richmond Park, near the Isabella plantation, and go up the hill to watch the sunset in the direction of the newly constructed skyscrapers in the city center, The Shard among them. Once on the hill, you are likely to host over five hundred deer and the great oak woodlands.

For more of the most breathtaking places to catch a London sunset, please visit the protected areas in Greenwich or Richmond and Alexandra Parks or views from The Monument, Royal Festival Hall, or even Gabriel’s Wharf. Sunset viewing over the city of London does not in any way lack options or locations for that matter.

There are indeed many choices, so why not spend some early evenings in a row and start discovering various London sunset places? It is also possible to visit Rooftop bars such as Frank’s Cafe or Radio Rooftop Bar where you can watch the sunset with a cocktail. It is but just to mention that the readers should not forget their camera since every sunset over London is a different one.