9 rooftop bars worth the night across United Kingdom, editor-ranked. All United Kingdom guides.
Frank's Cafe ★ 4.6 · London
Peckham · Bold Tendencies, 95A Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 4ST
The 10th-floor multi-storey carpark bar built by Practice Architecture for Bold Tendencies in 2009 is the summer fixture, with a Negroni view across south London and zero pretense to anything more.
Tip: Card only, no advance bookings, no table service. Get there before 18:00 on a Friday or you queue down the ramp.
12th Knot ★ 4.5 · London
South Bank · Sea Containers London, 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PD
The Sea Containers 12th-floor cocktail bar on the South Bank looks out at St Paul's and the river, with a cocktail programme that earns its rooftop premium and small plates that justify staying for dinner.
Tip: The window seats book out for sunset, request one when you reserve. The corner with the Blackfriars view is the prize.
Cold Town House ★ 4.4 · Edinburgh
Old Town · 4 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2JU
The 4 Grassmarket rooftop with a retractable glass roof and uninterrupted view of Edinburgh Castle reopened in 2024 after a half-million-pound refurbishment by the team.
Tip: Book the rooftop in advance for a sunset slot, the gondola booths take four guests and are the warmest seat when the roof closes.
Harvey Nichols Forth Floor ★ 4.3 · Edinburgh
New Town · 30-34 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2AD
The fourth-floor bar and brasserie above Harvey Nichols on St Andrew Square has an outdoor terrace with the most polished view in the New Town across to the Firth of Forth.
Tip: The terrace shuts when the wind picks up, the indoor cocktail bar keeps the same view through the floor-to-ceiling glass.
Heights at Apex Grassmarket ★ 4.3 · Edinburgh
Old Town · 31-35 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2HS
The fifth-floor restaurant and bar on top of the Apex Grassmarket hotel runs a modern Scottish cocktail menu with a floor-to-ceiling view straight across to Edinburgh Castle.
Tip: Book a window table 90 minutes before sunset for the castle floodlights coming on, the bar drinks are also served at the dining tables.
Coq d'Argent ★ 4.2 · London
City of London · No.1 Poultry, City of London, London EC2R 8EJ
The James Stirling postmodern roof garden above No.1 Poultry is the City rooftop institution, with a sunken lawn, a French restaurant and a bar terrace that catches the Bank of England light.
Tip: The garden is the bar, the restaurant is the formal room, sit in the garden for a drink and skip the menu unless you are expensing.
Aviary ★ 4.2 · London
Finsbury · Montcalm Royal London House, 22-25 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1DX
The 10th-floor terrace on Finsbury Square belongs to the Montcalm Royal London House and runs an all-day operation with City skyline views and a weekend Birdsong brunch that gets a DJ in.
Tip: Sunset slot 18:30 to 20:00 is the best light, book the terrace not the indoor section.
Madison ★ 4.1 · London
City of London · 1 New Change, City of London, London EC4M 9AF
The One New Change rooftop bar and restaurant runs eye-level with the St Paul's dome, with a modern American menu downstairs and a long terrace bar that is the closest seat to the cathedral.
Tip: Walk straight through the restaurant to the bar terrace, the queue at the front desk is for diners only.
Radio Rooftop ★ 4.1 · London
Covent Garden · ME London, 336-337 Strand, Covent Garden, London WC2R 1HA
The 10th-floor terrace at ME London is the central rooftop with the 360-degree West End view, and the gin-and-tonic list and modern Asian plates keep it from being only a view bar.
Tip: Book a window banquette on the north side for the Trafalgar and St Martin's view, the south side gives the river.