Post Building Roof Garden

Looking down on the British Museum.

One of the newer and free rooftop gardens to open to the public is the one atop the Post building, on Museum Street. Having recently visited Lift 109 at Battersea Power Station and having previously admired the views from the Garden at 120 Fenchurch Street, climbed the 311 steps of the Monument to the Great Fire of London, seen the view from The Shard, peered at St Paul's Cathedral from One New Change and the Switch Room at Tate Modern, among many other places, this rooftop garden was the next logical step.

Looking east.

Although the Post Building is situated on Museum Street the entrance is around the corner on New Oxford Street. It isn't particularly well advertised but I soon found it.

After being allowed entry to the building I was met by an amiable security guard that told me that access to the rooftop garden required some form of identification. For example a driver's licence (I don't drive) or a passport (I only carry that when I am going abroad). The only identification that I had on me was my bank card and a few other items that had my name on them, which he accepted. 

With the visitors book signed I passed through the now standard metal detector, while my coat was scanned in an X-Ray machine. 

He then ushered me to the lift and told me to press '9'. On entering the lift I realised that the only other button to press, besides nine, was the alarm. I thought about pressing the alarm for 0.68 seconds, before I hit the '9' and travelled smoothly up the building.

One New Change: Viewing Area

Reflecting on St Paul's Cathedral. 

Sunday July 31, 2022.

One of the major developments over the last few decades, which enhances the appeal of London, is the new buildings that include viewing areas, nearly always on the roof, that allow free access for the public to see London from a different perspective.

Looking across at St Paul's Cathedral.

So it was that after a visit to the Museum of London, I took Erin and Keilyn to the top of the One New Change building, via its glass lifts, to see the view.

'Ariel' by Boris Anrep with the Barbican towers in the background.

From its location opposite St Paul's Cathedral it is this iconic building that you see while travelling up in the lift, and the first thing you see when you walk onto the viewing area.

With dusk fast approaching London takes on a new light.

The panoramic view allows you to see The Shard and along the River Thames to the London Eye and more. On clear days you can see the Crystal Palace transmitting station radio mast.

The Shard, Crystal Palace transmitter, London Eye and St Paul's.

But, for a truly great experience, sunset offers some amazing photo opportunities, which I hope to take the girls to see, later in the year.

Sunset.

There is also a mosaic and stone carvings to admire, towards the northwest of the viewing area.

'Ariel' by Boris Anrep (1883-1969).

'St George Combatant' by Sir Charles Wheeler (1892-1974).

Suitably impressed with the views Erin, Keilyn and I made our way to the lifts and headed off on the next part of our walk.

Viewing London

Sunset behind St. Paul's Cathedral, taken from One New Change.

With the Unfinished City constantly changing, as new buildings are added to its skyline on an almost yearly basis, it becomes increasingly difficult to find the perfect spots from which to see these remarkable buildings, from either up close and personal, or from an unobscured vantage point.

Thankfully, London has a number of great vantage points from which you can see some remarkable views, many of which are free, or fairly cheap.

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