A Guide To The Best Cheap Rooftop Restaurants London

London is infamous for rooftop restaurants and bars with 360 views of the city landscape. What better way to spend the upcoming spring/ summer weather than with a cocktail and the London skyline.

Of course, there are some swanky world-class rooftop restaurants and bars, but there are also plenty of hidden, affordable spots that still boast panoramic city views of London. Arguably, some of these spots have the best views!

We know that London prices are not kind to your pockets, so we have come up with a guide to the best cheap rooftop restaurants in London to help you out. Who says you need to have money to enjoy a rooftop bar and a cocktail? We understand that the weather is nice, especially in the UK, there is a lot of pressure to be outside and spend money. But that doesn't have to be the case. We have found some great cheap rooftop restaurants in London to relax.

We have divided it up into each area of London, so everyone has an option. Each area of London will have a unique view from each side of London. It will be hard to decide which one to go to first!

The Best Rooftop Restaurants in South London

Franks

Franks is definitely up there with one of the cheapest spots in London; however, it arguably boasts one of the best views. Based in the south London area of Peckham, this rustic rooftop bar has cocktails on offer for as cheap as £6!

If you can put up with sitting on the floor or on the wall, it is a great option to catch a quick sunset on a summer's night with friends. It also offered sharing platters for £4.50; you can't go wrong. As cheap rooftop restaurants go, Franks is as best as it gets! It's a venue for every occasion, from a casual night after work or a chilled first date.

Queen Elizabeth

Have you ever thought you could have views of the London Eye, the house of parliaments whilst relaxing on a lawn? You can look no further than The Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden, located on the Southbank of the River Thames. This is the ultimate cheap rooftop bar for those looking to escape the stresses of city life.

This is great to enjoy on summer evenings with friends as a pitcher of Pimms is £22, split between friends is a bargain! It is also really accessible for buggies and wheelchairs, which is a plus for a rooftop bar in London. With the summer coming up, this is a winner in the sun. Stop off between a day of sightseeing in London for a Pimms or two; it would be rude to miss out on the views from this rooftop bar!

The Prince of Wales

One of the bigger rooftop restaurants in London, The Prince of Wales attracts more of the gen-z generation and can be found filled to the brim in the summer. The rooftop hosts several themed nights with music such as house, disco, reggae, and hip-hop on two levels. Book in early if you want to attend one of the infamous nights in the summer, get your tickets booked early.

This is a cheap rooftop south of the river in Brixton that is home to so many quirky and unique bars surrounding it. As this is a bit outside of central London, you get a different view from this venue unique to the South. This is a fun and great venue to spend those summer days.

The Best Rooftop Restaurants in West London

Radio rooftop bar

If you want to get a spot at this popular rooftop bar, you must get there early! With Tower Bridge and The Shard views, this is an ideal date spot. The nighttime views of London are breathtaking and complemented by a great atmosphere and candlelit sofas. It is on the 10th Floor of the ME Hotel; it is a glamourous rooftop restaurant in London without the glamourous price tag.

The menu consists of linguini, burgers and even tapas for a lighter bite to eat. You can not go wrong with this rooftop restaurant as it has views of some of the most iconic sights of London.

Skylark Roof Garden, Little Venice

Skylark Roof Garden is the perfect destination to feel like you are on in Venice, not Little Venice. The rooftop restaurants have lavish day beds with DJ events playing most weekends in the summer, which gives off Ibizia beach club vibes.

Skylark Rooftop Bar London (Secret London)

Relax all day on this rooftop, picking from the wide range of dishes from mussels to tiger prawns; the only thing that will be missing is the ocean! It has excellent views of the beautiful nothing hill colourfully streets and has space for up to 180 people. Room for everyone, this is a one of a kind experience in London as you escape away to the rooftop resort and feast on seafood.

Pergola

One of the largest rooftop restaurants in London, Pergola is one of the most popular rooftop locations. There is something for everyone here as there are multiple food markets for you to order from. There is Korean food, burgers, and Mediterranean food; the choices are endless.

This rooftop is affordable as it can be as expensive as you want it to be. With the option to order from several places, you can pick and choose where you want to buy. This is also a very Instgramable place for you to snap a picture of yourself and your cocktail. The long tables mean that you can invite your whole friendship group down to enjoy yourself as there is a space for a big group to enjoy the rooftop restaurants.

The Best Rooftop Restaurants in North London

Alfies rooftop kitchen

Alfie's rooftop kitchen is an authentic restaurant in the heart of North London. It is the perfect setting for lunch, brunch or afternoon tea, which is an amazing deal of child and a cider for £6.50. Who says rooftop restaurants in London have to be fancy cocktails and 5 stars dinners.

It is located on top of Alfie's Antique Market, where you can browse and find some gems before heading up the foot with panoramic views over London's rooftops. The terrace is spacious and has a sun trap, making it ideal for relaxing and sitting back in the summer without breaking the bank.

The castle

The castle is a lovely spot in North London to relax in the summer and enjoy a drink or two. It offers a rooftop BBQ serving, burgers, hot dogs, and even vegetarian options in the summer. Sports fans will love this one as it has big screens showing live screenings of the biggest matches and games. I know Henry loves to find a beer garden to watch football in the summer. Hence, the castle is a good compromise as you can still enjoy the rooftop restaurant with views of London whilst watching sports.

The Castle also offers a Sunday roast (one of Robyn's favourite things to do on a Sunday!) It has vegan options, so again catering for all needs. This is the perfect chilled out rooftop space to enjoy with an affordable price tag.

Near & Far

Near the punk rock area of Camden, Near & Far has the opposite aesthetic of the glamorous Calfornia. The so-cal vibe here has beautiful palm trees, bright neon signs and fabulous floors. This is one of the trendiest spots in North London, with a heated rooftop restaurant and many tropical drinks that will transport you straight to the US! It is a far cry from the grungey streets of Camden.

The food on this rooftop restaurant is Mexican and very adorable. It is also gluten-free! You really will feel like you are on holiday at this place and it is really an excellent option for any occasion.

The Best Rooftop Restaurants in East London

The Culpeper

Looking for a garden in the sky? The Culpeper offers a green space in the centre of London, boasting a great menu and beautiful cocktails. To top it off, it is a rooftop restaurant; what more could you want on a summer afternoon! The unique element of this rooftop restaurant is that it grows its own vegetables on the roof, which are used in the kitchen!

Try the mackerel with pickled beetroot and lemon to taste the homegrown vegetables! Or, try a cocktail served from their quaint greenhouse bar, where they are infused with herbs sourced in their own garden. Not only all of this but it is cheap and affordable for London! This charming rooftop restaurant is an excellent pick for you to bask in the sun!

Queen of Hoxton

In the hip and quirky area of Shoreditch, this rooftop restaurant in London is a popular summer hangout. The rooftop bar is split across 3 floors and even has a basement; you can spend the whole day here if you want to continue your night with regular DJ or live music nights!

The roof is unique and quirky, reminiscent of a music festival with rainbow colours, fake grass and glimmering fairy lights, which look very pretty at night. It also has a great BBQ pit which serves authentic, delicious food alongside cocktails starting from £6! What more could you want from a cheap rooftop restaurant and bar than affordable cocktails, amazing food, beautiful views and the option to party downstairs. There really is something for everyone at the Queen of Hoxton!

Netil 360

It's in the name; this rooftop restaurant has 360 views of east London. Netil 360 is the dreamy location for sunbathing, drinking, working, or seeing incredible art. It is the ideal location to spend all day in the summer as you can book a desk for the day and enjoy the views whilst 'working from home'. The place is decorated with fairy lights and even a disco ball.

The menu consists of vegan food, sourdough bread, light bite options, and even alcoholic lollies. So whether you want to enjoy a few drinks or eat some delicious food, Netil 360 offers that. It also has a small gallery displaying some of London artists' work.

The Best Rooftop Restaurants in Central London City

Madisons

With a spectacular view of St Paul's cathedral, this spot is breathtaking for sunset dinner and drinks on the rooftops of London. This spot is perfect for them Insta shots to make all of your friends jealous. Not only does this rooftop restaurant host insane views, but it also offers some lovely food such as buttermilk chicken and baby back ribs.

You may be thinking, how can a rooftop restaurant in the heart of London be cheap? Surprisingly the wines and beers start from £6! For central London, their prices are unmatched. Obviously, there are more expensive items on the menu. However, for those of us on a budget, you can still hang out in the cool luxurious spots in London. With the weather warming up, this is a fabulous choice for a more memorable evening with the girls or a date night where you might want to dress up for the occasion.

Vista at the Trafalgar square

This hidden gem is a real find for those who might find themselves playing tourist for the day! Located on the top of the Trafalgar hotel, there is no other rooftop restaurant in London with the same view over Trafalgar square. Enjoy cocktails from £8 (yes £8 cocktails in London exist, even on rooftop bars!) with a view of Nelson's Column.

Vista is also a perfect people-watching stop during the week and weekends. During the week, it is a highly dense working area directly opposite Whitehall, with landmarks such as 10 Downing Street. However, thousands of tourists come past during the weekend as it is also only down the road from Buckingham Palace. This makes this bar even more appealing as you can sit above the hustle and bustle of the city in a cheap rooftop restaurant with a fantastic view.

Sushi Samba

Sushi samba has some of the most stunning views from the 38th floor of the Heron Tower. One of the highest rooftop restaurants in London, you'll be guaranteed Insta worthy views. You can dine inside or out, perfect for summer and winter as they have heaters to accommodate all weather conditions. A Japanese inspired menu, you can pick from various dishes that offer a host of flavours.

Sushi Samba has exceptional views of The Gherkin and The Shard, especially from the rooftop terrace. The great thing about Shushi Samba is that although it is a rooftop restaurant, it can also be a great hangout with some friends. This gives you the ability to decide your budget and how much you want to spend. That is also the great thing about the small plates, as you can really enjoy this luxurious rooftop location without having to fork out a small fortune.

Our Favourite Rooftop Restaurants London

These might not be the cheapest options like some of the above. However, they are some of our favourites we have tried so far. We think you can make anything as cheap as you want if you are smart with your money.

Duck and Waffle

Duck and waffle were one of our favourite rooftop restaurants as we think it delivered on all bases. The food was terrific, and of course, we both opted for the duck and waffle special and were not disappointed. Our favourite dish was the octopus and chorizo starter as the flavours were out of this world. Not only that, the views were beautiful to watch as day became night. There is not one bad seat in the house as each seat provides an equally good view.

The staff were super helpful and even let us move seats when we asked. They were well educated on the wine list and helped us pick a tasty bottle of red wine. We really enjoyed our night and would definitely return. However, it is probably more of a unique occasion rooftop restaurant rather than someone you pop on a spontaneous day out in London.

The Sky Garden

The iconic sky garden arguably has the best views in London. Not only that, it quite literally is a garden in the sky. Walk around the circumference of the floor to see each angle of London. You really do capture each side of London from all 4 sides. It really is breathtaking and an ideal setting for a date or night with friends. When we went, we enjoyed walking around the garden and picking out what we could see before sitting down and enjoying a charcuterie board and a bottle of red (can you see a theme!)

During our visit, a live band and singer came on the stage as day turned to night and set a really great atmosphere for the night. There is also a restaurant you can go here and enjoy a proper meal which we didn't opt for on this occasion but is somewhere we would like to go to in the future. So if you do go, let us know; we would love to hear!

Our Favourite Rooftop Restaurants London - The Sky Garden

The best thing about the Sky Gardens rooftop venue is that you can just go up and walk around and take some pictures on the balcony without a booking or intention to drink or eat. So, if you are on a budget but still want to impress your friends with your social plans, then this is a great option to go and try out.

Bussey Rooftop

We think that sometimes the best views of London are not necessarily in the city's centre. You can get an equally outstanding view from afar. Bussey rooftop has this as you can look into the city from the outside. This rooftop restaurant is an excellent venue in the summer and is known for its great music events held. We love the Bussey rooftop for the summer days when you want to have a drink and soak up the sun with some funky tunes.

Bussey is great for spontaneous nights and a cheap option. The food is provided by Share the Slice and is super tasty. This is the most affordable option and the most casual choice out of all of our top picks. Nevertheless, it does not take away from the good times you can have here. Our favourite food from here was the anchovy bread, which is so unique and seriously yummy!

Talking of spontaneous things to do, why don’t you check out our previous blog on spontaneous things to do with your boyfriend!

To Conclude

Wherever you end up in London, you won't be far from a fantastic rooftop restaurant in London. The city hosts a vast range of choices that will suit everyone.

One of our favourite things about London is being able to escape the concrete jungle and take in the views that are hidden from below. It is so easy to get caught up in the maze of the streets and forget how stunning it looks from above and from all angles.

We know London is not the cheapest of cities, and this can be a worry for many embarking on London this summer, so we hope this list has provided some options to help put your mind at ease. As mentioned throughout, all these options can be made cheaper if you are careful.

We always pick places with deals when we are on a budget but don't want to miss out. This could be placed with 2 4 1 cocktails or a place that offers small bites or side plates. This means you can still enjoy the same venue as everyone else without paying ridiculous amounts!

So be aware and look out for deals, but more importantly, just enjoy yourself! Do let us know if you try any of the options above and if you have any suggestions of secret gems we may have missed. Enjoy your bottomless brunches!

A Guide to The Best cheap rooftop restaurants london