We Googled “how to warm up a rooftop in winter.”
Thousands of matches.
Luckily, the people behind these brilliantly toasty winter rooftops and terraces have all taken a slightly more forthright approach, cozying up their spots with the likes of open fire pits, heaters, blankets, greenhouses, and – most essentially – hot cocktails. So allow us to introduce…
…London’s Best Winter Rooftops & Terraces for 2024.
WINTER ROOFTOPS
Ham Yard Hotel | Soho
The Ham Yard Hotel’s gorgeous, lantern-lit rooftop isn’t usually open to the public… except in winter, when they open their pop-up bar serving hot gin cocktails. This year the focus is on toasty twists on historical concoctions, from an orange-infused Hot Chocolata to 18th century hot toddies. Plus, there’s snacks like cacio e pepe flatbread and toasted s’mores to warm your cockles even further.
Details: Until 31st December | 1 Ham Yard, London, W1D 7DT | £24 inc. a welcome drink – book here
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Feast Off Piste | Knightsbridge
The rooftop at The Berkeley is a tad chilly in the winter, so they’ve decided to set up some ski gondolas, and fill them with mulled wine raclette, tartiflette with freshly shaved truffle, a milk chocolate fondue (with edible candles) and gingerbread s’mores to finish. Not too shabby.
Details: 14th November 2024 – 1st January 2025 | The Berkeley, Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL | £75
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Boundary | Shoreditch
By day, Boundary’s rooftop boasts a heated orangery filled with sparkly wintery trees; warming outdoor fireplaces and fur-lined seats; an Alpine menu with baked cheese and sherry trifle; and some wintry cocktails to wash it all down. By night, it’s the same, just darker.
Details: Open Tues-Sun 12-11pm | 2-4 Boundary St, E2 7DD | Walk-in only for drinks, book an orangery table here
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1864 Rooftop | Oxford Circus
What the location of 1864 Rooftop might lack in glamour, it more than makes up for in peculiarity: you’ll find it on top of the John Lewis department store on Oxford Street. And for the winter season, it’s got a get-up to rival the Christmas street lights six storeys below. You’ll find privately hireable heated igloos and wooden chalets tucked away up there, with festoon lighting and lanterns lavishing the place with festivity. Of course, the brandy-swilled mulled wine and Chocolate Orange Martinis don’t hurt, either…
Details: John Lewis, 300 Oxford St, London W1C 1DX | Make a booking at 1864 Rooftop
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Lodge d’Argent | The City
If you’re looking for a winter rooftop spot to have all to yourself, the City’s Lodge d’Argent is one you can bank on. Coq d’Argent has kitted out its two private rooftop chalets with faux fur throws, cognac cocktails and a menu of suitably wintry fare featuring melted cheese, charcuterie, and gingerbread cake.
Details: From 11th November | No. 1 Poultry, EC2R 8EJ | Min. spend £300, seats up to 6
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Los Mochis London City | Liverpool Street
Los Mochis’ 9th floor, 30,000sq ft rooftop bar and terrace is heated, covered, and comes with a socking great view of St Paul’s Cathedral – which you can enjoy alongside DJs, cocktails, and a roving Champagne trolley.
Details: 9th Floor, 100 Liverpool St, London EC2M 2AT | Book Los Mochis
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The Trafalgar St. James | St James’s
After a multi, multi-million pound facelift a few years back, The Trafalgar added blankets and outdoor heaters to its rooftop space, so you can enjoy their cocktails, nibbles, and eye-level views of Admiral Nelson in the winter, too.
Details: Open daily, but check ahead for closures due to private events | 2 Spring Gardens, Trafalgar Square, SW1A 2TS | Minimum spend £35-50pp, book here
WINTER TERRACES
Electric Winter at Between The Bridges | Southbank
This one’s pretty self-explanatory. The Bridges: Hungerford and Westminster, next to the Southbank Centre. The Between: a raucous, covered, 4,000sq ft terrace packed with street food vendors, bars, live music, DJs, karaoke, drag brunches, craft markets, and dancing to Christmas anthems with a big brass band.
Details: Open daily, 15th November – 31st December | Queen’s Walk, South Bank, SE1 7PB | Free entry, book ticketed events here
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Isla at The Standard | King’s Cross
The Standard hotel’s ground floor terrace restaurant is really anything but standard. The place looks like the cosy lair of a Bond villain who decided to throw it all in and enjoy the finer things in life, with a retro hanging-flue fireplace; sheepskin rugs; and a crowd-pleasing menu that will inevitably end the night with cinnamon-dusted doughnuts with chocolate cream.
Details: Open daily 7am-11pm | The Standard, 10 Argyle Street, London, WC1H 8EG | Book here
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Backyard Rum Lodge | Shoreditch
The Light Bar in Shoreditch has ensured all is bright on their heated terrace: converted to a winter rum lodge, it’s now a cosy, festoon-lit space serving rum-dingers like the Matcha Piña Colada and coffee-infused Buttered Rum Old Fashioned, as well as Hot Mulled Rum Ciders. There’s also a photobooth, just in case you later need reminding what happened post-Hot Mulled Rum Ciders.
Details: Wed-Sat, 5-11pm | 233 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6PJ | Book here
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Fire & Fromage | Southbank
How much raclette is it humanly possible to consume? What happens when you put that raclette into a burger? Is it wise to make hot dogs out of pigs in blankets? Find out the answer to these and many other questions at this year’s offering from pop-up king Jimmy Garcia, who’s hosting a cosy heated terrace with bottomless raclette on the Southbank.
Details: Daily until 31st December | Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX | Book Fire & Fromage
Looking for even more festivity? Check out our guide to Christmas lights in London 2024