London Bridge Rooftop | It Does What It Says On the Tin
With such a cryptic name, you’d be forgiven for not knowing exactly what the London Bridge Rooftop was, so allow us to elucidate.
It’s a rooftop bar. In London Bridge.
More specifically, it’s sitting on top of the sixth floor of a brutalist, ’70s-era office building down on Tooley Street. You’ll know it when you see it, because it looks like a giant shoebox. Only the lid’s been lifted off, flipped upside down, and placed back on top to create a perfectly hemmed, open air space with a 360-degree panorama of the surrounding area.
To get up to London Bridge Rooftop, look for the old Bureau de Change – the entrance is hidden behind those doors. And prepare for a long walk, as there’s no lift (but “it will be good for your daily steps count”, they helpfully remind us).
The first thing you’ll notice when you’re up there is probably the Shard (making the London Bridge Rooftop a good option if you’re about to shell out on dinner at one of the Shard restaurants). It seems like you can almost reach out and touch it, and it feels very much like the younger, taller, annoyingly over-achieving office block sibling to the building you’re in. But then there’s also a laundry list of other iconic sights that command the London skyline from Tower Bridge to the London Eye, to St Paul’s, and the Tower of London, to name but a few. The space has blankets (no heaters though), a whole bunch of tables, atmospheric fairy lights, plenty of greenery, and even a few umbrellas just in case the weather turns. Oh, and a lot of cocktails.
Should you get peckish, London Bridge Rooftop duly obliges with a menu of Spanish dishes courtesy of The Black Pig With White Pearls, which — far from its proverbial origins — is making the most of the precious ingredients its been given by whipping them into dishes like grilled chorizo sarnies; jamon croquetas and patatas bravas.
House cocktails span from summery spritzes to clarified takes on the Pina Colada… and the bar’s well stocked with wine, craft beers on tap and G&Ts.
Which is another pleasant sight.
NOTE: London Bridge Rooftop is open daily. You con find out more, and book a table, at their website right HERE.
London Bridge Rooftop | Colechurch House, SE1 2SX
Looking for outdoor dining ideas? Behold our list of (really good) places to eat outside in London
The Nudge is an independent, searchable and highly-curated guide to the most interesting places to go and things to do in London, giving members unrestricted access to our full compendium of continually-updated restaurants, bars, events, exhibitions, date ideas, itineraries, member perks, weekend guides, monthly agendas and more – all delivered via our website, email newsletters & members’ app.
Join us to see what’s hot in London this week; to explore all of the recommendations & ideas stored within The Nudge’s website and members’ app; and to start making the most of life in London today. Start Free One Week Trial
Carpe Diem!