Looking down on London, January 2017
Looking down on a city gives a sense of scale, helps position key locations in your mind and can bring a breath of fresh air to your adventures.
I love walking through a city, meeting people, peering through doorways, enjoying reflections in windows, peeping round corners, … But clambering up ramps and stairs for the freedom of gazing down always wins me over, even though it is invariably mixed with my fear of heights.
This year, I will be bringing you views across London, from a variety of viewpoints. Some of these are my regular haunts, others will be new ones for me.
To kick of the year, my January views are from a classic viewpoint, at the top of St Paul’s Cathedral. Any time of year, any time of day (but especially at sunset), this is a must-do clamber if you are up to mastering 528 steps.
The galleries are usually open 09:30 – 16:30 and the entrance fee for an adult turning up on the day is currently £18. Full details can be found here.
Note added Feb 2017: the viewing galleries will be closed fore several weeks in March, April and May 2017- check carefully before your trip.
Copyright Debbie Smyth, 31 January 2017
Part of Changing Seasons
Travel with Intent 
They’re fantastic Debbie and well done for making it up all those stairs!! I really need to find some accessible high points in London to shoot from.
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The new viewing gallery at Tate Modern? Shard? I’m trying to think of something more unusual but haven’t come up with it yet.
On Wed, Feb 1, 2017 at 11:42 PM, Travel with Intent wrote:
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I do like going up the Shard but even with using a polarising filter I still get a lot of glare problems from the glass. I need to work out angles on the map and look for promising locations!
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Great shots, Debbie. There seems to be quite a lot of construction going on in the city. And that skyline is nothing like I thought London would be. Too modern. I crave older architecture but some of those glass and metal buildings are really something!
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There’s plenty of old stuff too. I suppose that is one of the aspects of views from on high – the tall modern buildings stands out. I’m easily pleased and like the old and the new, on the whole. But I’ll see if I can get some “older” views for you for next month!
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I would appreciate it! 🙂
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How does the view from St. Paul’s compare to the one from the London Eye?
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Closer views of the Gherkin and other buildings in the city, plus the Millennium Bridge. And a view of the London Eye!
I will reveal more later in the year when I feature the London Eye!
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Great vistas, Debbie! ❤
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Lovely photos Debbie 🙂
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“A breath of fresh air”???
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a blast of cold wind, really
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looking forward to your many views of London….
and how awesome you are able to manage your fear of heights to site see – photograph and meet people!
oh and I dropped my hat in st paul’s cathedral – back in the 80s – needed help from a guard to get it –
anyhow, your photos here are beautiful
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Oh, I was going to say I’ll look out for it next time I’m there, but sounds like you got it back!
It’s a fantastic building, isn’t it! I wish I could share the internal views from the Whisper Gallery but photos aren’t allowed.
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ha – you are funny!
and too bad photos are not allowed
— anyhow, your series sounds great – and already from this post I see London’s skyline in a new light – had not idea of how many cool buildings are there.
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