Just because you have kids doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a (small) vino with a view catch up too!
As you would expect many rooftop bars don’t allow under 21 year olds up let alone under 18. And that makes sense – boozy cocktails, bottomless brunchers or overpriced fancy bubbles in a boujee setting – rooftops bars are very much an adult playground. But there are a surprisingly number that allow children.
So if you are a parent who wishes they could have an afternoon catch up with a cocktail or maybe more appropriately mocktail or maybe like me you are the awesome auntie and want to treat the teenagers to a day of London fun or it could be a 16th and special night out – then I’ve split the options into 3 categories: anytime, just daytime and no Saturdays but other random times!
Anytime rooftop access
The following rooftops allow children at any age any time, unsurprisingly also all double up as rooftop restaurants.
Alto 📍 Central London
601 📍 Wimbledon
Oxo Tower 📍Southbank
Mercato 📍 Mayfair
Vintry and Mercer 📍 Bank
Seabird 📍Blackfriars
Ariel 📍 White City
Daytime access only
Then we have those rooftop bars that have evening restrictions but children are allowed during the day:
Aviary 📍 Morgate 👨👩👧👦 Daily until 6pm
Bussey 📍 Peckham 👨👩👦👦 Daily till 5pm
Bokan 📍 Canary Wharf 👨👩👧👧 Daily to under 12’s till 8pm (age 12-18 anytime welcome anytime)
Radio Rooftop 📍The Strand 👩👩👦 Daily till 5pm
Skylight 📍Peckham 👩👩👦👦 Daily till 6pm
Skylight 📍 Wapping 👨👨👧👦 Daily till 6pm and Sunday families are encouraged
Culpeper 📍 Aldgate 👩👩👦👦 Daily till 8pm (but no lift)
Random rooftop access – but never Saturdays.
And lastly those that rule Saturdays out regardless of the time but do allow at other times:
Garden Rooftop 📍 Piccadilly 👩👩👦👦 Sun – Thursday anytime.
Dalston Roof Park 📍Dalston 👨👨👧👦 Wed – Fri & Sundays before 5pm
LSQ 📍 Leicester Sq 👩👩👦 Sun – Thurs before 6pm
Pergola 📍 Paddington 👨👦 Sun – Fri before 5pm
The Rooftop 📍 Trafalgar Sq 👨👨👦 Sun – Wed anytime
Free Rooftop Gardens
Lastly if you aren’t bothered about needing a bar or restaurant then London has two fantastic concrete jungle gardens that are free and children welcome!
120 Rooftop Garden 📍 The City
Cross Rail Garden 📍Canary Wharf
Hope you and your accompanying small people have fun! And they do need to be accompanied, teenagers can’t just rock up as a group… so time to ask your fun auntie to take you if that’s the case (yes I am one of those!)
Disclaimer: As with all rooftop bar info, it’s correct at time of publication but do always double check when you book as rules and times can change.