SKY GARDEN Park Garden

Though it’s officially 20 Fenchurch Street, Londoners have christened Rafael Viñoly’s newest skyscraper the “Walkie Talkie” for its unusual shape which widens at the summit. Construction of the office complex was completed early in 2014, but its final asset has only just opened: the top three floors comprise a publicly accessible, cloud-busting conservatory dubbed the Sky Garden. Even better, access is entirely free: You simply make a timed entrance reservation in advance on its website (note: security is essentially airport-style, restricting liquids to 3 oz and requiring full X-rays before you hop the elevator to the summit). Sky Garden houses three restaurants, though the upscale spots Fenchurch and Darwin Brasserie are workmanlike at best; if you need a pit stop, book one of the tables in the main atrium’s SkyPod Bar for a coffee or cocktail amid greenery which spills down the stepped terrace. London’s storied Kew Gardens consulted on the gardening project, which has created ample quiet corners amid the greenery for suited City types to swap stock tips in secret—look for one of the small wood stump stools dotted amid the fronds if you want to eavesdrop. The real lure, though, is the extraordinary views from the top of the fifth-highest skyscraper in the city, 525 feet above the sidewalk. Brace yourself for the brisk winds that nonetheless whip around the shielded observation deck on its southern side. First, crane east to get an unbeatable aerial view of both Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Then south across the Thames, enjoy the stunning views of Europe’s tallest tower, the triangular, half-transparent Shard, while to the west you can spot the London Eye on the horizon.