The 5 Best Sunset Spots in London (+ When to Go)

Have you been looking for the best place to watch the sunset in London? I’ve spent months in London, and while it can be tough because of the weather, when it’s nice, you can’t miss a sunset here.

I’ve spent a ton of time in London and come up with lots of tips for what to do when you visit. If you’re planning a trip, here’s what you shouldn’t miss in London.

Best time to see the sun set

In London, the weather can be really questionable, but in spite of that, I’ve seen the sun set multiple times during every trip I’ve taken.

The summer tends to be the best time to see the sun set since the sky is usually less cloudy, but that is a day to day situation.

If it’s a good day to see the sun set in London, you need to take advantage of it!

Best places to watch the sun set in London

While the sunsets are super unpredictable, here are the locations that I’ve had a lot of luck with when looking for the sunset in London.

TLDR: The IFS Cable Car is the best way to watch the sunset in London.

1. IFS Cloud Cable Car

My absolute favorite place to watch the sun set is from up in the IFS Cloud Cable Car. You need to take the one from Royal Docks so that you’re going in the right direction to catch the sunset.

This cable car gives you a 360 view of the city, and it’s much cheaper than a lot of the other rooftops around. 

You can take the cable car one way or both ways, but I’d recommend that you go one way from Royal Docks unless you need to return to Royal Docks.

The whole ride takes about 10 minutes, so it’s very important that you time it right so that the sun has already started to set by the time you get on the cable car. If you end up doing it early, you can always do it in the other direction too and sit on the other side.

It’s a very affordable option, and if you take it west (from Royal Docks), it takes you into the sunset rather than away from it.

2. Primrose Hill

Primrose Hill offers some gorgeous views of the London skyline, so even if you aren’t visiting for sunset, you should make sure you check out this viewpoint.

While it might be tough to see the physical sun since there are a lot of buildings in the way, you can watch the sky turn pink. Plus, it’s high enough up so you have a higher chance of catching the sun as it dips below the buildings.

The sunsets here are better in the winter because the sun is closer to the city, rather than setting in the opposite direction of the cityscape. 

No matter what time of year, Primrose Hill is a beautiful place to watch the sun set.

3. The Tide

The Tide is a really cool spot located near the cable cars in Greenwich. This sunset location is another spot where you can watch the sun set with the skyline as a backdrop.

It isn’t quite as tall as some of the other spots, but still a really great view.

When you climb the stairs to the top of The Tide, there is a gorgeous view and you can check out the buildings from there. It’s around an outdoor shopping center, so you can do a little bit of people watching from up there too.

Nearby, you’ll see the River Thames in case you want to walk along the river or see what it’s like to watch the sunset from there too.

4. Putney Bridge

The Putney area really surprised me. I lived there for a few weeks, and was quite skeptical of the area at first. Once I saw the sunset over the Putney Bridge though, I started to fall in love with this area.

I did daily sunset walks here and each time I saw these insanely beautiful sunsets lighting up the sky. The sun would set right in front of me on the River Thames, and I could always catch it before it dipped below the buildings. 

There is a park called Fulham Palace right next to it as well, and it’s a beautiful place to watch the sunset. I went on a run around that area, and if you cross the bridge to the other side, you’d catch a nice sunrise there too. 

If you want to see the physical sun, not just the colors, your best chance for it is on the Putney Bridge in this area.

5. By Boat (headed west)

One of my favorite ways to see the sunset is when I’m on a boat, especially since the buildings often block the view around London. There are a few different ways to see the sun set by boat.

One option is to do a boat tour that happens during sunset. That can be a bit difficult since a lot of the tours are only during the day or end earlier. A tour that I thought was very worth it is this River Thames Evening Cruise. That particular tour even includes champagne and canapes.

Another option, if you have a bit of a lower budget, is an Uber boat headed west. I’m a big fan of this option, but a lot of the boats are different and some of them don’t have outdoor areas. 

If you’re doing an Uber boat, I’d recommend getting on one that goes past the Tower Bridge. I captured this insanely beautiful sunset in front of that bridge here, so if you like that, you’ll want to go that way.

Westminster is another nice area to see at sunset if you’re on the water as well.

Time for some sunset chasing…

When the sun is out in London, you seriously need to make sure you can catch a sunset since they’re really magical in the city.

If you want some more advice on things to do in the city, here are some of my favorite things to do in London. If you want a full guide with hundreds of tips, then you’d love my London Travel Guide, especially if you like learning about hidden gems and local spots.

Enjoy these great spots to see a gorgeous sunset if you’re in or around London.

Have any questions about finding the sunset in London? Comment below or DM me on Instagram @LizsGreatPerhaps