The Highest Free London Attraction Closes After Water Leak
Horizon 22, Europe’s highest free public viewing gallery, has closed until further notice after a water leak affected parts of 22 Bishopsgate. The building will remain shut until its safety systems can operate fully again. Visitors with bookings have been contacted and told to check their email, while the attraction will announce a reopening date once repairs are complete.
What Visitors Need to Know
- Attraction: Horizon 22
- Location: 22 Bishopsgate, City of London
- Current status: Closed until further notice
- Reason: Water leakage inside the building
- Existing bookings: Ticket holders have been contacted
- Reopening date: Not yet confirmed
- Admission: Free
- Height: 254 metres above London
The viewing gallery opened in 2023 on level 58, 254 metres above London, and became popular because admission is free. Its windows overlook St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Shard and the Gherkin. Under the normal booking system, tickets are released every Monday at 10am for visits during the following 14 days, but new bookings are not useful until reopening is confirmed.
Visitors still have two free alternatives within the City. The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate occupies the 50th floor and offers admission-free skyline views, while Sky Garden combines viewing areas with indoor planting at 20 Fenchurch Street. Both accept advance bookings, and demand can be high. They are also close to Leadenhall Market, Monument, Tower Bridge and the riverside around the Tower of London.
Anyone planning a London skyline stop should remove Horizon 22 from the itinerary rather than waiting for a last-minute update. Ticket holders need to read the message sent by the attraction and book another viewpoint if the visit is time-sensitive. As no reopening date has been given, building a day around nearby City sights will make the plan easier to adjust if repairs take longer than expected.