Where and when to admire the most beautiful sunsets in London?<

The moment when the sky turns colorful and the sun goes down is ideal to admire the landscape. What are the best lookout points in London? How to predict a beautiful sunset?

London is a metropolis covered in vantage points perfect for admiring the setting sun, despite being relatively flat. However, some tips are good to know to enjoy the most beautiful colors in the heart of ideal landscapes. Where and when to find the most beautiful sunsets in London?

Finding the best vantage points in a sprawling, flat city

London covers 1,572km2, while rising to a maximum altitude of 245 meters at Biggin Hill. While the high points are very popular for admiring the sunsets, many lesser-known places are just as splendid at dusk in the metropolis. First of all, the countless skyscrapers in the city center obviously allow you to gain altitude and overlook London. The Shard is a building offering an accessible observation platform for everyone in Southwark, just like the Sky Garden in the heart of the City. Many rooftops, bars and restaurants also perch at the top of the city; we think in particular of the Duck&Waffle next to Liverpool Street or Sushisamba with Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian inspiration.

Several typical London activities also allow you to capture the sunset sky, such as the London Eye, or the cable car linking Greenwich to Royal Victoria station. These two options allow a view of London and its Thames, enhanced by the setting sun.

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For loyal admirers of the Thames, London's bridges are perfect for late-day sky-watching, linking north and south across the city. We can mention the London Bridge which offers a breathtaking view of the famous Tower Bridge, or Waterloo Bridge. Just look east! You can also stroll along the river on the quays at Southbank, for example.

Finally, London is known for having 33% of green spaces, with among them splendid landscapes that offer unique sunsets. To the east, Canary Wharf can be admired from the famous Greenwich Park, while to the west, Primrose Hill is known to be the city's favorite panoramic view. The examples are numerous and allow you to escape between nature and the metropolis, accompanied by the colors of the sky at the end of the day.

Which day should you choose to capture the most beautiful colors possible?

Several factors influence the beauty of a sunset, and knowing them in advance helps you know when to venture out to London with a view to admire the sky. First of all, the cloud cover: it should ideally be between 30% and 70%. In addition, low, thick and rain-laden clouds are to be avoided because they constitute a kind of filter. For a beautiful sunset, it is a question of favoring the high clouds, which reflect more colors.

We must also consider the humidity level, a detail of capital importance in England! The weaker it is, the more the colors will be vivid, which is why winter sunsets following several days of frost are often sublime. Pure air will make it possible to observe intense colors when the sun sets, whereas the latter will be attenuated when it is loaded with various particles: pollen, dust and pollution are the enemies of sunsets.

Finally, the wind. The latter is welcome to purify the sky, and add movement to the clouds, but it should not be too strong. If the force of the wind is too strong, the sky will be emptied because it will drive away the clouds allowing the presence of pretty shades.

It is true that London is not the best pupil to bring together the factors necessary for an ideal sunset. This does not prevent you from observing magnificent colorful landscapes on the banks of the Thames or at the top of a skyscraper.