The Gherkin is a fascinating piece of architecture. When I am walking through the City of London, the oldest part of London, it always catches me off guard. I love how it juts up above the medieval churches and 18th century synagogue nearby.
It’s one of the most interesting buildings in London, often referred to as the Faberge egg or bullet building. However, most Londoners call it the Gherkin, which means cucumber pickle.
Keep reading - I’ve included details about what you can expect to see here, the restaurant on-site, and the viewing area.
I’ve also included some thoughts from other fellow travellers from our London Travel Tips Facebook Page.
Let's get started!
- Overview
- Searcy's Restaurant
- The View From Searcy's
- Where to See the Gherkin
- Tips From Locals and Travelers
OVERVIEW
One of the most recognisable parts of London’s skyline, The Gherkin captured world attention when it opened in the early 2000s.
It’s officially named 30 St. Mary Axe, but no one calls it that! By the way, St Mary Axe is the name of the street it sits on – that’s the name of an ancient church nearby.
On the top floor – the 40th – there is a bar for workers and their guests that provides a panoramic view of London. There is also a restaurant on the 29th floor and private dining facilities on the 38th.
Although it’s not currently open to the public, many of my tour guests like to head to the Gherkin for photographs and to see it in person.
If you do go, make sure you look out for a strange memorial plaque outside – the remains of Roman girl were discovered here during construction.
She was likely buried here around 350 AD and was reburied after the building was complete.
SEARCY'S AT THE GHERKIN
The Gherkin is home to a restaurant called Searcys Helix on the 39th floor.
Alternatively, you can also visit the Iris bar on the very top floor.
While most fine dining establishments in London can be quite pricey, the Helix offers a variety of set menu deals throughout the year.
At the moment, they are offering 2 courses for £49 and 3 courses for £57, but you have to book in advance. The food is delicious!
I recommend reserving your spot at either the bar or restaurant well ahead of time.
If you plan to visit the bar, you can expect to pay around £8 - £15 for drinks.
When compared to ticket prices for the View from the Shard, which are upwards of £29 per person, you can actually save money by going to the Gherkin bar.
That said, it should be noted that the Shard also has several restaurants and bars you can visit without paying for access to the observation deck.
The View from Searcy's
Each of these locations offers fantastic views of the city in addition to excellent food and drinks.
The major difference between this viewing location and others in London is that you will have to make reservations ahead of time in order to visit.
This photo of Searcys at The Gherkin is courtesy of TripAdvisor
It should be noted that at 40 stories high, the Gherkin isn’t quite as tall as the Shard.
Although you may enjoy a better view with the opportunity to see more from that observation deck, there are still a few good reasons to choose this location instead.
For one thing, the Gherkin is surrounded by a lot of notable buildings in the area, ensuring you’ll have plenty to see from the top of the structure.
As a matter of fact, there is a relatively unobstructed view of the Shard!
Another excellent reason to consider visiting is the unique perspective, as the design of the Gherkin ensures an almost unobstructed 360-degree view of the city and the sky above.
Best Places to See the Gherkin
If you’d like to get great views of Norman Foster’s masterpiece, you can, of course, gaze up at it from its base, on St Mary’s Axe.
However, you won’t get the full view – it’s best seen from up high. Try one of the following viewpoints to see the Gherkin in its full glory.
- Sky Garden - Sky Garden is one of the best places to see the Gherkin, but you need to act fast. Tickets, which are free, are usually released 3 weeks in advance, and they get snapped up quite quickly.
- Horizon 22 – An even higher viewpoint, Horizon 22 is quickly becoming a popular alternative to Sky Garden for those who want to see the best of London’s skyline.
- Duck and Waffle – A London favourite, this 24-hour casual fine dining restaurant gives you amazing views across the city, including the very best views of the Gherkin. It’s located on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate Building.
- London Eye – The London Eye will allow you to catch a glimpse of the Gherkin, but it isn’t the best view because of other buildings in the way.
Tips From Locals and Travelers
While we try our best to provide all the information you'll need to see the Gherkin, there's always a possibility that we might have missed something.
Thankfully, we have a Facebook Group with over 150,000 members called London Travel Tips, where users can ask locals and travelers their thoughts about attractions like this.
Here are some of the more helpful comments we were able to find about the Gherkin:
If you're looking for a good place to see this unique structure, the 110 Bishopgate building has a nice little cafe on the 40th floor where you can enjoy excellent views of the Gherkin.
That said, many people recommend going to Searcys in the Gherkin as well, as it's considered to be one of the best restaurants in the city.
For even more helpful suggestions, consider checking out our London Travel Tips Facebook Group and asking your own questions!
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