Londons coolest rooftops
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As summer makes an appearance, London comes alive with al fresco delights.
The capital has seen its best ever year for visitors, with millions flocking to explore historic sites and take in special exhibitions.
But when you're not soaking up London's culture, what better way to enjoy your city break than with unparalleled views across the city?
Capital views: London is packed with rooftop restaurants and bars
Rooftop bars are all the rage and there are plenty to keep you entertained, from the highest outdoor dining terrace in Europe to an outdoor film club with a view.
Mail Online Travel has teamed up with British Airways High Life Magazine to bring you the best of London's rooftop bars for a spot of sunshine and socialising....
Killer views: The Shard's Sushisamba is the perfect spot to sip cocktails and take in the city skyline at its best
Sushisamba
A lofty skyscraper terrace rather than your average 'rooftop', Sushisamba's 38th-floor space is the highest outdoor dining terrace in Europe.
Whizz up to the venue in the 30-second glass-fronted lift for your first great view of the city and enjoy your second sipping a Kaffir lime-infused 'Kaffirinha' with a superior view of The Gherkin (sushisamba.com).
Sky high: The Rooftop Film Club brings classic films to venues such as Peckham's Bussey Building
Rooftop film club
British Airways has partnered with London pop-up screenings Rooftop Film Club to bring a selection of cool and classic movies to some of the best rooftop spaces in the city this summer.
Over 170 films will be shown atop trendy venues such as Peckham's Bussey Building and Shoreditch's Queen of Hoxton.
You'll enjoy Casablanca or The Lego Movie in a comfy chair, with blankets and wireless headsets for the feel of an in-flight movie (Tickets from £13; rooftopfilmclub.com).
Pimms o'clock? Head to Netil House in Hackney which is famous for its arts and events spaces
Netil 360
A Hackney hero, Netil House's rooftop last year hosted a series of summer parties and this year is launching with a new look after extensive renovations.
Parties and events like a Wimbledon-themed Pimms garden party will rock the top of this 'creative community' building, which is famous for its arts and events spaces, as well as a 360-degree views of London (netil360.com).
Get a pizza the action: Forza Win in the East End serves up delicious grub and stunning views
Forza Win
Championing 'seasonal communal dining', Forza Win's young, entrepreneurial team last year hosted wood fired-oven pizza dinners on a rooftop in Commercial Street in London's East End.
Punters enjoyed live music, ordered drinks from a bar in a shed and ate freshly baked pizza sprinkled with herbs grown on the rooftop.
This year there are rumours of a South Bank pop up, as well as events in Manchester (forzawin.com).
Frankly marvelous: The best views from South East London are found on the top of a carpark, at Frank's cafe
Frank's Café
This southeast London legend opens each summer on top of a car park in Peckham, a growing hub of cool venues.
Frank's will open for the summer in early June and serves bar snacks, cocktails and craft beers (frankscafe.org.uk).
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Skylounge
This bar, perched on the top of the Doubletree by Hilton hotel near the Tower of London, has views of The Shard and The Gherkin either side and has just launched its summer menu of fresh, exotic bites and cocktails.
This summer look out for a Peroni bar pop up and a tequila cantina hosted by Jose Cuervo (doubletree3.hilton.com).
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Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall
You can always count on the Southbank Centre for a fun summer offering, and 2014 is no exception with an Eden Project-designed roof garden popping up on Queen Elizabeth Hall.
This urban oasis has riverside views, a café from Company of Cooks, fruit trees and wild flowers. Order a cider and pretend you're in the countryside.
Open now until late September (southbankcentre.co.uk).
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South Place Hotel
This relative newcomer to the City has a lively rooftop bar which plays host to east London-style parties and gigs.
The line up for this summer includes events hosted by Glasgow's Sub Club and Edinburgh's Notsosilent, plus DJ sets from Eton Messy and Maurice Fulton ().
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Tom's Kitchen Terrace Somerset House
Tom Kitchin's Brit-cool restaurant in the ever-lovely Somerset house also has an al fresco terrace overlooking the Thames, where you can order cocktails and light bites from Tom's menu.
Open from April until the end of September (Somerset House, London WC2R 1LA).
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Bird of Smithfield
Chef Alan Bird, formerly of The Ivy, last year launched his own restaurant spread over five floors in Farringdon.
Its rooftop terrace overlooks the towers of the old Smithfield Market and serves great British bar food, wine and cocktails (26 Smithfield St, London EC1A 9LB).
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Boundary
The Conran group-owned Boundary venue is a mash-up of art space, restaurant and accommodation, but one of its main draws is its year-round rooftop bar and grill.
Now scented by herbs and draped with grape vines, this summer the terrace is set to host 'seafood Sundays' with 50% off all shellfish every Sunday from 8pm (2-4 Boundary St, London E2 7DD).
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Berkeley Hotel
This Knightsbridge hotel's spa has a rooftop pool terrace worthy of St Tropez or the Caribbean. Think views across Hyde Park, sun loungers, flavoured water to sip and, this spring/summer, a new menu of light snacks, wine and champagne.
The terrace is open to hotel residents, spa members and day spa guests (Wilton Pl, Knightbridge, London SW1X 7RL).
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COPPA
Hackney Italian LARDO is opening a summer sibling, COPPA, on a rooftop in E8 for the second summer running.
The rooftop bar and rosticerria will serve a southern Italian menu to guests in deckchairs and at tables with checked tablecloths for a feel of classic summer time, plus views of London Fields.
Opens 24 May until end of September (Hothouse rooftop, access via Martello Street, London E8 3QW).
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Proud Camden
It's best known as a gallery, burlesque-themed restaurant, nightclub and gig venue, but did you know Proud Camden also has a terrace bar?
Open seven days a week, and often with live music from 4pm, it has a Jacuzzi, bar, café-style seating and a great view of the charismatic Chalk Farm Road (The Horse Hospital, The Stables Market, Chalk Farm Rd, London NW1 8AH).
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Queen of Hoxton
This legendary East End venue never disappoints with its summer specials, and this year Rooftop Summer Club opens on 17 April.
Its urban space will be jazzed up with ice cream shades of pink, yellow and blue, plus a grassy green floor, and a design installation called the Whirl-oscope, a kaleidoscopic carousel with a rotating 360-degree view of the city.
Look out for yoga, origami and astronomy workshops as well as silent discos and a menu of burgers and spiked ginger beer (1-5 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3JX).
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Aqua Spirit
A hybrid of Spanish and Japanese restaurant, Aqua London is hidden away high above Oxford Circus and has two roof terraces. Try a sake on Aqua Kyoto's terrace and enjoy a spot of people watching – Aqua attracts a well-heeled after work crowd (5th Floor, 240 Regent St, London W1B 3BR).
Radio Rooftop
Radio Rooftop Bar
Opened last spring just off of Covent Garden, the ME London hotel's fashionable look and feel certainly extends to its exclusive rooftop bar.
This summer sees the launch of a new 'Tapas con Vistas' menu from 28 April, giving a nod to the Spanish heritage of this Melia hotel, as well as its usual glamorous, London-themed cocktails (336-337 The Strand, London WC2R 1HA).
The June edition of British Airways High Life is available now.
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