Overview

Horizon 22 is London's highest free viewing platform with 300-degrees views of London and it's most icon landmarks. It's very accessible with step free access and accessible toilets. Well worth visiting. It is free to visit, but pre-booking required, although there is the possibility of walk-ins subject to availability.

Transport & Parking

Horizon 22 is on Bishopsgate in the City of London. Liverpool Street Railway Station, which has step free access, is close by. Liverpool Street Tube Station is step free only on the Elizabeth Line, both directions, and east bound only for the Hammersmith and City, Circle and Metropolitan lines. Buses stop close by.

Access

Horizon 22 has step free access throughout. The lifts vary in size but are spacious. GROUND FLOOR The entrance on Bishopsgate is level to the pavement. There is a revolving door and a push button door. On the ground floor there is a spacious foyer, accessible toilet and twin escalators and lift that take you to the first floor. There is no seating. FIRST FLOOR On the first floor there is airport style security checks. Beyond this are twin lifts that are automatically programmed to take you to Level 58M. Level 58M Level 58M is a mezzanine floor, see photo. This is the smaller of the two viewing levels. There are floor to ceiling windows providing wonderful views looking towards North and West London. There is a long clear barrier along the length of the space, which you can lean onto. This is lacking any markers to stop people with visual impairments accidently walking into it. This needs to be addressed. However, there is NO seating on this floor. On this floor is also an accessible toilet. There is a staircase with handrails on both sides or twin lifts which go down to the main viewing area on Level 58. LEVEL 58 Level 58 is the main viewing level. It is much larger than the mezzanine floor above. Its also much larger than it first appears as it is has views on three side. One side has an identical view to the mezzanine except on Level 58 you get immediately close up to the windows. So you are able to look straight down onto the City below and across to West London. The next side overlooks the River Thames and South London, and then on the third side looks out to East London and Docklands. The views are so impressive. Please note, that when you get to the furthest part of the viewing gallery you have to retrace your steps to exit. However, there is very little seating. There is a cafe area which has three tables and chairs, at the bottom of the staircase. When we arrived all the chairs were occupied. However, someone very kindly offered me their chair, which was much appreciated. The chairs are small fold up chairs. They have back support but no arms. I had to ask my friend to support me when I got up as it was not very sturdy and there is nothing to help me transfer. These are the only chairs on this floor. EXIT When you take the lift to exit the building you come out round the back of the building, away from the entrance. This is level access with the pavement.

Toilets

There are two accessible toilets. Both accessible toilets have manual doors and the doors are quite heavy. No RADAR key needed. They are clean, tidy, new and well maintained. GROUND FLOOR ACCESSIBLE TOILET The accessible toilet in the foyer, on the ground floor by the entrance, just behind the escalators and next to the lift. It is the largest of the two. It is huge and spacious. If standard accessible toilets are a bit tight with your wheelchair, I would suggest if you arrive and need to use the toilet, use the ground floor as it will be much easier to turn, than waiting till you get up stairs. There are plenty of grab rails and an emergency cord that reaches towards the floor. There are handtowels and a hand dryer. Please note when you exit the building you leave from another door so you only pass this toilet on your way in. There is no accessible toilet by the ground floor exit. Level 58M The accessible toilet on Level 58M, the mezzanine floor, is next to the lifts. here are plenty of grab rails and an emergency cord that reaches towards the floor. There are handtowels but no hand dryer. This is the smaller of the two accessible toilets. Please be aware there is no accessible toilet on Level 58, the main viewing area, you will need to return to Level 58M if you want to use the toilet.

Staff

There are plenty of staff about and they are very welcoming and helpful. There is someone outside the building checking tickets. When I arrived and said I wanted to use the accessible door rather than the revolving door, they went over and opened it for me. There is then more staff in the foyer to assist. On the first floor there is airport style security. There is staff standing next to the main lifts on both first and Level 58M. The accessible lifts that go from ground to first floor and Level 58M to Level 58 don't have staff by them. However, there are staff on both Level 58M and Level 58. There are additional staff at the cafe counter. We raised with staff about the lack of seating and they said that they would feedback about that. Eric, one of the members of staff saw me at the far end of the viewing gallery struggling and offered to get me a chair, which he very kindly got for me. Staff said other visitors had commented on the lack of seating too.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Horizon 22 is fabulous. The views are wonderful, there's step free access, accessible toilets and very helpful staff. However, the lack of seating was a huge problem. There is no seating in the ground floor entrance or Level 58M. The seating on Level 58 is inadequate and not accessible. First there are only a few chairs by the cafe. By the time we got to this my pain levels were very high. I had pain in my lower back, and my right leg from groin to ankle. Even after resting and taking additional medication, I was still in pain, as I had to wait so long to get a seat. This detracted from an otherwise very pleasant visit. Please I would urge Horizon 22 to urgently review its seating. I would recommend. Seating on the ground floor entrance foyer, a chair being available for disabled people to sit if there is a queue/ wait for going through security, by the lifts, seating on Level 58M and better and more seating on Level 58. Chairs should be throughout Level 58 and not just as one end. As if your in pain, it feels a long way back to the exit. Type of seating should have back support and arms to help transfer. The fold up chairs in the cafe are small and fold up. There are not as secure or robust and other type chairs with better support should be provided. Manual wheelchairs for hire. Also on Level 58M the clear through barriers should have markers on them to stop people with visual impairments walking into them. I loved our visit, glad I went but personally I would be happy to return once the seating issue has been resolved as I was in a lot of pain and discomfort for most of the visit.

Photos