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Discover Bishopsgate’s 3 best spots for your trip in London

From the classic 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin) and Polo Bar - 24 Hour Great British Cafe, to lesser-known spots worth adding to your trip.

Prices & booking information
Opening hours & visit duration
Best time to visit
Location & practical information
Local tips for every spot

🏛️Landmark$$ · Mid-range

30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin)

★ 4.6 · 5,973 reviews

Discover the Gherkin, London's unmistakable cucumber-shaped glass tower rising above the City's financial district. Admire Norman Foster's lattice-clad design from street level, or, with a booked event, take in skyline views from inside this modern landmark.

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Reasons to go

Designed by Norman Foster and completed in 2004, standing 180 metres (591 feet) tall.
Its tapered lattice form, which inspired the 'Gherkin' nickname, was built on the site of the former Baltic Exchange, damaged in a 1992 IRA bombing.
The tower's diagrid shell allows it to spiral open panels for natural ventilation, an unusual feature for a skyscraper of its era.

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Typical visit

45 min

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Walking intensity

Easy pace

🥐Breakfast$$ · Mid-range

Polo Bar - 24 Hour Great British Cafe

★ 4.4 · 5,783 reviews

Drop into Polo Bar near Liverpool Street whenever hunger strikes, day or night. Grab a classic British breakfast or lunch without a reservation, in a no-frills spot loved by locals for its reliable, round-the-clock service.

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Reasons to go

Family-run since 1959, it has served customers opposite Liverpool Street Station around the clock for over six decades.
It holds a 24-hour alcohol licence, with an upstairs bar operating alongside the ground-floor café.
It's particularly known for its full English breakfast and pancakes, served any hour of the day or night.

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Typical visit

🚶

Walking intensity

Easy pace

🥐Breakfast$$$ · Expensive

Duck & Waffle

★ 4.4 · 17,150 reviews

Discover Duck & Waffle, perched on the 24th floor of the Heron Tower. Tuck into the signature crispy duck leg, fried egg, and maple-mustard waffle while soaking in sweeping panoramic views of London's skyline.

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Reasons to go

Located at the top of Heron Tower, one of London's tallest skyscrapers, near Liverpool Street
Signature dish is crispy duck leg with a fried duck egg and waffle drizzled in mustard maple syrup
Its high floor makes it a spot to catch aerial events over the city, such as the King's birthday flypast

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Typical visit

1h30

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Walking intensity

Easy pace