Primrose Hill & Regent's Park at sunset
The best cheap seat in London, timed exactly right. Walked and written by the editor.

1. Primrose Hill summit
Go thirty minutes before sunset, not forty-five. The crowd peaks right at golden hour; the view is just as good from the north side of the summit, which is reliably emptier.

2. The bridge into Regent's Park
Cross the footbridge at the south end. The zoo's on your left; the rose garden is twenty minutes away.

3. Open Air Theatre
If something's running, stand outside the gates for three minutes; you can usually hear more than you'd expect. Better in summer.

4. Queen Mary's Gardens
The rose garden is peak London in June. In winter it's still the best-planted space in a royal park. Loop it clockwise.

5. Regent's Park tube
Exit via Broad Walk south and you're two minutes from the station. Or keep going to Great Portland Street if you want one more look back.

Primrose Hill & Regent's Park at sunset