If you’re looking to amp up your next dining experience, London in the Sky is just the thing. Dine 100ft suspended in the air with fine wine, mouthwatering food and the entire city rolled out beneath you…
I peer down at the ground that is rapidly becoming further away and wonder to myself just who came up with the idea that it would be fun to attach a table to a crane and suspend diners 100ft in the air for a gourmet meal experience. Yet while it is undoubtedly surreal, it is also one of the best things that I have ever done. It turns out a dash of adrenaline is the perfect accompaniment to any meal. And when coupled with an expertly crafted menu, fine wine and the whole of London sprawled beneath you, it would be pretty hard to top. The experience is called London in the Sky and literally takes dining out to a whole new level.
London in the Sky runs eight flights a day – two Breakfasts, Prosecco & Cake, two Lunch flights, Cocktails and finally two evening Dinners (1hr). Whichever flight you’re on, you can expect to be impressed, awed and disappointed that your dining table at home will never feel quite so exciting.
My experience took place at lunchtime and luckily the weather was warm and not too breezy. There is a waiting area on the ground with a beautiful bar where you can sip champagne to celebrate (or calm your pre-flight jitters) and soak up the atmosphere. One of the most frequently asked questions we have had since our experience is “what happens if you need the toilet when you are up there?!” The flight is an hour so you should be fine, however, it is advised that you head to the bathroom before your ascent into the clouds.
Each table holds twenty-two people and you are strapped in with a harness so you feel completely safe. The chairs can rotate offering you panoramic views of the city – particularly the backdrop of the O2 arena. If you are feeling particularly daring, they can also lean back allowing you to feel as though you are quite literally floating in the air.
On the lunch flight, you are served three courses which you book ahead of time. The menu on the day of our trip began with burrata, pickled watermelon and heritage tomatoes, basil oil and kalamata olives. This was accompanied by a crisp glass of white and as we were wined and dined in the sky, we got chatting with our fellow companions. After a year with limited social contact and a lack of gourmet experiences, we were all united in our relief at being out and doing something that is truly bucket-list worthy.
Mains wise, I chose glazed beef feather blade that was accompanied by baby artichoke, sweetcorn puree, potato rosti, buttered corn & spring onion and drizzled with a port jus. The food was divine and I wondered just how it was possible to cook something so impressive in a kitchen that is suspended 100ft in the air and the chef is strapped in by a harness. By this point (and the dutch courage of a glass of red with the mains) even the most intrepid of the group are taking selfies and videoing the views. Music is pulsing and the atmosphere is electric as we try to see how many famous landmarks we can spot.
The meal is rounded off with an aptly crafted summer menu of strawberries & cream with clotted cream, poached strawberries, strawberry gravel & Pimm’s jelly. As with the other courses, it is light, flavoursome and impressive. We have a little more time to take in the views and atmosphere before making our descent back to solid ground. The flight lasts around an hour, yet time flies as is always the case when you are having fun. We touch down, are unstrapped from our seats and make our way back to the seating area.
Even as I sit and look at the photos on my phone and watch the next lot of diners being secured into their harnesses, I can’t quite believe I was just dining suspended above the O2 arena. London in the Sky gives a real adrenaline buzz unlike anything else and is something that everyone needs to try. Whether you are looking to gift someone an experience for an occasion, want to amp up your date nights or just want to tick something off your list, this is it. It literally takes dining to new heights and will leave you feeling a real high for several hours after. Exhilarating, exciting and unforgettable, make London in the Sky the next thing you book. Trust us, you won’t regret it.
Book your tickets here: https://londoninthesky.co.uk/
Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX
