The best rooftop yoga classes in London

The Sky Garden at the top of the Walkie Talkie is a wonderfully serene spot to do some yoga – it's light, spacious and packed with foliage. The classes here follow a dynamic vinyasa flow style so expect to break a gentle sweat. During the week they take place at 6.30am which means you get to watch the city wake up as you practice your sun salutations. There are also weekend classes which begin at 8am (8.30am on Sundays), and you could make a morning of it and head to the Darwin Brasserie afterwards for brunch. 

Forget staring into an old mirror at your gym, the Summer rooftop yoga at Madison will have you gazing across London’s most iconic landmarks as the sun rises. Sure, the city isn’t normally the most tranquil setting, but the morning classes at Madison just about beat rush hour so you shouldn’t have to put up with too many lairy commuters while you’re doing full-wheel. With views of the picturesque St Paul’s Cathedral, make the best of this rooftop yoga while it lasts - come September it’ll be gone. Find out more here. 

Exercise highs don't come much better than this: yoga at the very top of the Shard, London's tallest building. Yogasphere host classes each Saturday, and if the weather's good they take place on the viewing platform at the glass tip of the building – partially open to the elements (vertigo sufferers, brace yourself!). It's just private yoga classes offered in the top of the Shard at the moment. So if you and a significant other fancy an exclusive yoga experience, let's hope you've got £1350 to spare - that'll get you a private class, with optional breakfast and champagne. 

Yogarise is a yoga studio based in Peckham's much loved Bussey Building, set up by two locals keen to bring the yoga love to their patch of London. During the summer they take their classes alfresco, occupying Rooftop Film Club's upstairs space. Fans of Frank’s Cafe (that's everyone, right?) will already know the views from here are fabulous. There are two studio spaces, and classes run at various times throughout the week.

The Fat Buddha Yoga team are all about switching up your morning yoga sesh. Their Rise’n’Shine class takes place at 7.45 on the roof of fancy French eatery Coq D’Argent where you’ll have spectacular views of the City coming to life. Because it’s an open level class, anyone can go with the flow, from rookies to expert yogis. Plus - it’s only a tenner per session if you book four at a time. 

Stratford’s Roof East is a sweet spot to do some yoga in the sunshine. Their flow class does supply mats (but bring your own sun cream if it's dazzling!) and is all about finding zen in the open air. Exactly what's needed after a long day slogging in your air-conditioned office. Once you’ve sweated out your stresses, you can hang around on the rooftop for a kombucha cooler in the sun, or bag a deck chair and get ready for some sweet popcorn action with Rooftop Film Club.

Balance, bend and stretch out in downward dog at Sunset Flow yoga, another class from the guys at Fat Buddha. This time, wind down after the working week on the roof of the Old Truman Brewery. Once you’re down, have an explore: this east London hotspot is also home to markets, pop-ups and events like ‘Vegan Nights’ (where you’ll end up eating yourself to oblivion if you’re not careful).