By Fredrik Filipsson · Published Jan 7, 2026 · Last reviewed Jun 11, 2026 · How we pick bars
Madison owns the single best view of St Paul's in London. The bar sits on the rooftop of One New Change, the shopping centre that faces the cathedral head on, and the terrace puts the dome close enough to feel within reach.
The address is the penthouse level of One New Change, postcode EC4M 9AF, a short walk from St Paul's Underground. The venue splits into a glamorous indoor bar and restaurant with open rooftop terraces wrapped around it (Madison). Those terraces are the reason to book.
The sightline is the whole pitch. The terraces look straight onto the cathedral dome and across the City skyline beyond, a vantage that is free to reach by the public lift yet best enjoyed with a table at the bar (Time Out). Few London rooftops put a landmark this famous this close.
The kitchen runs modern American against that backdrop, and the terraces are built for year-round use with heaters, blankets and retractable covers (Madison). Weekend brunch lands every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4pm, and the bar keeps a lively register into the evening.
What to order: a cocktail on the terrace timed to sunset behind the dome, a plate from the modern American menu if you are settling in, and a weekend brunch slot if you want the view in daylight. Ask for an outside table when you reserve.
Who is it for? Visitors who want the postcard London skyline with a glass in hand, City workers after a landmark after-work drink, and groups marking an occasion. It is polished and popular, so the best terrace tables go fast. Madison features in our London rooftop bars guide and on the global best rooftop bars ranking.
The location does the heavy lifting. One New Change sits directly east of the cathedral, so the terrace frames the dome against open sky rather than office towers, and the public lift means the view is accessible even before you reach the bar (One New Change). Securing a table simply trades the crowd at the free viewpoint for a glass and a seat.
The split layout gives the venue more than one mood. The indoor bar and restaurant carry a polished, glamorous register, while the wraparound terraces lean toward an easy, sociable scene with live music on the right night (Madison). You can pitch the evening formal or loose depending on which side you book.
The year-round terrace is the practical edge over rivals. London rooftops live and die by the weather, and the heaters, blankets and retractable covers keep Madison usable when an open deck would empty out. That reliability is why our editors send visitors here when the forecast is uncertain.
The setting suits more than one occasion. A landmark first date, an after-work round for City workers, or a weekend brunch with the dome in full sun all fit the same terrace. That range is why Madison stays busy across the week.
Best time to go: an early weekday evening for the after-work crowd and the sunset, or a weekend brunch slot for the view in full daylight. The bar runs from 10am to 11pm daily. Book the terrace ahead, since the covered seats are limited when the London weather turns.
Few rooftops in the City pair a view this iconic with a terrace this usable across the seasons. Our editors rate Madison as the London choice when St Paul's is the backdrop you want, and One New Change delivers it. For more of the City around it, our London bar guide covers the streets below.
