The London Helicopter

Six-seated choppers take off from Battersea and supply an epic bird’s-eye view of the city, following the Thames to Greenwich, back to Hammersmith, and returning to Battersea in 12 to 18 min. (the “Buzz” route covers less ground). Your pilot is pressed uncomfortably into double duty as a guide, dispensing dubious information such as dating the Cutty Sark 300 years before its actual construction. Never mind; the view is the thing, and it’s an unbeatable view. You’ll see the Shard from above, the ligature of countless rail lines binding the city together, and flights at 11:30am will spy Changing the Guard in the distance at Buckingham Palace. There are two seats in the front at the dashboard and four in a row along the back, so on shared flights, those two middle passengers get a bad view for the same money.