Atop the Barbican’s main theatre, wrapped around the fly tower, sits a two-story conservatory filled with lush greenery, somewhat at odds with the dull grey of the rest of the estate. This conservatory is the second largest in London (after Kew Gardens) and home to over 1,500 species of plants, but is one of the city’s lesser-known green spaces …
It was opened in 1982 and was intended to be a major visitor attraction and indoor green oasis for Londoners. However, visitor numbers were low. Over the years, the City Corporation reduced opening hours and instead leased the conservatory out as a venue for private parties and corporate events. Visiting is restricted to Friday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 and Sundays from mid-day to 7:00 pm and you need to book a timed ticket. I went last Sunday at 1:00 and it was quite a comfortable viewing since ticketing has obviously led to good crowd control (you can book here).
Here are some of my images, starting with a resident terrapin (apparently ‘liberated’ from Hampstead Ponds) …
Images from the main tropical house …
I thought this was quite spooky and serpentine …
Some rather shy coi carp to finish with …
There is also an arid house, which is filled with cacti and succulents, but this was closed, so here are some pictures I took there when I visited back in 2018 …
Now, a few local flowers to celebrate Spring.
Tulips in Silk Street …
Little beds at the junction of Gresham Street and Wood Street. So nice when building owners plant flowers and look after them …
Work by the wonderful City gardeners on London Wall …
Finally, I couldn’t resist this shot of the Moon …
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