« Back

Kensington's Secret Roof Garden - London

Once the hallowed ground of Derry & Toms and Biba

Thirty metres above the bustling traffic of Kensington High Street is one of London's secret treasures – a rooftop garden with mature oak, lime and mulberry trees; ponds and fountains; ducks and flamingoes. It covers one and a half acres and is planted in only 1.5 metres of top soil and the miracle is that it is able to withstand direct sunlight and strong winds. 

The Kensington Roof Gardens (a Grade II listed site) was originally commissioned in 1936-38 by Trevor Bowen, then vice-president of Barkers, and was laid out by Ralph Hancock – a landscape architect - as the apex of department store Derry & Toms. Later it was occupied by the famous Biba shop and this period is reflected in the black and white wallpaper that can still be seen on the staircases.

Now owned by Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson and standing adjacent to the Babylon restaurant and nightclub, the garden is often frequented by partygoers. What many people don't know is that it is possible to visit it free of charge if no function is being held. 

Kensington Roof Gardens Restaurant with views over London

The Babylon restaurant has magnificent views over west London and diners are heard excitedly identifying the famous landmarks - the Royal Albert Hall, the London Eye, Westminster Cathedral and Canary Wharf. 

In contrast the quiet garden is split into three main areas:

1. A naturalistic English woodland garden with more than one hundred species of trees and bushes, a stream and pond with pintail ducks and four flamingoes.  Bill and Ben were the original two Chilean flamingoes with two new arrivals Splosh and Pecks taking up residence this year.  (Surprisingly flamingoes are able to tolerate temperatures of -10 degrees).
   
   
2. A Tudor garden with secret nooks and crannies covered with wisteria and roses, lilies and lavender with gives a rich fragrance to the warm air in spring.  A new look is being given to this garden and the Biba theme of black and white is being encompassed in the new planting.
   
   
3. A Spanish garden of Moorish design with fountains, vine covered walkways, palm trees and hot summer planting.  This area has seating and a backdrop that gives a fleeting reminder of the famous gardens and palaces of the Alhambra in Spain.
   There are no natural predators this high up – no cats, foxes, rats or squirrels and is a safe haven for birds, insects and butterflies.  New flowering trees are being planted to encourage wildlife to use this urban rooftop area of London.

Don't tell everyone

But do keep it to yourself because this is an oasis of calm where you can get away from the busy shopping area to rest and contemplate your next excursion to another secret part of London.