For those who like vantage points to take in beautiful views of London, there are different options. Sky Garden is one of them, and undoubtedly one you will remember. But there’s also a relatively new venue that will ravish all thrill-seekers: The Garden at 120.
Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON brings you to London’s largest public rooftop space!
The Garden at 120 in The City
The Garden at 120 is located atop the Fen Court building at 120 Fenchurch Street, in The City. I came by tube with my kids and we stopped at Bank station, which allowed us to walk past Sky Garden and admire its imposing building before arriving at The Garden at 120.
The whole area is absolutely stunning in terms of mixes in architecture and I always marvel at the proximity of old and new buildings and the tasteful ensemble they create.
We did not need to book any slots in advance but, although it went fast, we had to queue a little (expect control of bags at the entrance) before getting access to the lifts.
After a quick ride in the lift up to the 15th floor, we stepped outside the lift and were immediately blown away by the breathtaking views!
It was very windy that day (we visited the day before the Eunice storm came to London!), but the excitement of noticing some of London’s best highlights in the distance was so strong we did not worry about it (later that day would have been completely different I guess…).
The Garden at 120 project: an oasis in the heart of the City
The Garden at 120 was designed by German landscape architects Latz + Partner and opened in 2019.
It counts 85 Italian wisteria trees (it will soon be the season to admire them), over 30 fruit trees, and a 200ft-long flowing water feature, with a relaxed seating area. True heaven in The City!
At 15 floors, The Garden at 120 offers exceptional 360-degree views of London. There are a few landmarks to be seen like the Tower Bridge, The Shard, The Walkie Talkie, The Guerkin…
The Garden at 120 is said to be London’s largest rooftop public space. I wish this initiative could inspire other architects of high buildings as I was a bit disappointed to see how grey the tops of similar structures remain in such a green capital…
I love the shapes of the pergola structure. The lines from the floor and the elements of the structure confound themselves and sometimes it creates lovely combinations…
The openness of the space is amazing. We visited the garden during half term and it was unexpectedly quiet, which allowed us to enjoy the peacefulness of the place. It was absolutely divine to recharge the batteries!
Needless to say, the views are absolutely spectacular at the Garden at 120. I could not recommend the place enough to Londoners, but also to tourists looking for a different way to discover London’s skyline.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are about to explore The Garden at 120 soon, please share your experience and opinion on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON’s blog!
To go further:
The Garden at 120: 120 Fenchurch Street, EC3M 5BA
Free access
No booking required – first come first served basis
Summer Opening Times: between 1 April – 30 September (Monday to Friday: 10am-9pm; Saturday to Sunday: 10am-5pm)
Winter Opening Times: between 1 October – 31 March (Monday to Friday 10am-6.30pm; Saturday to Sunday 10am-5pm)
Website
Awards:
- YUANYE AWARD for Professionals 2020 in the category open space for office buildings and the Gold Award
- Green Good Design 2020 Award
- City Skyline Award 2019
I’ve been here, it really is surprisingly lovely and for me, more exciting than the Sky Garden as it is outdoors!
J’avais aimé le Sky Garden et j’aime tout autant le Garden at 120 ! Magnifiques photos graphiques en bleu et gris.
@katherine Yes, it’s good to be outside and enjoy such a beautiful setting on a rooftop, this is so rare!
@Myriam Thank you, Myriam, they are both worth visiting on your next trip to London!