There’s a free rooftop garden in the middle of London with panoramic views, and most people walk straight past it.
No ticket. No booking. No long queues stretching around the block. Just a surprisingly peaceful garden hidden above one of the busiest parts of central London.
Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON takes you up nine floors above the buzz of New Oxford Street to one of the capital's most underrated hidden gems: the rooftop garden of the Post Building, near Holborn.
From Royal Mail to rooftop oasis: a building with a story
Before becoming today’s sleek office and retail block, the Post Building was a Royal Mail sorting office, a vast concrete structure demolished around 2015. Its basement even housed a station on the legendary Mail Rail, London’s underground postal railway.
When the building was redeveloped into modern offices, Camden Council required the owners to include a free public rooftop terrace as part of the planning deal. It must stay open every day for 20 years, written directly into the agreement.
The result is a 7,500 sq ft rooftop garden on the 9th floor, the largest roof terrace in London’s West End. It blends an English country garden with the feel of a cruise ship deck, complete with a “bow” projecting over New Oxford Street.
History, architecture, and fresh air, all rolled into one.
The Post Building Rooftop terrace guide
Getting up there takes a little effort: show your ID, pass a quick security check, then take the lift up. A few minutes later, the doors open and suddenly the noise of central London disappears beneath you.
The views up here are genuinely striking. London lines up in a way you don’t really see from street level: St George’s Bloomsbury, the green dome of the British Museum, and Senate House sitting behind it. It’s a perspective you only really get from this height, and it works quietly but perfectly.
Look further and you’ll spot the Shard, the BT Tower, and Wembley Arch, with views stretching as far as Crystal Palace on a clear day.
But it wasn’t just the skyline that made me linger, it was the atmosphere.
The garden itself is thoughtfully planted, with a mix of grasses, flowering plants and sculptural greenery spread across staggered levels.
It feels colourful without being overdone, and larger than it really is. It’s calm and quiet up here. A proper green escape in the middle of one of the world’s busiest cities.
Why you actually need to go
It offers something surprisingly rare in central London: peace and quiet with a skyline view. The entrance on New Oxford Street is easy to miss, marked only by glass doors and a small sign for the public roof garden, which helps it stay something of a hidden gem.
It's perfectly placed too: a five-minute walk from Tottenham Court Road and Holborn tube stations, right next to the British Museum. Combine it with a museum visit, a wander through Bloomsbury, or a coffee on the way back and you've got a perfect little London afternoon sorted!
The planting is surprisingly well done too, with flowering plants, small trees and leafy pots spread across the terrace, giving it the feel of a small elevated garden rather than just a place to admire the view.
It’s especially good in spring and early summer, when everything comes into bloom.
Feeling inspired? If you're planning a visit to the Post Building rooftop garden, I'd love to hear about your experience on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON!
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Everything you need to know about the Post Building Rooftop Garden:
Address: 110 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1BD (entrance on New Oxford Street, look for the small "Public Roof Garden" sign on the glass double doors)
Admission: Completely free - no booking required
Opening hours: Daily 10:00am – 7:00pm (or dusk, whichever comes first). Closed 25 & 26 December.
What to bring: Photo ID (required at reception). Leave large bags at the lockers downstairs.
Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Road (Central, Elizabeth & Northern lines) or Holborn (Central & Piccadilly lines)
Website: The Post Building
Rooftop garden | Free things to do in London | Holborn | Panoramic views | Hidden gem | London landmarks | West End |
