The One with the Sky Garden
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to float up above a city, a concrete jungle, while surrounded by the most beautiful green garden? Well, imagine no longer? Sky Garden is for you.
If you have walked around central London you must have come across an array of interesting-looking buildings that happen to have funny names to go along.
You’ve got the Cheese Grater (the Leadenhall Building), the Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe), and the Walkie-Talkie (The Fenchurch Building).
The Cheese Grater and the Gherkin, two inner buildings
On the top floor of the walkie-talkie is a most beautiful garden with several bars and restaurants, free to enter and explore with a ticket slot booked.
I found out myself how difficult it would be to book one of these free slots when I found myself wanting to go visit the next day as the weather looked like it would be nice so I would probably get a nice view of the city.
The slots were all full for the next week; however, there was a paid option available for £8.50 that included in the cost a hot drink and baked item.
It was also at sunrise. But don’t fret! For sunrise in the UK in winter isn’t until around 8AM.
I got to the building, which is located near Monument and Liverpool Street Station, for 5 minutes before, but there was really no point as we all were just waiting outside until the employees were ready for us to enter and for the building to open.
From 8AM-10AM the garden would be accessible for the paid tickets, then until 6PM were the free slots.
Seeing as I was one of the first people in the building and there were not too many people with paid tickets to begin with, I had a great experience as it was very quiet and serene.
I was able to get my latte and croissant and sit down for a bit, mesmerized over the city waking up.
It was still a bit grey and cloudy so it wasn’t the huge array of colours but more of a misty and gradual hue of orange to blue before the sun reached it’s peak.
I was also able to make a full round of the gardens without even encountering another person as we were not too many and people were sitting down.
I took some nice pictures of the view; London bridge was prominent from the left side.
It felt very refreshing to be within the greenery but also to know that you are so high up above the city of London.
This is where you can fully appreciate the scale of the city and perhaps compare it to your own, how much larger, grander is it?
There are several sitting areas, one including a large couch, that you can just sit, relax, and enjoy your time on one of the coolest buildings in London.
It is definitely a worthy experience, and if you can go in the warmer months, the terrace is also open and you are more exposed to the outside air (still with high glass barriers for safety).
I hope that the next time I visit I get to step out upon the terrace and get even more up close and personal with the city that I love. I have been once before with friends, and it is surely not an experience to be missed. Not to mention a great photo opportunity with the Shard!
Have you ever been to such a garden within the constraints of industrial architecture? Let me know! I love the concept and need to add more place to visit to my list.
All the best,
Christina
