If you’ve ever wanted a living souvenir from one of London’s most distinctive green spaces, now’s your chance: the Barbican Conservatory is handing out more than 2,000 free plant cuttings ahead of a major, multi-year restoration.
Barbican Conservatory is giving away free plant cuttings before restoration closure
The Conservatory’s horticulture partner, Wayward Plants, has been taking cuttings from the collection and propagating them into small, healthy starter plants.
These will be given away at public “plant adoption” events inside the glasshouse, alongside short tours and talks about the space and its future.
The first event is on Wednesday 19 August 2026, 12pm–5pm, which is now sold out. With further dates on 13 September and 2 December 2026. Tickets are free, but limited (around 40 per session for the 19 August date; other sessions capped at about 125 plants).
More information on how to book for September 13 will be on their website today Wednesday August 19 at midday. You will need an account to book.
The Barbican Conservatory will close to the public at the end of 2026 for a three‑year refurbishment
Created in the 1980s on the roof of the Barbican Theatre around its 100‑ft fly tower, the Conservatory houses around 800 plant species and is the second‑largest heated conservatory in London after Kew. It’s now reaching the end of its original building life, with:
- Ageing waterproofing, glazing, heating and irrigation systems needing replacement.
- Significant accessibility issues: only about 30% of the space is currently fully accessible due to narrow paths, steps and stairways.
The Conservatory will close to the public at the end of 2026 for a three‑year refurbishment, with construction expected to run from 2027 to 2030.
What the restoration will change
The works form part of the wider Barbican Renewal programme (2025–2030), a £231–£240m overhaul of key public areas including the foyers, Lakeside Terrace and the Conservatory.
For the Conservatory specifically, plans include:
- 100% step‑free access, up from 30%, by reconfiguring planters, beds and walkways.
- A new lift and stair to open up the fly‑tower balconies, adding new viewpoints and increasing public space by around 25%.
- Upgraded mechanical, electrical and horticultural systems, plus more sustainable environmental controls to protect the collection long‑term.
- A shift to free, near‑daily public access when it reopens in 2030, rather than limited weekend openings.
The wider Renewal project also foresees a year‑long closure of much of the Barbican Centre from June 2028 to June 2029 to deliver the first phase on time and on budget, with cinemas on Beech Street remaining open.
