Let’s face it, the Barbican Estate is a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it kind of place – visually at least. Unless you’re a big fan of Brutalist architecture (or a Guildhall student), this concrete grey, weirdly shaped estate is difficult to love at first sight.
However, there is one spot that is both beautiful and beloved by many: the verdant Barbican Conservatory, a glass-bound rainforest in the heart of the City. (It’s also one of many brilliant free things to do in London.)
Barbican Conservatory is the second biggest conservatory in London, after Kew Gardens’ Princess of Wales Conservatory.
What’s Inside the Barbican Conservatory?
Originally designed to hide the building’s massive fly tower (through which scenery for the Barbican Theatre is lowered), someone decided to stick a couple of pot plants in there. Things have got a little out of hand since then, as the collection now houses “around 1,500 species of plants and trees, some of which are rare and endangered in their native habitat”. They’re a pretty-looking lot, too, it must be said – definitely deserving of a spot on your Instagram feed.
Everything from palm trees to banana plants can be found within these glass walls. Budding horticulturists can take a self-guided tour to explore The Secret Life of the Conservatory. Meanwhile, colourful koi carp fill the fishponds, which makes a stroll over the wooden bridges a peaceful jaunt for the more casual explorer.
Less peaceful are the terrapins, who were relocated to Barbican Conservatory after terrorising wildlife on Hampstead Heath. They may look sweet, but they’ve got a mean streak a mile long, which is how they came to be known as ‘the terrorpins’.
Attached to the east side of the conservatory is the Arid House. Here, visitors will find a collection of cacti and succulents. There’s everything from cute little cacti to sprawling monsters here, and it’s a great inspiration for your next desk plant.
Barbican Conservatory Exhibitions
Like the Barbican Centre itself, the Barbican Conservatory almost always has events on. These range from tours to artistic exhibitions and experiences that make use of the space in exciting ways. Right now, you can see a site-specific tropical art commission by Indian sculptor Ranjani Shettar, which is open to the public until July, 2024. Cloud songs on the horizon is the artist’s first major institutional show in Europe, comprising all-new, large-scale sculptures. These will be suspended around the Conservatory space as part of the exhibition.
To complement the exhibition, the Conservatory will extend its opening hours, as well as run late-night sessions each Friday for people to explore the tropical oasis after hours.
Entrance to the Barbican Conservatory is completely free, and the conservatory is open at selected times throughout the week. You’ll need to book a ticket online in advance and pick a timed entry slot. Bookings are released one week in advance, and you can make yours on the website.