Crossrail Place Roof Garden: a hidden gem in central London

Crossrail Place Roof Garden is a verdant oasis hidden away on the roof of Canary Wharf's Elizabeth Line.

The idea of spending half an hour admiring the tropical greenery with superb views over West India Quay is therefore seductive.

That's why I'm taking you there today.

Crossrail Place Roof Garden: article summary

The story of Crossrail Place's roof garden

In 2008, the city hired renowned architects Foster + Partners to design this indoor park brimming with unusual and exotic plants. Nestled among the foliage, is also a space for the performing arts.

The company is also behind other iconic architectural masterpieces, including the British Museum's neo-futuristic central courtyard and the iconic Gherkinin the heart of London's financial district.

Notice the triangles of Foster + Partners in the design of the garden roof.

A small, intimate garden to visit

If you're expecting something on the scale of the Victorian greenhouses of Kew Gardensyou're going to be disappointed.

You could probably cover the whole garden and study the plants in less than 20 minutes.

As a result, it's not worth a full-day visit and it's best to combine it with other activities.

You could, for example, stop by after a trip to the London Museum Docklands to complete your visit to this area of London.

Crossrail Place Roof Garden: how to enjoy it?

There are many ways to enjoy this green space on London's rooftops. You can, for example, take a picnic with you and enjoy it seated on one of the many garden benches.

It is also possible to take a coffee in one of our on the first floor and enjoy it surrounded by the splendour of tropical leaves.

An impressive number of plants

The garden lies directly to the north of Greenwichon the first meridian. As a result, they divided plant species into varieties that grow in the western and eastern hemispheres.

In the Western Hemisphere section, you will find plants such as :

• Golden tree fern
• New Zealand fern
• Sweet gum
• Arbutus

In the eastern hemisphere, you will find plants such as :

• Northern Japanese maple
• Black bamboo
• Northern Japanese magnolia
• Veitch bamboo

Visit Crossrail Gardens website contains more information on plants and planting plans.

Crossrail Place Roof Garden: terrarium-style design

If you think garden design is similar to terrarium design, you're absolutely right.

Nathaniel Ward was a botanist who invented a sealed glass container for use in the food industry. to transport plants from overseas to Europe.

The survival of many species found in this garden is due to his invention.

A story dispenser near the restaurant

For your relaxation, a story dispenser is located near the restaurant. You decide whether you'd like to read for one, three or five minutes, and the machine dispenses a printout of a story.

How to get there

It's not very difficult to get to this garden. Just get off at the Canary Wharf and take the first exit.

You'll see a cartoonish multicolored wall with an escalator and elevator leading to the roof garden.

Crossrail Place Roof Garden: free to visit?

Yes, there's no charge. You can free access to the site every day of the year.

What are our opening hours??

The garden opens :

• Every day 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Crossrail Place Roof Garden is a must-see when you're in London. Don't hesitate to come and discover this exceptional space nestled on the city's rooftops.

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