The Roof Gardens
The Roof Gardens
VO
Whether you’re visiting the palace, walking through the parks or just shopping on the High Street, Kensington is a London borough with plenty to offer to both tourists and Londoners. What you might not realize is that one hundred feet above the high street you can find the perfect retreat from busy London life.
IV - Manager
The roof gardens are really an oasis in the sky. It’s an opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of big city life in London. We have an acre and a half of beautifully clean gardens and amidst those gardens we have an events venue and on top of all of that we have Babylon restaurant, a contemporary restaurant with Western European cuisine, a touch of Asian spice every once and a while, and beautiful views of the London skyline.
IV 2 – Chef
I’d describe the menu at Babylon as being eclectic. We try to give a good choice of different styles, of dishes, so that everyone can enjoy the menu.
VO
So what does the chef recommend?
CHEF
The one I would say would be a tart of seasonal summer vegetables – obviously we try to keep the menu seasonal at all times – and that’s served with a truffle studded pepperino cheese, wild rocket leaves, and a red wine and thyme sauce.
VO
And when the food is gone, you can always walk it off around the gardens.
IV 3 – Head gardener
The roof gardens were built in 1938, and a lot of the planting here is still original from that date. The gardens are an acre and a half of themed gardens on the sixth floor of what used to be Gary and Tom’s Department Store. We’ve got a Spanish garden, a Tudor courtyard and an English woodland garden with full sized trees. We’ve got two resident flamingos, Bill and Ben. They’re about 24 years old, and they’ve been living here quite happily, content, and they come around and walk around the gardens and very happily will nod and say hello to you as you go past. We’re right on Kensington High Street – you wouldn’t be able to tell.
VOX
I don’t think there’s anything like it anywhere in London.
