Garden at 120: London’s Newest Rooftop in the City of London
Last Updated on 26th June 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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Tangibly close to the Sky Garden’s Walkie Talkie building (and close enough even to catch a glimpse of the silhouettes of those wandering along the space’s impossibly high balcony), the Garden at 120 is London’s newest sky top offering. All open space, glass panelling, and 360-degree bird’s eye views of London’s cityscape, here’s everything you need to know about the rooftop at 120 Fenchurch Street.
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Exploring the City of London, the oldest neighbourhood in the UK capital city
The City of London is easily the oldest part of London, dating all the way back to when the Romans occupied the city and the settlement was known as ‘Londinium’. Today, vestiges of London’s two-millennia-old past can be found throughout the district, including in the slice of the Roman wall close to the Tower of London, or the foundations of the Roman Amphitheatre in the London Guildhall.
If you’re looking for a free Roman experience in the City of London that’s modern and pretty breathtaking, then be sure to book yourself into the Mithraeum. This long-lost Roman Temple has since been transformed into an interactive display that’s engaging for all ages.
Garden at 120: London’s Newest Rooftop in the City of London
Back to Fenchurch Street and you can expect to find a free to visit rooftop viewing spot that’s open to everyone. Unlike the nearby Sky Garden (where you have to book a ‘free’ ticket in advance), for now, you can simply turn up to the Garden at 120. If you were disappointed by the lack of open space in the Sky Garden, then you’ll be pleased to discover that 120 is largely open-air spaces.
Furthermore, though the expansive-for-London space is limited to 200 people, the sheer ‘little-known’ nature of the roof means that few people are currently visiting at any one time.
What this means for you is a short wait time before passing through airport-style security, heading up the speedy lift, and emerging into one of London’s prettiest roof spaces.
Situated above the ever-so-modern Fen Court (which even displays ever-changing graphic images on the courtyard’s covered space), the 15th-floor space provides views of nearly every London monument you would expect to spot within the capital’s skyline.
Highlights of the view include picture perfect views of the Shard, Tower Bridge, the Gherkin, and St Paul’s Cathedral. On the rooftop itself, a still water feature provides beautiful angles with the Walkie Talkie if you manage to capture the shot without any people in it! Toilets are available to use and a restaurant is set to open in spring of 2019.
In the centre of the floor space, a wooden office space is covered in climbing vines that are set to hide the building by the end of summer. Owned by Italian Insurance Firm, Generali, during the hotter months of the year, the green space features flowering roses and all the greenery.
Tips for visiting the Garden at 120, Fenchurch Street
Should you wish to visit the Garden at 120 for yourself, the rooftop is open 10a m-6.30 pm on weekdays and 10 am-5 pm on weekends. The closest tube stations are Monument (District and Circle lines) and Tower Hill (Circle line).
Nearby, you’ll find plenty of hidden London gems such as Leadenhall Market and St Mary Woolnoth, the pretty church in central London with a coffee shop hiding in its entryway.
The rooftop garden’s opening hours have changed. It’s now open in the summer months Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) from 10am until 9pm. With a nifty bit of technology you can also check in real time how busy it is.
One thing worth looking out for is down at ground level. The building has a spacious through-passageway to retain a historic link between Fenchurch Street and Fenchurch Avenue. It’s from here that you catch a lift to the roof. But before you do, look up.
There’s a digital art installation by Vong Phaophanit and Claire Oboussier on the ceiling. It aims to act as a camera obscura bringing imagery from the garden down to the street. The best moment comes when the image flickers onto the roof’s live-stream, trained on Tower Bridge. People walk underneath barely noticing, but stop and stare when it grabs their attention.