Urban jungle | Barbican Conservatory

When I think of the Barbican in London, masses of concrete springs to mind. Recently, I was amazed to discover a jungle is stashed in the heart of this urban space.

This jungle is housed in a huge conservatory which is rarely open to the public. I was struck by the stark contrast between the lofty trees and carp drifting in water with the concrete walls and metal pillars. Every turn led to another surprise as the foliage was quite dense. Following a walkway in the canopy, I came across a whole hidden section dedicated to weird and wonderful cacti.

What's more, you can have a proper afternoon tea amidst the jungle. Unfortunately, I did not have the foresight to book ahead so the normal Barbican café was the next best thing. The conservatory was surprisingly cool so it was good to warm up with a hot chocolate and munch on a tasty white chocolate and raspberry muffin.

I cannot recommend enough exploring the Barbican conservatory. It's free to visit and offers a calm spot from the hustle and bustle of the City of London. The conservatory is open on certain weekends and you can check the opening times here. If you can catch it when it's open, it feels like you are in on a secret. Where else are you going to find a jungle in the middle of London?

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