A piece of genuine fantasia in the heart of London…… set on two floors over one and a half acres of themed gardens, exotic wildlife and unparralled views of London’s spectacular skyline. This urban oasis is the home of an events centre, a private members club and Babylon restaurant.
Brief history of the Roof Gardens…
It all began in 1862 when Charles Derry and Joseph Toms opened up a shop in Wrights Lane, Kensington. Some 60 years later the successful business was bought by Barkers who moved the premises to 99 Kensington High Street, to be closer to their flagship store.
While they were building the store, London County Council wouldn’t allow the 7th floor to be built because the fire ladders couldn’t reach. This left the building with the structural potential for another floor.
After finishing the building in 1935, the Vice-President of Barkers, Trevor Bowen had a vision of a Roof Garden to cover the 6th floor. This dream was realised by the landscape architect Ralph Hancock who designed and laid out the gardens over the next three years. They opened to the public in 1938.
At the time, the Roof Gardens of Kensington were the largest of their kind in Europe. Divided into three main themes; the Woodland Garden, the Tudor Courts and the Spanish Garden. People were charged a shilling each to visit, raising well over £120,000 for London’s hospitals.
During the Second World War in 1941, the gardens had a lucky escape when a 1000lb bomb landed on the roof but failed to explode. The year before a 250lb bomb crashed onto the Roof Gardens, falling down one of the main front staircases and bursting on the fourth floor. No-one was injured, but the fire caused a lot of damage to stock and fittings.
In the 1950s the gardens were maintained by a Head Gardener and three full-time assistants. This was at a time when annual bedding plants were considered the height of fashion and so each year some 38,000 busy lizzies, marigolds etc were produced in the nursery on the roof for display in the gardens. This was accompanied by the inclusion of 15,000 bulbs every year.
The gardens remained almost unaltered until 1973 when the department store went into liquidation. Between then and 1978 the building was unoccupied and the garden received only minimal maintenance.
In 1978 the building was divided to improve its commercial value. The five lower storeys of the building were divided vertically (where GAP, H & M and Marks & Spencer are now) while the upper floors and the Roof Gardens were kept as a unit. The Roof Garden then became part of a redevelopment, removing the old teahouse and rebuilding it as a nightclub called Regine’s.
In 1982 a scruffy-looking Richard Branson tried to get into the nightclub but the doorman turned him away. The following week he returned and on seeing the same doorman said, “I think you might let me in this time as I’m the new owner…” That doorman still works at the Roof gardens today.
The Roof Gardens is now part of a collection of exclusive properties known as Limited Edition by Virgin. These gardens are well worth a visit and on a fine day, one is additionally rewarded with a panoramic view of West London.
Visiting the gardens
The Roof Gardens are more than happy to allow guests to go up and visit their little oasis in the sky when they are not hosting a Private event or their Club nights.
To check whether you can go and visit them, please call 020 7937 7994 Monday to Friday during business hours, or 020 7368 3993 on the Weekends or email enquiries@roofgardens.virgin.co.uk
7th Floor, 99 Kensington High Street W8 (Closest tube: High Street Kensington)
