London’s 120 Fenchurch Street boasts a blooming rooftop garden. The Garden at 120, perched on the 15th floor of the Fen Court building, is currently in its full late-spring glory, with the purple cascades of wisteria creating a spectacular display across the trellises and pergolas. It is a far cry from the spartan state it presented when it first opened in 2019; the plants have now truly filled out, and the payoff for waiting is a vivid, fragrant urban oasis.
Wisteria in full bloom
The garden, designed by German landscape architects Latz + Partner, features 85 Italian wisteria trees trained over steel pergola canopies, arches and trellises, and these are now flowering heavily. This annual burst of colour is typical of late April to mid-May in London, marking the peak of the wisteria season. The wisteria at 120 Fenchurch Street is not alone: roses are also on the verge of blooming, the dark green hedges have fattened considerably, and the planting includes perennial borders, grasses, ferns, bulbs and over 30 fruit trees. A 200ft-long water feature runs through the space, and ample seating is scattered around, inviting visitors to pause and take in the surroundings.
The history of wisteria in Britain adds another layer to the scene. It was first introduced from China in 1816 by John Reeves, a tea inspector, who initially believed the plant to be tender. Its hardiness was later discovered, leading to a Victorian craze that has never truly faded. Today the plant is admired for its “waterfall” blooms and carries symbolic meanings of resilience, longevity and devotion – a fitting choice for a public garden that has itself taken several years to reach maturity. Its popularity has seen a recent resurgence, partly thanks to its starring role in the Netflix series Bridgerton.
Human-level city views
While the wisteria is the headline act, the garden’s position on the 15th floor offers a perspective that is notably different from the super-tall towers of the City. Unlike the grand, sweeping panoramas seen from the Sky Garden atop the Walkie-Talkie or the Shard, The Garden at 120 provides a more intimate, “human-level” view of the urban landscape. From this middling height, you can pick out the intricate details of surrounding buildings – the utilitarian roofs, the ornate cornices, the weather-worn stone – and see how the city sits at street level. Some of the modestly tall structures poke up into the vista, creating natural frames that would be lost from higher up.
Iconic landmarks are also easier to appreciate from this altitude. The Gherkin is a clear selfie favourite, while the Lloyd’s Building, with its exposed services, is resplendent when seen from a height comparable to its own. The garden offers a full 360-degree view of the City and greater London, but these closer, more detailed perspectives are what set it apart. That said, the panorama is not immutable: future developments, notably the Fifty Fenchurch building, are expected to alter some of the sightlines in the years ahead.
Practical visitor information
The Garden at 120 is the largest public rooftop space in the City of London and is free to enter, with no booking required for individuals or small groups. It is open daily, typically from 10am to 9pm, though weekend hours are often shorter, finishing at 5pm. The garden is closed on bank holidays, so it is advisable to check the official website for the most up-to-date opening times.
Access is via the ground floor lobby of the Fen Court building at 120 Fenchurch Street. The lobby itself features a digital art installation on its ceiling. Visitors must pass through an airport-style security check before taking dedicated public lifts to the 15th floor. The building, designed by Eric Parry Architects and completed around 2018–2019, has a distinctive crystalline appearance and also contains a restaurant on the 14th floor.
The garden is often compared to the more famous Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street, which requires advance booking and offers higher views. Many visitors find The Garden at 120 a more peaceful, less crowded experience, with a more immersive garden feel. Other notable free public rooftop gardens in London include the Crossrail Place Roof Garden in Canary Wharf (divided into two hemispheres with plants from Asia and the Americas), the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden on the Southbank (open Thursday to Sunday), and the One New Change roof terrace, which provides close-up views of St Paul’s Cathedral.
Beyond the garden itself, the Fen Court site holds historical significance. The pedestrian passageway alongside the building – Fen Court – links Fenchurch Street to Fenchurch Avenue and features a digital art ceiling. The public garden at ground level occupies the former churchyard of St Gabriel Fenchurch, a church destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. In that garden stands a sculpture titled ‘The Gilt of Cain’, unveiled by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, commemorating the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. It was in this vicinity that the Reverend John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace”, delivered anti-slavery sermons.
