Green Above the Grey
By Anli Ren (03/09/26) — London, UK
On the outside, London's sky garden looks like just another part of the skyline. Another big office building, filled with hundreds of corporate workers filtering in and out. But if you give it a chance, book a free ticket and go inside, you'll find something unexpected. Atop all of the meeting rooms, suspended on the 35th floor, is a beautiful garden above the city.
Being just 30 minutes from NYU London's campus, I had walked past the building countless times without thinking about it. I knew it as the building which had a funny shape—everyone calls it “the Walkie Talkie building.”
Recently, I was able to snatch a last-minute ticket to go inside. Once in the building, I went through security, and within seconds of stepping into the elevator, I was at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street. When the doors opened, I stepped into a light-filled space. Everywhere was just flourishing with greenery. There were terraces, walkways, people having coffee, people having drinks, and tourists taking photos. For downtown London, it didn't really feel corporate; it just felt open.
Located in the heart of the city of London, the Sky Garden opened to the public in 2015. The building was developed by Landsec, a leading real estate company in the UK, but unlike other skyscrapers in the area, the planning approval came with one specific condition: the upper levels had to include a publicly accessible space. This requirement is how London's Sky Garden came to be.
I was lucky to go on a rare sunny day, and it truly looked surreal inside. The windows brought in pools of light that completely lit up the floor. I wandered through different terraces and stairs, watching people talk quietly, laugh loudly, and take photos. The view of London was beautiful. I could see the winding river, modern skyscrapers for miles, and everything historical in between.
I spoke with Virginia, who was sitting at the top enjoying her coffee. She comes to Sky Garden all the time, not as a tourist, but as a regular, looking for a break from the city. She works nearby, and she calls the space a “reset.” “If I’ve had a stressful morning,” she begins, “I’ll book a ticket and come up here for half an hour. It clears my head!” Curious about how she spends her time there, I asked what she enjoys most. She loves people-watching, specifically, seeing tourists’ faces light up when they see the view.
Throughout speaking with her and learning her story, I realized that for Londoners, the garden is truly more than a tourist attraction. It's an escape. For me, I found it really cool to see how sustainability has become such an integral part of life here.
Virginia also mentioned how the plants bloomed year-round, which led me to do some research. The terraces are filled with everything from Mediterranean plants like olive trees and lavender to South African species such as bird-of-paradise and succulents. These plants fill the space with color all year.
Built on sustainability, the building uses a fuel cell system that produces electricity, heat, and cooling at the same time, which significantly lowers its carbon emissions. It also uses solar panels and sustainable building materials such as certified timber. The glass and shading design helps control temperature, reducing the need for extra energy. Learning this explained the funny walkie-talkie shape. These features reflect Landsec’s commitment to sustainable development and responsible business practices. When done right, as the Sky Garden has, sustainability becomes a business advantage. Visitors from all over want to experience it.
I left the Sky Garden thinking it was really inspiring to see how everything was so intentional. Every single thing was built with a purpose. It showed me a way that design, sustainability, and businesses can work together and support each other. I think everyone should go if they have a chance. It's nearby, it's free, and it's such a cool way to experience London.
