London’s best indoor green spaces to escape the winter blues
When the winter chill sets in and the London skies are often grey and rainy, indoor green spaces offer the perfect escape. From towering tropical plants to lush Victorian conservatories, here are some of the most remarkable indoor gardens to visit in London, providing a serene environment for relaxation and inspiration, no matter the weather.
Barbican Conservatory

Barbican Conservatory, Barbican Centre. © MTotoe.
#FLODown: Step into a hidden world of exotic plants and trees at the Barbican Conservatory, a tropical oasis nestled within the iconic Barbican Centre. London’s second-largest conservatory is home to over 2,000 species of plants from around the globe. The dense foliage, flowing water features, and towering trees create a botanical jungle atmosphere, offering a peaceful retreat in the heart of the city. The conservatory also hosts special events, adding a unique touch to your visit.
Location: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS. Opening hours: Friday - Sunday; Friday 6.30pm - 9.30pm, Sunday Noon - 7pm. barbican.org.uk.
Sky Garden

Sky Garden. © MTotoe.
#FLODown: Imagine wandering through a garden while gazing at panoramic views of London’s skyline—this is what the Sky Garden offers. Situated on the 35th floor of the famous Walkie Talkie building, the Sky Garden is an urban oasis where you can enjoy a range of plants from around the world, including palm trees and ferns. The garden’s open terraces offer a relaxing space to take in the view, while the immersive greenery provides a welcome contrast to the city below. Admission is free when you book in advance.
Location: 20 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 3BY. Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 10am – 6pm(last entry at 5:45 pm); Saturday – Sunday: 11am – 9pm; Bank Holidays: 11am – 9pm. skygarden.london.
Temperate House at Kew Gardens

Temperate House, Kew Gardens. © MTotoe.
#FLODown: The Temperate House at Kew Gardens is the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore a stunning collection of temperate plants from diverse climates around the globe. Home to plants from regions such as South Africa, Australia, and the Mediterranean, the glasshouse showcases a rich array of species, from towering trees to delicate ferns. The grandeur of its 19th-century architecture, with intricate ironwork and soaring glass panes, makes it not just a botanical marvel, but a visual delight. Recently restored, the Temperate House now features enhanced displays and a dedicated space to learn about plant conservation. It is a must-visit for plant enthusiasts and anyone seeking a peaceful escape among nature’s wonders.
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE. Opening hours: Open daily from 10 am - 4pm. Website:kew.org.
Crossrail Place Roof Garden

Crossrail Place Roof Garden. June 2023. © MTotoe.
#FLODown: The Crossrail Place Roof Garden offers a quiet sanctuary in Canary Wharf. Set beneath a striking curved roof, this garden features a diverse range of plants from around the world. Wooden walkways wind through the lush greenery, providing a tranquil space to relax and enjoy the variety of plant life, including tropical ferns and vibrant flowers. With its calming atmosphere, it’s the perfect place for a peaceful break from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Location: Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AR. Opening hours: Daily from 9am - 9pm. canarywharf.com.
Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew Gardens

Orchids at The Princess of Wales Conservatory, Kew Gardens, celebrating the remarkable biodiversity of Madagascar. © RBG Kew.
#FLODown: The Princess of Wales Conservatory, one of three great indoor green spaces at Kew Gardens, features ten distinct climatic zones that bring together a diverse range of plants from tropical rainforests to arid deserts. These biomes showcase an incredible variety of plant life, from vibrant orchids to towering cacti. The conservatory also hosts the annual Orchid Festival, held every February. The 2025 festival, running from 1 February to 2 March, will be inspired by the beauty of Peru.
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE. Opening hours: Open daily from 10 am - 4pm. kew.org.
Palm House at Kew Gardens

#FLODown: The Palm House at Kew Gardens is a remarkable example of Victorian glasshouse architecture, housing an impressive variety of tropical plants. As you step inside, you’re greeted by warm, humid air and towering palms, creating the feeling of being transported to a cosy tropical paradise. It’s the perfect place to visit on a crisp winter’s day, where you can enjoy the fragrant scents of exotic plants, the vibrant green foliage, and the gentle sounds of water features—a welcoming escape from London’s cold weather.
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE. Opening hours: Daily 10am - 4pm. https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-in-the-gardens/palm-house
Robyn Orlin had her first encounter with the rickshaw drivers of Durban at the young age of five or six, an experience that left such a deep impression on her that she later sought to learn more about their fate. Rickshaws were first introduced to Durban in 1892…
TOZI, derived from the affectionate Venetian slang for “a close-knit group of friends,” is the brainchild of an Italian trio that met while opening Shoreditch House under the Soho House Group. In 2013, Chef Maurilio Molteni, fresh from his time as Head Chef at Shoreditch House and developing the menu at Cecconi’s, opened the first TOZI restaurant in London…
Multitudes at Southbank Centre will reimagine live music through bold collaborations across dance, theatre, and visual arts…
Multitudes Festival · Ed Atkins, Tate Britain · Brick Lane Jazz Festival · Teatro La Plaza’s Hamlet · Holly Blakey: A Wound with Teeth & Phantom · Roof East · Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival 2025 · London Marathon 2025 · ROOH – Within Her · Sultan Stevenson Presents El Roi · Carmen at The Royal Opera House · The Big Egg Hunt 2025 · Architecture on Stage: New Architects · The Friends of Holland Park Annual Art Exhibition 2025
Autumn 2025 will bring two exciting exhibitions to the Barbican: ‘Dirty Looks’, a bold fashion exhibition exploring imperfection and decay, and an innovative art installation by Lucy Raven in The Curve…
Robyn Orlin: We wear our wheels with pride · Architecture on Stage: Lütjens Padmanabhan · Jay Bernard: Joint · Black is the Color of My Voice · Joe Webb Trio · Rhodri Davies at Cafe OTO · Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award 2025 · Lyon Opera Ballet: Cunningham Forever · AVA London · Sister Midnight · Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo · Eunjo Lee · Arpita Singh: Remembering · Fiona Banner aka The Vanity Press: Disarm · Bunhead Bakery · Time & Talents
Looking for something truly special this Mother’s Day? There are a variety of unique gifts and experiences to take advantage of in London, whether your mother loves exploring world-class art galleries and museum exhibitions, wandering through historic homes filled with fascinating stories and remarkable collections, indulging in a luxurious spa treatment, or enjoying an unforgettable dining experience..
After 18 successful years at Edinburgh Fringe, The Big Bite Size Show arrives in London for the first time at The Pleasance Theatre, no less. A gem of a place for fringe theatre in London…
180 Studios will present the largest showcase of photographer and filmmaker Gabriel Moses’ work to date, featuring over 70 photographs and 10 films in March…
Cartier Exhibition at the V&A · Giuseppe Penone: Thoughts in the Roots · Antony Gormley: WITNESS · Richard Wright at Camden Art Centre · The Carracci Cartoons: Myths in the Making · Eileen Perrier: A Thousand Small Stories · Ed Atkins at Tate Britain · Richard Hunt: Linear Peregrination · Nolan Oswald Dennis at Gasworks · Nora Turato: pool7 · In House: Ree Bradley and Pete Gomes at Studio Voltaire…
The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art at Kew Gardens will showcase new botanical works, cinematic installations, and the connections between artists and trees…
Orchid Festival · Alice Sara Ott: John Field & Beethoven · Our Mighty Groove at Sadler’s Wells East · Seth Troxler at Fabric · North London Laughs – A Charity Comedy Night · London Symphony Orchestra: Half Six Fix – Walton · In Focus: Amir Naderi · Artist Talk: Citra Sasmita - Into Eternal Land · Noah Davis at Barbican · Theaster Gates: 1965: Malcolm in Winter: A Translation Exercise · Ai Weiwei: A New Chapter · Galli: So, So, So · Somaya Critchlow: The Chamber
An important exhibition has opened at the National Gallery co-organised with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Mayor of Siena, Nicoletta Fabio was in attendance on opening day to mark the exhibitions significance. Normally a major exhibition would take two to three years to come to fruition, in this instance, it has been in the making for eight year…
Máret Ánne Sara to create 2025 Hyundai Commission as Tate and Hyundai extend partnership to 2036.
Claudia Pagès Rabal: Five Defence Towers · Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious · Heather Agyepong: Through Motion · Christina Kimeze · Citra Sasmita: Into Eternal Land · Mire Lee: Open Wound · Linder: Danger Came Smiling · Galli: So, So, So · Mickalene Thomas: All About Love …
Marylebone Village to host a week of events championing female founders and entrepreneurs, including a panel discussion and fundraising for the Marylebone Project…
Battersea Power Station will host Good Fit, a month-long event featuring workouts, mindfulness sessions, expert talks, and wellness experiences…
Trisha Brown Dance Company & Noé Soulier – Working Title & In the Fall · (LA)HORDE / Ballet National de Marseille – Age of Content · Lyon Opera Ballet – Merce Cunningham Forever (BIPED and Beach Birds) · Neither Drums Nor Trumpets – Pam Tanowitz · Robyn Orlin – We Wear Our Wheels with Pride
Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style · Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo · Arpita Singh: Remembering · 2025 Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize · The Craft of Carpentry: Drawing Life from Japan’s Forests · Grayson Perry: Delusions of Grandeur · Edvard Munch: Portraits · Ficre Ghebreyesus · Textiles: The Art of Mankind · Eunjo Lee…
Highsnobiety: Not In London · LFW Pop-Up Shop · 1664 Blanc Activation · Alo Wellness Activations · Dylon Detergent Pop-Up: Rethink New Laundrette · Morocco - Kingdom of Light at LFW · Pandora x Priya Ahluwalia Collection · Rixo Exclusive Event · Grow Hackney · Meanwhile…In Shoreditch · DREST · LFW Solana X HAPE Social X Never Fade Factory · London College of Fashion, UAL · Margaret Howell · Nosakhari: Able-Graphy Exhibition · Nosakhari · NET-A-PORTER…
Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels Festival · Arpita Singh: Remembering · Romeo and Juliet · Silent Disco at the Painted Hall · Winter Sculpture Park · Czech Philharmonic/Semyon Bychkov: Shostakovich 5 with Sheku Kanneh-Mason · Robyn Orlin: We Wear Our Wheels with Pride · Jasmin Vardimon NOW…
We are offering you the chance to win five pairs of tickets to the 21st edition of Collect Art Fair, the leading international art fair for contemporary craft and design.
Mickalene Thomas brings with her dazzling, vibrant, rhinestone-adorned portraits of Black women, collages, photographs, installations and sets in which she photographed her muses to London. Her selection of female subjects comes from family members, her circle of friends and ex-partners ensuring we see through the gaze of her sitters the love between them…
Kahani, located in the heart of Sloane Square, offers a contemporary twist on traditional Indian cuisine. The restaurant combines elegant decor with a relaxed yet refined atmosphere…
SOIL is an exhibition with earnest intentions but also a forward-thinking approach. Soil underpins all life on Earth, and while scientists have studied it for centuries, our understanding is still in its infancy…
Outspoken Southbank · Much Ado About · Late at Tate: 80s Valentine’s Special · Sketches of Spain · blackbird hour · Linder: Danger Came Smiling · Goya to Impressionism· The Face Magazine: Culture Shift · Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker · Mickalene Thomas: All About Love · Derrick Adams: Situation Comedy · Flowers – Flora in Contemporary · Hardeep Pandhal: Inner World · Southwark Music: Orchestral Playing Day · Randall & Aubin · Vauxhall City Farm
Since its launch in Morocco, 1-54 has not only contributed to the growing prominence of African contemporary art but has also played a pivotal role in cementing Marrakech as a major cultural destination. This year, the fair took place across two prestigious venues: the luxurious La Mamounia Hotel and DaDa, a multidisciplinary art space in the heart of the Medina…
Brasil! Brasil! is an extensive look at ten important artists in a major new exhibition at the Royal Academy featuring feature over 130 works from the 1910s to the 1970s…
The Cinnamon Club had completely flown under the radar for me. It is in a pocket of London I rarely visit, and even if I did, the building’s exterior gives little indication of what’s inside. But now that I’ve discovered it, I already have plans to return with my husband - and in my mind, a list of friends I would recommend it to…