Sky Garden: life in the clouds in London
What things can be done in London with a Walkie-Talkie? Have dinner, drink a cocktail at a bar or on a terrace, exercise, attend a conference, stroll through a vertical garden or enjoy a new view of the city.
Like other large cities on the planet (see Dubai and Tokyo), the British capital has set out in recent years to find a way to live in the clouds . First they planted flamingos on a roof in Kensington, then came the London Eye, the Ferris wheel from which to observe the city from a bird's eye view; later Norman Foster's “gherkin” was added, an office building on the heights; and then it was The Shard, Renzo Piano's skyscraper with the tallest hotel and restaurant in Europe. It is actually the only way to create new spaces of some interest in the complicated center of the city.
Here's the 'Walkie-Talkie' you need to visit
The Sky Garden is the leisure area at the top of the new building located in the 20 Fenchurch Street , created by the Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly and financed by Qatar, like almost all the great recent constructions in London. After passing airport security checkpoints and accessing an elevator that rises up to the 35th floor of the skyscraper , an urban garden with much to offer opens up before your eyes.
The first thing that catches your eye are the 360-degree views of London and its surroundings , because the almost 160 meters high walkie-talkies they greatly expand the sights between the windows of this building. In the open space created in what is the highest garden in the city You can book yoga classes or attend DJ sessions between Thursday and Sunday nights.
Those who don't mind clothes invest money in trying new tables, the Sky Garden offers three options . The Fenchurch Restaurant overlooks the west of the city and focuses on various menus of oysters and other marine delicacies. Recently, he has a tasting menu which summarizes its menu in a single order of six dishes, between 50 and 110 pounds (68 and 150 euros). And the Sunday lunch costs from 32 pounds (44 euros).
Fenchurch Restaurant
That its Viñoly room, in honor of the father of this tower, have only place for 16 people It gives a good account of the exclusiveness of the place. Not much more accessible is the **Sky Pod Bar,** two floors below. In addition to suggesting a careful dress code, although casual, if you are going to attend at night and neither flip-flops nor shorts are welcome (and those under 16 only if accompanied by an adult). Waiting queues for reservations are more than 60 days , although at certain times the entrance is free if you are going to spend only a while at the bar.
In this place: neither flip-flops nor shorts
For many, the best views are in the third restaurant in contention, the Darwin Brasserie , with British cuisine and whose prices are also somewhat more relaxed, although the rules of conduct are the same as in neighboring establishments. Its strengths are on Sundays, for its brunches and dinners dedicated to ending the week with a full stomach.
Brunch and very abundant dinners for Sunday
To access all three floors of the Sky Garden, If you do not have a reservation at any of its bars and restaurants, you have to register for free from its website . This system is necessary because places are limited and the availability of dates runs out quickly, but it is a great advantage compared to its immediate competitor: The Shard, which has also arrived in London in recent months, charges 25 pounds to visit its observatory . Renting a room at the spectacular Shangri-La hotel is not exactly cheaper. Although another way to access the Sky Garden is to rent a part of the premises for private events, to celebrate whatever you want with your 450 best friends...
Follow @HLMartinez2010
*** You may also be interested in...**
- Everything you're missing in the Marylebone neighborhood
- Albertopolis (i.e. South Kensington): Chronicle of London's early gentrification
- Five restaurants in London to eat well and repeat
- Recipes for the perfect afternoon tea and where to taste it in London
- 100 things you should know about London
- 25 things about London that you will only know if you have lived there
- 22 things you miss about Spain now that you don't live here
- No tie and crazy: 13 things to do in the City of London
- I want to be like Peckham: the new neighborhood you have to discover in London
- Everything you need to know about London
- All articles of Hector Llanos