The Conservatory & Garden Room at The Barbican

The Barbican’s best-kept secret is without question its rooftop Conservatory, a delightfully incongruous space that houses exotic fish and over 2,000 species of tropical plants under its glass roof. Its treetops are overlooked by the large Conservatory Terrace, while the Garden Room on level three (a more contemporary space with views across the City of London) works well for drinks receptions, dinners and small awards ceremonies.

Despite its handy city-centre location, this space will transport guests to feeling like they’re out in the great outdoors, with its verdant foliage growing up from the ground and hanging from the walls helping to create an immediately calming atmosphere.

All kinds of events can be hosted in this beautiful, lush space with it creating a striking backdrop for live music evenings, presentations or meetings. Weddings are also commonly hosted here, and it’s not hard to see why. The surrounds mean you need to spend minimal amounts on décor and the in-house team are on hand to make sure your day goes without a hitch (apart from you guys getting hitched, of course).

If you’d like to host a canapes reception of a full dinner within the Conservatory, then the good news is that there’s a talented brigade of chefs behind the scenes waiting to create your perfect menu. From casual breakfasts and buffet lunches to full fine dining, there really is nothing that Searcys (the in-house caterers) haven’t seen before, and they’re able to work to any brief you set. If you plump for a traditional three course meal you can expect plates created from mostly British vegetables, meat and fish, in line with the Barbican’s commitment to sustainability. Menus change with the seasons but starters might feature a fresh crab salad with pickled cucumber, while mains could bring pork belly with celeriac and baby apple.

For drinks there’s a comprehensive list to choose from, allowing you to tailor the offering to your event.