Sky Garden, Public garden and viewpoint in City of London, England
Sky Garden is a public garden and viewpoint in the City of London district, occupying the top three floors of a 38-story office building. The vaulted glass ceiling covers a space with terraces, walkways and planted areas that feel like the inside of a large greenhouse.
The building was completed in 2014 and nicknamed the Walkie-Talkie because its curved shape recalls a handheld radio. The garden opened to the public one year later as a trade-off for the lack of green space at street level.
The winter garden holds more than 2,000 plants from different climate zones and invites visitors to walk among palms and ferns while looking out at the city through the glass facade. On sunny days the windows open and the space becomes an airy terrace where Londoners and guests chat over drinks.
Entry is free but requires online booking, ideally several days ahead, as slots fill quickly. Early mornings or weekday visits tend to be less crowded, and elevators take visitors directly to the 35th floor.
The curved shape of the tower acted as a giant mirror in 2013, focusing sunlight so intensely that it partly melted a parked car below. After that incident, sun-shading fins were added to the facade to prevent further damage.
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