Kensington roof gardens formerly known as derry and toms roof gardens and later the roof gardens is a private roof garden covering 6 000 square metres 65 000 sq ft on top of the former derry toms building on kensington high street in central london.
Is kensington roof gardens covered.
Originally opened in 1938 the gardens were open to the public until january 2018 when the leaseholder virgin limited edition was unable to reach an agreement with the freeholder about renewal of the lease.
A roof garden constructed 1936 1938 by ralph hancock occupying 0 6 hectares on the roof of the former derry and toms department store in kensington high street.
1930s in the 1930s trevor bowen the vice president of barkers the kensington department store that owned the site and constructed the building in 1932 commissioned ralph hancock a leading landscape gardener to create the gardens.
Unfortunately the grade ii listed kensginton rooftop gardens were closed to the public in 2018.
The site at 99 kensington high street consists of the sixth and seventh floors of the former derry toms store.
The roof gardens was open to the public during this time.
Over a two year period hancock planted more than 500 species of plants and shrubs within 18 36 of growing media in the one and a half acre site.
The roof gardens cover 1 5 acres on top of the former derry and toms building on kensington high street making it the largest roof garden in europe.
Virgin limited edition occupied the roof gardens as a tenant from 1981 2018.
The tripartite gardens spanish english and tudor form part of the design concept of the building.
The derry and toms roof gardens opened in may 1938.
Closed as of january 2018 virgin limited edition the most recent leaseholder was not able to reach an agreement with the freeholder about renewal of the lease.
Located on an art deco office block the roof gardens formerly known as derry and toms roof gardens and the kensington roof gardens is a 6 000 m2 exotic urban oasis situated six floors and 100 feet above kensington high street.
After 37 years of operation from 1981 2018 the space was officially closed to the public and there is no word as of yet as to when or if the beautiful garden will ever re open.
The plan is for the roof gardens to reopen in late 2019 or early 2020 mr rose said.
The roof gardens has now closed.