Kensington hanging gardens are not related to the royal park "Kensington Gardens", although located nearby. This is a unique place for London occupies 6000 square meters at an altitude of tridtsatimetrovoy - on the roof of the former department store.

Department "Derry and Toms' was built in 1933, designed by George Bernard. On the building should pay attention - not very typical of the British style of the Art Deco friezes emphasize the graceful wrought metal (sculptor Walter Gilbert) and reliefs "Work and Technology" of Portland stone (work Mebeya Charles Jr.). And on the roof of the house are located wonderful gardens designed by the famed landscape designer of the first half of the XX century by Ralph Hancock. Planted them to the roof garden of Rockefeller Center in New York impressed Trevor Bowen, vice president of the company that owned department store builds. They say that hanging garden was a childhood dream of Bowen. He invited Hancock to realize this dream to life in the heart of London.

Hancock thought out everything carefully. First, put on the roof of a thick layer of mastic asphalt waterproofing, and then - broken bricks and rubble to allow drainage. On top lay meter layer of soil, which are already planted plants. Water comes from our own artesian wells department.

Gardens were opened in 1938. Until now, they have not changed. First, for the inspection we took money (they all went to charity), but now, even though possession remains private, you can admire the gardens free of charge. It is necessary to enter to Derry Street (the door to the left of the sign "Kensington Street, 99"), accessible by elevator - and here they are, the gardens. They can pass freely, if there is time not spent a closed event.

Why speak in the plural - "gardens"? Because three of them: Spanish, Tudor-style garden and an English forest. Hancock roof divided into three completely different areas. Spanish impresses immediately: the Moorish style reminiscent of the gardens of the Alhambra. Fountains, a typical long and narrow swimming pool, climbing vines, palms, cypresses, a gallery with twisted columns, walls are decorated by the Spanish houses. Visitors have to remind themselves that they are in London.

Tudor garden looks more mysterious and less formal, brick arches, doorways, passages in the corners of the sanctuary, blooming wisteria, roses, lilies and lavender. Aroma there is stunning.

The forest garden is filled with more than a hundred species of trees and thousands of daffodils bloom in the spring, crocuses, anemones, muscari. Flowing creek with live fish in the pond ducks. If a visitor would think that four pink flamingos - a decorative figurines, he makes a mistake. Flamingos live, their name is Bill, Ben, very often Pecs and they - the pride of the owners of Kensington hanging gardens.