Barbican Conservatory, London

The Barbican Conservatory is a nature centre woven into the Barbican Centre, with a remarkable setting above the theatre’s fly tower. It is London’s second largest conservatory, covering 23,000 square feet and sheltering more than 2,000 species of plants and trees. Look for the dense planting and the water inhabited by terrapins and koi carp: this is a working glasshouse as well as an unexpected habitat within the arts complex.

The conservatory opened in 1984, and its Arid House, devoted to cacti, followed in 1986. It will close in 2026 for a three-year renovation, which includes roof repairs and improved wheelchair access. The most striking fact remains the contrast between the building’s cultural purpose and this lush interior suspended above its theatre.