[oniony]

So strange to talk about the Barbican Centre as a curiousity and to not mention the greenhouse! I used to work around the area and would take 'short cuts' from the Barbican tube station through the Barbican Centre to the City. I got lost many, many times, would end up in dead ends, or the other side of lakes to where I wanted to be. Or stuck behind a metal gate I could not open. The place often taunts you with a view of right where you want to be but from behind a thin metal fence or gate that requires a key or fob.

Anyhow, one day I went a different way and there was this massive, tropical greenhouse. Kinda hard to believe if you've ever seen the place.

https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/visit-the-co...

[farslan]

Op. The greenhouse was closed, hence I hadn't a chance to photograph the place. There are too many details about that place, and I only shared the pieces that I've had chance to thoroughly visit.

[oniony]

Yeah, was not a criticism, merely a "and you think that's all weird, there's also this" kinda statement.

[farslan]

All good, thanks for mentioning it. I really want to visit it. The tour guide said it's open on certain days/hours.

[fch42]

You can booked timed tickets at https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/visit-the-co... but when it's open on weekends, one can also often just walk in. It's a great place to visit. Entrance is free.

As far as I'm aware, the Barbican Conservatory (Greenhouse) will close for refurbishment at a point next year though. When you go currently, they'll have details of the plans for public consultation. So see it while you can (or then again in 2030 or so).

[mattkevan]

I love the greenhouse, it’s one of my favourite places in London. Walking around it, exploring the different levels and observing the plants covering the concrete and ductwork makes me feel like I’m in some kind of retro-futuristic space arcology.

Such a contrast to the Sky Garden in the City which has all the charm of an airport departure lounge.

[Angostura]

Don’t forget the only reason the greenhouse (conservatory) exists is to camouflage the fly-tower from the theatre stage below!

[halfdaft]

It is! - except it's to hide the fly tower from the outside. The fly tower wasn't part of the original design. The first resident theatre company to be - the Royal Shakespeare company insisted upon one so the architects but came up with the genius idea of hiding it with a conservatory. I discovered this when working in the theatre space. I went exploring the fly tower (as you do) and opened a door at the top. I assumed I'd see some dark service corridor, but instead emerged into the warm, humid, nighttime air of a huge conservatory - it was easily the most magical architectural experience I've ever had.

[satori99]

I wasn't sure what you were discussing. Like, what is a fly tower? So I went down a barbican rabbit hole and found this part of a video, where one of the theatre fly techs describes the same thing as you!

https://youtu.be/uDdTUBk-qjo?t=140

[ralfd]

Can’t watch the video. What is a fly tower?

[satori99]

The 'flys' are the enormous curtains and backdrops used in theatre productions. They are raised and lowered to set new scenes in a production. They need a large space to be raised into, above the stage--which is known as a fly tower.

[stavros]

Can you just walk in? Or do you need tickets? I see there are free tickets but they're sold out.

[darajava]

Yeah you need tickets for the greenhouse. They're usually sold out for a few days ahead. You don't need a ticket for the rest of it though!

[stavros]

Thank you!

[lozenge]

If you take the paid architecture tour, it does have a stop in the greenhouse, but the lights might be off/emergency lighting only.

[stavros]

That's probably fine if it's in the day, no?

[jaqalopes]

Sounds like the perfect setting for a souls-like game.

[comprev]

Like walking around Venice - I spent more time retracing my steps than moving forward :)

[phatfish]

In the days where work events were worth attending, we had one at that conservatory. It is indeed worth a visit.