London’s Barbican is well worth a visit, not just for its eye-opening exhibitions and artsy cinema, but because it also happens to have a huge, very cool conservatory attached to it, too.

The shadows of sweeping trees and gnarled cacti can be spotted almost immediately from the outside, peeking through the panes of glass that sit beside the cultural hub’s brutalist architecture.

Once inside, the mass of plants that sprout from various levels, growing in wild shapes and tangling together will leave you dazzled, trying to take it all in.

Explore the various quiet corners, where you might find an art student sketching or a solitary soul reading a book. Trot across the romantic mini-bridge arching over one of the water features and explore the unmissable cacti room, which is filled with every type of succulent and desert plant you could imagine.

The conservatory is only open on select Sundays so make sure you check times before you go, and if you’re feeling fancy, book yourself into the afternoon tea which takes place in the centre of the botanical action.

See more information here.

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