Open:

Saturday 08:00–22:30 + Sunday 08:00–21:00

Description:

Internationally renowned French architectural botanist Patrick Blanc has created a Vertical Garden that climbs ten floors of the exterior of the hotel. This outdoor living tapestry represents a fusion of the hotel with its Royal Parks environment, bringing the outside in and wrapping around the hotel’s façade to create a bridge between the urban and natural worlds – ‘a breath of wilderness in the midst of a city’.

The Vertical Garden, covering an area of 260sqm, is planted using a unique self-irrigation process, which allows plants to grow without soil on an irrigated vertical surface. A selection of over 260 plant types are featured, using mostly rare species from all over the world, including plants from both temperate and tropical climates. These include plants such as Adiantum capillus-veneris, (which Patrick feels is an exotic but curiously under-used species) Fascicularia bicolor from Chile, Fuchsia hatschbachii and Fuchsia regia from South Brazil and Stachyurus salicifolius - the beautiful evergreen shrub. Finally, one of Patrick’s favourite plants the Iris japonica, which he rates as a perfectly architected species.

Patrick’s approach to his work is not purely aesthetic, but focuses on the ecological benefits of the Living Wall, which allows the opportunity to add nature to a place where man once removed it. The Athenaeum Living Wall will become a valuable shelter for biodiversity, and will add nature to the daily life of not only hotel guests but of London’s residents alike.

Architectural botanist:

Patrick Blanc

Activities:

Floral afternoon tea served in the Garden Room. £27.50 per person, or £34 including a glass of champagne.

Entrance:

116 Piccadilly
Nearest postcode: W1J 7BJ

Buses:

9, 14, 19, 22, 38

Station:

Green Park

Dogs:

Working assistance dogs only

Further information:

• Street Map
• Map of nearby gardens
• Garden's web site
• Printable version