A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting The Roof Gardens and oh my what an amazing wedding venue it is!
Set amidst 1.5 acres of themed gardens on the 6th and 7th floor of a listed building high above London's bustling High Street Kensington, The Roof Gardens is a space like no other.
Let me walk you through my experience of this chic and unique London wedding venue…
I was greeted with a smile in the lobby of the tall listed building and directed to the lift {I didn't even need to press any buttons, that was done for me!} 7 Floors up I arrived at Babylon, where I found sumptuous sofas for relaxing, gorgeous mirrors, stylish green and white decor and a sleek bar. The restaurant was light and airy with wall to wall windows along one side revealing the most incredible views across London's skyline.
Abi, the sales co-ordinator at The Roof Gardens, and my guide for the day, led me out onto the balcony to take a better look. It really is spectacular. I can just imagine guests being spell bound by the iconic views of the city, pointing out iconic landmarks such as The Millenium Wheel and ‘The Gherkin'…
Then, on looking down, I was taken aback by the beauty of the manicured gardens on the 6th floor! It is the perfect place for flamingo spotting. Yes, that's right. The Kensington Roof Gardens have resident flamingoes. How charming and unique!
Abi told me that couples can hire out the Babylon restaurant and have an intimate wedding in the small but perfectly formed conservatory style room which looks out over London and is tastefully furnished in neutral colours.
Then we went down to the 6th floor where they have some seriously pretty flocked wallpaper. This is where the club nights take place at the weekends and are famed for being a place to spend a top night out in London. {Imagine how good their sound system would be for your reception party!}
There are huge windows looking out onto the gardens, lots of white, minimalist furniture and high ceilings. It really is a fantastic space, the perfect blank canvas for couples to add their own unique stamp to it and furnish as they wish.
Then it was time for a tour of the themed gardens. {My favourite part of the visit!}
Here's what the brochure says:
The English Woodland: This is undoubtedly at its best in the spring months, when thousands of narcissus, crocus, muscari and anemones burst into life. Here you will also find Bill, Ben, Splosh and Pecks – our four resident flamingos. We also have a number of resident ducks which all have clipped wings to keep them within the safe confines of our unique habitat.
The Tudor Garden: This garden is filled with evergreen shrubs surrounded by fragrant lilies, roses and lavender in the summer months, while wisteria fills the air with its delicate fragrance.
The Spanish Garden: Based on the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, this garden has a distinct Moorish flavour.
The gardens are all absolutely beautiful. You don't feel like you're in the heart of a busy city as it's so serene. I had a wonderful time walking through them and hearing all about the beautiful weddings that have taken place there. {Luckily for me Abi is a fellow wedding geek too!}
But this is not just a summer venue as the clubhouse and the Babylon restaurant have large floor to ceiling windows with fantastic views of the gardens in all seasons. The team at The Roof Gardens also place marquees with heaters outside during Winter so people can still enjoy the gardens even when the weather's not at it's best.
The photos of the gardens lit up at night are something else!
I loved my visit so much that I went back the following week with Zee to sample the delights of the Babylon restaurant at lunchtime. {Best pumpkin soup…ever. Fact.} That's another brilliant thing about this venue, you can rest assured that the food and the service will be impeccable.
Zee was just as impressed as I was {he took many, many photos of the flamingoes!} and he even quipped “I wished we'd known about this place for our wedding.” Which broke my heart a teeny tiny little bit but also confirmed that I HAD to write a post about this gorgeous venue and that we have to arrange a night out at the club…asap.
{I've also informed Zee that he is to arrange a ‘surprise' 30th birthday party there for me in a few years!}
If you are looking for a London venue with a difference, that has that chic city feel but also the peace and quiet of a more natural environment, then the Kensington Roof Gardens is the venue for you.
There are a number of different Wedding Packages available to couples depending on their budgets and number of guests.The Roof Gardens events team can arrange receptions from a minimum of 50 guests to larger, more elaborate celebrations for 200+ guests!
The Roof Gardens are licensed to hold wedding ceremonies too, so you could spend your whole wedding day at the venue or simply hold your reception there. The fabulous events team can support you as much or as little as you'd like with the styling of your day.
I'd like to say a big thank you to Abi for kindly showing me around the venue and answering my questions. In fact, everybody at The Roof Gardens who I've spoken to via email or in person at the venue itself, has been very kind and helpful. So brides, rest assured that if you do book The Roof Gardens for your special day, you and your wedding will be in safe, experienced and stylish hands!
To find out more about this chic and unique venue visit the Kensington Roof Gardens website.
Date for your Diary: They are also having a wedding showcase on Saturday 16th April from 12-3pm where couples can experience all the venue has to offer first hand!
{The Roof Gardens are part of Virgin Limited Edition, a luxury hotel group, with other amazing venues around the world. So do take a peek if you're looking for a destination wedding venue!}
I'd love to hear your thoughts…is this, in fact, the perfect London wedding venue?
