London's Hidden Gardens

The Barbican Estate, one of London’s most famous mid-century modern constructions, conceals a botanical garden at the heart of this ‘brutalist’ complex. The Barbican Conservatory is a 23,000 square-foot jungle where you’d least expect it.

From here, exploring the old City of London through a new lens, the expert reveals hidden enclaves and histories known to very few.

'Wind your way from the Barber-Surgeons’ Garden with its historical collection of medicinal botanicals, to a garden grown within the bombed shell of an ancient church, before ascending to a green space that sprawls across the pinnacle of a contemporary skyscraper.

Return by private chauffeur to home for the night: the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London.

• The world’s first Seed Exchange Programme was established at the Chelsea Physic Garden in the heart of the Royal Borough in 1683, and it continues to this day, comprising almost 370 botanic gardens and 40 universities around the world.
• Founded by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, explore plants connected to the science of healing arranged over 4 acres, alongside the expert garden historian.

• Continue the journey by private chauffeur to Kew Gardens for privileged access to its unmatched botanical collection.
• Over hundreds of years, so-called ‘plant hunters’ toured the world, bringing back specimens to Kew for planting and study. The expert explores the interest and debate around the colonial practice of ‘appropriation’ and westernised naming of plants. Kew's Herbarium even includes plant specimens collected by Darwin whilst on his voyages to further understand Mankind’s origin as a species.