Hidden six storeys above Kensington High Street sits one of west London's most remarkable green spaces. The Derry & Toms Roof Gardens, opened in May 1938, remain the largest of their kind in Europe and one of Kensington's best-kept architectural secrets.
A Department Store Born in Kensington
The story begins in 1860 when Joseph Toms opened a small drapery shop on Kensington High Street. Two years later, he formed a partnership with Charles Derry, establishing the name that would grace the building for more than a century. By 1920, the business had been acquired by John Barker & Company, which already operated the famous Barkers department store nearby. The new owners commissioned architect Bernard George to design an ambitious Art Deco replacement building, which opened in 1933 with metalwork by Walter Gilbert and panel reliefs depicting "Labour & Technology" by Charles Henry Mabey Jr.
The new building's flat roof presented an opportunity. Trevor Bowen, vice-president of Barkers of Kensington, had recently visited New York's Rockefeller Center and seen the "Gardens of the Nations" created by Welsh landscape architect Ralph Hancock on the eleventh floor of the RCA Building. Bowen commissioned Hancock to create something similar above Kensington High Street.
The Creation of a Rooftop Oasis
Between 1936 and 1938, Hancock laid out 6,000 square metres of gardens at a cost of Β£25,000. The project required significant engineering: the roof was designed to bear one hundredweight per square foot, with a drainage layer of brick and clinker beneath the soil. Water came from the store's own artesian wells. When the gardens opened in May 1938, officially launched by the Earl of Athlone, they contained more than 500 varieties of trees and shrubs.
The gardens were divided into three distinct sections. The Spanish Garden drew inspiration from the Alhambra, featuring Moorish-style fountains, vine-covered walkways, and Chusan palms. The Tudor Garden offered archways, secret corners, and hanging wisteria planted with roses, lilies, and lavender. The English Woodland Garden contained a stream, a pond, and over 100 tree species; some specimens from the original 1938 planting survived into the twenty-first century. Four flamingos, named Bill, Ben, Splosh, and Pecks, became long-term residents of the water garden.
Public Benefit for Local Hospitals
From their inception, the gardens served a charitable purpose. Admission cost one shilling, with all proceeds donated to local hospitals. Over three decades, visitors contributed Β£120,000 to medical facilities in the area. This public-spirited approach made the gardens an integral part of Kensington's community fabric, accessible to residents and visitors alike.
Decades of Change
Derry & Toms ceased trading in 1973, and the following year the building briefly housed "Big Biba," the legendary boutique that dominated British fashion. After Biba's closure, the gardens might have been lost. However, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea issued a Tree Preservation Order in 1976 protecting more than 100 trees. The entire building was listed Grade II* in 1981, and the gardens themselves achieved Grade II status on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens in 1998.
Virgin Limited Edition acquired the roof garden and pavilion lease in 1981, converting the tea pavilion into RΓ©gine's nightclub in 1978 and later establishing the Babylon restaurant in 2001. The venue became known for attracting celebrity visitors including Madonna, Kate Moss, and Claudia Schiffer. Princess Catherine, now the Princess of Wales, also visited the gardens during this period.
Closure and Reinvention
The gardens closed to the public in January 2018 when Virgin Limited Edition could not agree lease renewal terms with the freeholder. After four years of uncertainty, entrepreneur Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder of OVO Energy and Vertical Aerospace, acquired the site in 2021. The gardens reopened in 2024 as an exclusive private members' club, ending 86 years of public access.
On 26 January 2026, a fire destroyed the plant room on the roof, requiring 80 firefighters to bring the blaze under control. No injuries were reported, and the building reopened days later. The venue continues to operate as a private club and nightclub.
Local Relevance and Access Today
Located at 99 Kensington High Street, the gardens sit directly above units now occupied by Marks & Spencer, H&M, Japan House London, and Gap. Office spaces house Sony Music UK and Warner Music Group. The nearest Underground station remains High Street Kensington. Adjacent Derry Street preserves the name of the store's co-founder.
The transition from a public attraction that raised funds for local hospitals to a private members' club represents a significant shift in how Kensington residents can engage with this historic space. While the gardens remain physically present above the High Street, general access is no longer available to local residents. The change reflects broader trends in central London, where historic public spaces increasingly serve exclusive clientele.
