Walk east in this garden and the plants are Asian. Walk west and they are American. The building sits on the Meridian, and the planting was laid out to match.
“Crossrail Place sits almost exactly on the Meridian line and the planting is arranged according to which hemisphere they are from with Asian plants such as bamboos to the east, and plants such as ferns from the Americas to the west.”
So the garden is a working map. The Prime Meridian runs through the middle of it, and the species on either side were chosen to sit in the hemisphere they come from.
It is the kind of design decision nobody tells you about on arrival, and once you know it the walk through becomes a different thing entirely. Start at one end.
Free, and open until sunset
“Free to visit and open daily to the public until 9pm or sunset in summer.”
One of London’s largest roof gardens, costing nothing, with no booking and no ticket.
Note the shape of that closing time: 9pm or sunset, whichever the season gives you. In December that means mid-afternoon; in June it means a long evening. Unlike the Sky Garden, there is no slot to book and nothing to queue for.
The garden is partly covered by a timber lattice roof, which makes it usable in light rain where most roof terraces are not.
There is an 80-seat amphitheatre, and the shows are free
Most people walk past it without realising what it is.
“Our 80-seater performance space ignites the imaginations of children and adults alike. In partnership with The Space Theatre, a local performing arts charity on the Isle of Dogs, we deliver performances of music, dance and theatre in this outdoor performance space.”
“All events delivered as part of this programme are free.”
Music, dance and theatre, outdoors, in a roof garden, at no cost. The programme is published under the estate’s What’s On listings.
Schools and community groups can perform. Individuals cannot
A clear and unusually direct restriction.
“We welcome local community groups, students, and amateur dramatics groups to use this amphitheatre to showcase their talents.”
Then: “We are unable to offer the space to individuals and for private hire.”
So it is free to use if you are a school or a community group on the Isle of Dogs or nearby, and unavailable at any price if you are a person with an idea. Enquiries go by email.
It sits on top of a station, and a cinema
The building is Crossrail Place, which is the Canary Wharf Elizabeth line station, and the garden is its roof.
That stacking is worth knowing for a day out: Everyman Canary Wharf is in the same building at Level Minus Two, directly below the garden.
So you can arrive by Elizabeth line, walk up to a free roof garden, and go down two floors to a cinema, without leaving the structure.
The wider estate is greener than its reputation
Canary Wharf publishes the numbers, and they are larger than most visitors assume of a financial district.
16.5 acres of landscaped parks, gardens and squares.
1,000 trees. 800 species of plants and trees. 14,000 plants added in 2022.
All of it free to visit. The other spaces include Eden Dock, Canada Square Park, Jubilee Park, Montgomery Square, Westferry Circus, Harbour Quay, Columbus Courtyard, Harbord Square Park and Cabot Square.
Jubilee Park is the one directly above the Jubilee line station and the easiest to combine with the roof garden.
How to plan it
Free, no booking, open daily to 9pm or sunset.
Walk it end to end, so the hemisphere planting makes sense: bamboo east, ferns west.
Winter: it closes at sunset, so go in the afternoon.
Light rain: the lattice roof makes it usable where open terraces are not.
Check What’s On for free amphitheatre performances.
Want to perform: schools and community groups only, by email, and no private hire.
Combine it with the cinema two floors down in the same building.
Crossrail Place Roof Garden
- Address
- Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf, London E14, on the roof of the Elizabeth line station
- Nearest
- Canary Wharf on the Elizabeth line, directly below, with the Jubilee line and DLR nearby
- Hours
- Open daily until 9pm, or sunset in summer
- Booking
- None needed. The amphitheatre is available free to local community groups, students and amateur dramatics groups by email, but not to individuals and not for private hire
- Price
- Free. Amphitheatre performances are also free
- Standing
- One of London’s largest roof gardens, partly covered by a timber lattice, with an 80 seat outdoor amphitheatre run in partnership with The Space Theatre on the Isle of Dogs
How to get in
Crossrail Place sits almost exactly on the Meridian line, and the planting is arranged by hemisphere to match: Asian species such as bamboo to the east, American species such as ferns to the west. The garden is free with no booking or slot, unlike the Sky Garden. The lattice roof makes it usable in light rain. Everyman Canary Wharf is in the same building at Level Minus Two, directly below.
Where to go next
Canary Wharf covers the rest of the estate, and Everyman Canary Wharf is two floors below in the same building.
The Sky Garden and Horizon 22 are the other free high gardens, and the best views compares them.
Questions we get asked
Is Crossrail Place Roof Garden free?
Yes, free to visit and open daily to the public until 9pm or sunset in summer, with no booking or timed slot required. The free performances in its 80-seat amphitheatre are also free to attend.
Why are the plants arranged that way at Crossrail Place?
Because the building sits almost exactly on the Meridian line, and the planting follows it. Species from the eastern hemisphere, such as bamboo, are planted on the east side, and species from the Americas, such as ferns, on the west. Walking the garden end to end takes you across the Prime Meridian.
What time does Crossrail Place Roof Garden close?
9pm, or sunset in summer. That means it closes in mid-afternoon in December and stays open for a long evening in June. It is open daily and is partly covered by a timber lattice roof, so it remains usable in light rain.
Can you perform at the Crossrail Place amphitheatre?
If you are a local community group, a school or an amateur dramatics group, yes, and for free, by emailing Canary Wharf. The estate states it cannot offer the space to individuals or for private hire, since the purpose is to engage local community and school groups.
How many green spaces are there at Canary Wharf?
The estate publishes 16.5 acres of landscaped parks, gardens and squares, with 1,000 trees, 800 species of plants and trees and 14,000 plants added in 2022. Alongside the roof garden there are Eden Dock, Canada Square Park, Jubilee Park, Montgomery Square, Westferry Circus, Harbour Quay, Columbus Courtyard, Harbord Square Park and Cabot Square, all free.
Written by Robert J Wills, no. 362 in the guide.
Last checked 6 October 2026 against the venues' own published information. Nobody pays to appear here and we take no bookings.
