Eat your heart out above London!

I seem to have done a lot of raving about new gardens I've visited recently ... and I make no apology for doing it again today, because I've just had lunch at the wonderful Babylon rooftop restaurant in London and had the chance to wander around the The Roof Gardens there in between the downpours .... and it's absolutely amazing!!! The pergola (above), definitely gets a place in my pergola parlour, the views over London are fantastic, and the food, which is after all why I went there, is commendable. All in all a great day out!!

The restaurant is perched on the top of what used to be Derry & Tom's, the once famous department store in Kensington High Street, and the The Roof Gardens - which extend to an amazing 1.5 acres - are on the floor below, so if you're sitting out on the terrace, you have wonderful views over the greenery beneath you. It's a magical setting for lunch and you also get fine views of London! Today both restaurant and gardens are part of the Virgin empire.

The gardens are divided into four distinct areas - a Spanish Garden modeled on the Alhambra in Grenada, Spain; a Tudor Garden (below); an English Woodland garden (bottom) and a Japanese garden (above) and there are even ducks and flamingoes wandering around as though they own the place! It's really quite enchanting.

I'm sure you'll agree looking at these pictures, that it's hard to believe this is all above busy Kensington High Street in London. But if you've got the time and you're up in town, or visiting from overseas, this is one to aim for ... especially on a summer's day, when you can eat outside.

Babylon offers a set price menu (two or three courses) or a la carte and the food is excellent, but do book ahead, because I suspect that you could be disappointed if you don't. Full details and sample menus are available on their website (including prices for set menus).

Just a brief note to my readers in case you wonder why I love so many places ..... it's simply because I don't write about anywhere that I don't like!! There are many gardens that I've visited that don't make the grade for me, but rather than write negative comments, I leave them out altogether! GG