SoftServe City Guide｜London
Starting from delicate and tangible experiences,
through the eyes of designers,
we explore different natural and cultural settings
to discover more ways products can be used.
Follow SoftServe’s steps through London,
and rediscover the quality of everyday life.
Barbican Conservatory
Located in East London, the Barbican Centre is a multi-functional
complex combining a concert hall, art galleries, theatres, libraries, restaurants, and bars.
Known for its rugged concrete forms and expansive exterior,
it is a classic example of Brutalist architecture.
Beneath its raw and intricate structure lies a huge tropical conservatory
—Barbican Conservatory.
This rooftop garden houses over 2,000 species of tropical plants and trees.
The greenery softens the building’s edges,
bringing energy and vitality to the stark architecture.
Towering plants create an immersive environment,
with vines cascading down exposed concrete walls,
while dense vegetation grows alongside the Barbican’s stark urban landscape.
Walking through the humid air,
one feels momentarily transported to a romantic tropical rainforest.
📍 Silk St, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS
St. John Restaurant
St. John is a traditional British restaurant established in 1994.
With a history of over 30 years,
it has earned numerous awards, including a Michelin star.
Behind its minimalist white industrial interior lies a bold,
rustic flavor that has won countless admirers.
The restaurant’s philosophy, “Nose to Tail Eating,”
revives traditional countryside cooking,
making full use of every part of the animal without waste.
They are known for dishes featuring offal—heart, liver, kidney,
and tongue—prepared with simplicity and honesty.
Plating is modest and unadorned, focusing purely on flavor.
The menu changes daily according to fresh ingredients,
updated on the blackboard and online.
The “Roast Bone Marrow Parsley Salad” is one of its signature dishes.
Rich roasted marrow served on crisp toast,
balanced with parsley’s slight bitterness, red onion’s sweetness,
and a touch of lemon freshness that cuts through the richness—
a quintessentially British flavor, simple yet deeply satisfying.
📍 26 St John St, Barbican, London EC1M 4AY
London Garden Museum
Walking west along the Thames,
you’ll find the London Garden Museum beside Lambeth Palace,
overlooking the Houses of Parliament.
The museum combines indoor and outdoor spaces
—church, garden, exhibition halls, café, library, and viewing terrace
—into one cohesive experience.
Once the Victorian-era St. Mary-at-Lambeth Church,
its preserved architecture and stained glass windows beautifully
complement the garden art inside.
Exhibits display a rich collection of horticultural tools, plant art, photography,
and drawings,
documenting the evolution of gardening as an art form.
Visitors can learn about history and culture,
and even craft unique handmade pieces in the workshop,
immersing themselves in the aesthetics of living with plants.
Designed by landscape architect Christopher Bradley-Hole,
the courtyard blends architectural form with warmth,
while a small greenhouse adds a touch of charm.
Inside, a rare plant sanctuary by Dan Pearson offers tranquility and beauty,
where visitors can enjoy the peace brought by nature.
The museum’s changing exhibitions and seasonal gardens
celebrate the enduring place of horticulture in modern life.
Here, plants truly have the power to heal.
📍 5 Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 7LB
The Wolseley
On Piccadilly stands a building completed in 1921,
elegant and traditional—home to The Wolseley,
a restaurant with nearly a century of history,
whose English breakfast ranks among Forbes’ Global Top 10.
Behind its black doors and gilded chandeliers,
well-dressed doormen greet you into a grand interior.
French-style arches, soaring ceilings,
and massive chandeliers gleam above black-and-white tiled floors,
recalling the opulence of a classical palace steeped in history.
Antique silver tableware adds a refined touch.
The classic full English breakfast is the highlight—
perfectly cooked eggs, crisp bacon and sausage, juicy tomatoes, and mushrooms.
The “Caramelised Grapefruit” stands out with its unique balance of
bitterness and sweetness,
a delightful combination of citrus freshness and warm caramel flavor.
Throughout The Wolseley, elegantly dressed guests read newspapers
and enjoy their meals,
as if transported back to London’s golden age,
savoring the timeless charm of old Europe.
📍 160 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9EB
Labour and Wait
In the lively Shoreditch district of East London stands Labour and Wait,
a charming lifestyle store with a nostalgic yet modern character.
Its green-tiled façade, black doorframe,
and curved glass windows give it a distinct vintage look.
The shop offers practical, beautifully designed goods sourced from around the world—
durable items for everyday use that combine function and style.
From household tools and stationery to clothing and accessories,
each piece is thoughtfully arranged with warmth and order,
turning the shop into a living museum of daily life.
Owners Simon and Rachel, both former menswear designers,
grew tired of the fast-paced world of fashion.
They turned instead to timeless design—honest, functional, and enduring.
Their philosophy values quality and longevity,
choosing objects that age gracefully and remain meaningful over time.
Here, branding takes a back seat to sincerity.
Like a good friend sharing lasting good taste,
Labour and Wait reflects its name—simple, humble, and quietly beautiful.
📍 85 Redchurch St, London E2 7DJ
