High above the bustling streets of Notting Hill Gate lies a garden most wouldn’t know exists. Tucked away from the hum of the city, the Portobello Sky Garden, affectionately named Olive & Bloom, is a secret sanctuary that floats serenely in the London sky.
Inspired by the fragrant, sun-drenched landscapes of the Mediterranean, this rooftop retreat captures a rare sense of escapism. Olive trees, their silvery leaves rustling gently in the breeze, anchor the space with a grounded sense of age and wisdom. Around them, a dreamy palette of lavender, birch, and jasmine mingles with airy hydrangeas, softening the edges and casting gentle movement across the garden. It’s a place where the seasons shift slowly, and the scent of crushed herbs and blooms lingers in the warm air.
The planting is as much about atmosphere as it is about ecology — agapanthus and drifts of Geranium ‘Rozanne’ add swathes of seasonal colour, while Choisya ‘Aztec Pearl’ glows in sunlit corners, reflecting light back into the space. Climbing jasmine and trailing clematis tumble over pergolas, blurring the line between sky and structure.
Designed not just for beauty but for serenity, this garden is a quiet antidote to the noise below. Every element, from the reclaimed stone pavers underfoot to the bespoke planters lining the terrace, contributes to a sense of intentional calm. It is a garden built not to impress, but to soothe — a place where London becomes a distant hum and nature takes centre stage.
