Geranium London

The Barbican Centre’s best kept secret

Madeline from London

<strong>About me</strong> When I moved to London after graduating in 2020, I didn’t plan to stay for long. My dream was to travel the world and moving to the Big Smoke just felt like a way to bide my time until the pandemic ended and international borders reopened. I found a simple job in a frozen yoghurt shop and spent my days off exploring the local sights. The lon...
"Shelves run all around the edge of the shop, piled high with upmarket store cupboard essentials in addition to handmade soaps and eco-friendly products."

Tucked away in the western corner of the Barbican Centre, Geranium is perhaps the most elusive organic food shop in London. It’s just far enough away from the main Barbican building to be off the average visitor’s route, and if I hadn’t happened to come across the one sign announcing its existence, I don’t suppose I’d have ever been any the wiser. It’s always, therefore, with a slight feeling of smug satisfaction that I enter the shop.

With its concrete walls and higgledy-piggledy plant displays, Geranium perfectly encapsulates the legendary “urban jungle” spirit of the Barbican Centre. Shelves run all around the edge of the shop, piled high with upmarket store cupboard essentials in addition to handmade soaps and eco-friendly cleaning products. A central table bears further treasures, among them fresh pastries, organic fruit and veg, and an array of stationery items. No gap is left unfilled. Instead, each one is occupied by ceramic dishes, vases of dried flowers or wine bottles turned candlestick holders.

The only drawback of Geranium is the limited opening hours: 11:00-18:00 on Thursdays and 10:00-16:00 on Saturdays. Then again, they say that good things come to those who wait…

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London Spotter Madeline

<strong>About me</strong> When I moved to London after graduating in 2020, I didn’t plan to stay for long. My dream was to travel the world and moving to the Big Smoke just felt like a way to bide my time until the pandemic ended and international borders reopened. I found a simple job in a frozen yoghurt shop and spent my days off exploring the local sights. The longer I stayed in London, however, the more attached I became to the people, places and the chaotic but exhilarating way of life. At times, making ends meet was challenging, but I knew this was where I ...

About this spot

Lauderdale Tower

Oat cakes:

£

2.40

+44

2076285742

Oct 29, 2025

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