Super Peaceful at Superbloom

If you go down to the Tower of London today you’re sure of a big surprise.  You probably won’t find a Teddy Bears Picnic, but you will find Superbloom.

In celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a glorious meadow of brightly blooming flowers, grown from 20 million seeds has flooded the moat, and it really is a sight to behold.

This isn’t the first time the moat has been used for things other than protecting the tower.  Over its 1000 year history it has been used in several enterprising ways.

In 1292 it functioned as a fishery where young pike were hatched and kept.   During the 1890’s, livestock grazed and vegetables were grown, and during WW2, it was used as an allotment as part of the ‘Dig for Victory Campaign’.  Flowers have also previously featured in it’s history.  For the Queen’s silver jubilee in 1977, a display was formed from over 470,000 begonias.  So it’s association with living things goes back a long way.

What To Expect

The first sighting of the swathes of flowers is from the walkway as you approach along the public viewing platform. It is possible to simply view Superbloom from here, but to get the full experience, it is so much better to buy a ticket and immerse yourself in this peaceful escape from a notoriously busy part of London

Superbloom is an experience for all the senses.  In the evening when we visited, the light was soft after the glare of the harsh July sun.  A warm glow spread lazily across much of the flowers, and as the sun hid behind clouds, the colours changed accordingly.  As a light breeze swept through the moat, the flowers danced in unison, nodding their delicate heads and swaying their green slender bodies, their scent filling the air.

Deep blue and dusky red Cornflowers, powder pink cosmos, burnt umber sunflowers and the dazzling oranges and yellows of  california poppies, and Pot Marigolds, mingle with  clouds of powder white gypsophila.  Altogether they create the most beautiful magic carpet of flowers.

This has become a wildlife haven in the centre of London.  It has been designed as a biodiverse habitat to attract a diverse variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies and beetles. It was lovely to see so many busy bees working so hard as they flitted between blooms.

As you slowly make you way around the moat, the types of flowers and colour palette changes so that there is constantly different blooms to look at, and photograph of course.  It is such a peaceful and joyful experience.  We found ourselves exchanging smiles with everyone else who clearly felt as fortunate as us to be there.

As you wander through one area of the meadow, music plays.  A 20 minute piece of music called ‘Music For Growing Flowers’ plays has been composed by Scottish composer Erland Cooper, especially for Superbloom. It is a really soothing piece of music and perfectly compliments the natural environment whilst taking you away from the distracting sounds of the city.

If you want a little more excitement then, the slide is a must. We couldn’t resist a go, and even though I was wearing a long summer dress, I hitched it up, tied it in a knot, hopped onto my hessian sack and whizzed down with gay abandon, just about preserving my dignity!

The flower flooded moat is another example of the exciting creativity which thrives in London.  An iconic building has been used in an unexpected and innovative way. A sight that it would be rare to see even in the most rural idyll has been brought to life in one of the busiest cities in the world.

Of course the location of the Tower of London is stunning on its own, but the flowers are also viewed against the backdrop of other iconic buildings such as The Shard and Tower Bridge.  This all adds to the unique experience.

We visited on a gloriously sunny Friday evening in mid July, tickets were plentiful and it was pleasingly uncrowded.  I fully intend to go again at 9am during August.  I think it will be lovely to see it in a different light but also in a different stage of bloom.

The Practicalities

Open daily but times vary a little, so check the website.

From Thursday to Saturday it is open from 9am with last entry at 9pm.

Tickets: Adults £13.20 Child £6.60

Tickets available here.

From here, take a stroll to St Katherines Dock where there are numerous eating and drinking options.