I am thinking similar as Kara - if either of these plants, it is etiolated. I am surprised that it has so many 'heads' if grown in low light. Maybe it is some different plant?

Could it be an etoliated Jovibarba allionii?

Hello Kara, Rina and Chris, many thanks for the comments!

Kara- I've asked my friend who bought it to find out, it was at a little market in Brixton, that's all I've got! I wish I had a picture to upload of it when it was first given to me, it was totally enclosed, with dark purple like ends, I'm surprised how green it is now and how much it's opened up. I have kept it out of direct sunlight, in a room that receives sun from about 1-5pm, watering once every 5 days or so.

Rina- thank you for introducing me to the term etiolated. I guess now that I have mentioned that I keep it out direct sunlight, that is my first problem. Shame I live in the U.K where full sunlight is a rare thing

Chris - thank you for a name!! It definitely looks like a member of that family.

Very grateful for your help, have a lovely day!

Jovibarba and Sempervivums are related :)

They would grow best outdoors, as they are hardy succulents. Definitely in UK. Change in color and opening up of the rosette are signs of inadequate light. If you have access to outdoor space, you can grow them outdoors year round. Mine are still under some snow. They can be grown in ground or in containers. As long as drainage is good, they will do well - usually better than indoors.

In the UK, you'll only be able to grow Sempervivum and Jovibarba outdoors if they're protected fro rain. They're both very cold hardy, but both will die quickly if they stay wet. I suspect that watering it every 5 days is also too much (for any succulent), but it depends on how warm and dry your house is, what medium it's planted in, how much water you give it, the type of pot, how fast it's growing, etc.