From secret gardens to world-famous botanical heritage sites, here are the best gardens in London to escape the city.
Famous Gardens in London
When we think of London, rich, lush vegetation isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind. This dazzling city however is home to some of the most beautiful, well-tended gardens in the world – some of which date back centuries. From secret gardens with resident herons to lavish royal parks once used by Henry the Eighth himself, there is no shortage of public green space in the city for you to relax, enjoy a picnic, or bear witness to the spectacular blooms that come with a change in season.
Kew Botanic Gardens
As far as world-famous gardens go, Kew Botanic Gardens is up there with the best. This UNESCO World Heritage site was founded more than 250 years ago by Princess Augusta, the mother of King George III. Today, Kew is the most diverse garden in the world, with more than 50,000 different plant species on its grounds. Bask in a moment of tranquillity beneath the Great White Sakura in the Japanese garden, or walk among the treetops on the 18-metre high walkway to catch a view only birds usually get.
A notable standout at Kew Gardens is The Palm House – a Victorian glasshouse that brings a stunning slice of the rainforest to London, housing lush, verdant flora including prehistoric Cycad trees, disease-fighting flowers and African oil palms. A trip to this historic 500-acre garden is one that’s worthy of the entire day, and there are plenty of restaurants and cafés to keep you fueled as you get those steps in.
Chelsea Physic Garden
Established in 1673, this secret London garden has been in bloom for even longer than the historic Kew Gardens. The unusual name is attributed to the original purpose of the garden, which was to train apprentice ‘physics’ (healers), in the art and science of using plants as medicine. Chelsea Physic Garden is now home to 4,000 plant species including rare trees, medicinal and edible plants, volcanic flowers and more.
Unique to this London garden is the biodiverse Rock Garden, which was built in 1773 using volcanic stone from the active Mount Hekla in Iceland, alongside local rock from the Tower of London. You’ll find no better spot in London for a peaceful, quiet coffee than The Physic Garden Café.
The Kyoto Garden
If you have something on your mind that needs a quiet moment of introspection, Kyoto Garden in Holland Park is the spot to think it through. This small, peaceful Japanese garden was gifted to the city by Kyoto in 1991, and it casually embodies the very best of a Japanese Zen garden. Here you can sit and listen to the soothing rush of the waterfall, gaze at the slow-swimming koi carp, or wander leisurely beneath the rich canopies of maple and cherry trees. On the banks of the pond in the Kyoto Garden, you may spot the park’s resident heron – a good omen in many indigenous cultures – alongside beautiful peacocks with plumes as colourful as the garden itself.
Chiswick House and Gardens
If you’ve never been to Chiswick House and Gardens, you’ve very likely already caught a glimpse of it on shows and films like The Crown, Emma, The Queen’s Gambit, The Other Boleyn Girl, and more. Chiswick House was designed by Richard Boyle (the ‘Apollo of the arts’) in 1729, and it has a rich and varied historical background. The design of this London garden was inspired by the naturalistic landscape gardens of ancient Rome, and it was the first landscaped garden of its time in Britain (a real trend-setter).
Over the centuries, these spectacular grounds have been used as a Whig retreat, an asylum, a World War II fire station, and as a rental property. Chiswick House and Garden is now freely open to the public to enjoy, and it offers insightful guided tours if you’re as interested in the history as you are in the greenery. Break up the day with a spot of lunch at the café overlooking the villa, or bring your own picnic if you’d prefer to enjoy the outdoors more directly.
The Hill Garden and Pergola
When you first step into the Hill Garden and Pergola in Hampstead Heath, it’s hard to believe you’re still in London, or even the UK for that matter. Unlike the pristine flower beds and symmetric lawns that line other London gardens like Kew and Kensington, the Pergola has a more wild and natural feel, looming over the West Heath with overgrown vines and big bushy trees that look ancient, strong and perfectly content.
This London garden was once the private garden of the manor house belonging to the philanthropist and industrialist Lord Leverhulme, and it likely hosted many of the city’s most notable figures in the early twentieth century. There is a sense of decay to the grand columns and lichen-marked walkways of the Pergola, but this is precisely where it finds its charm. Interestingly, the ‘hill’ at the Pergola was built using the surplus of earth dug up from the construction of the Northern Line – quite an innovation for the time.
St James’s Park
Few parks in London are as quintessentially British as St James’s. This vast green space is the city’s oldest royal park, and it’s been directly shaped by generations of monarchs since the rule of Henry VIII, who hunted deer on the grounds. A ramble through this busy park will lead you directly to the gates of Buckingham Palace, so it’s no surprise that it’s a popular spot for tourists.
The trees of St James’s are abundant and ancient, ranging from drooping willows to the iconic plane trees that line The Mall. Bees buzz through the wildflower meadow, and migratory birds often swoop in from distant lands to feed from the lake during the warmer months. In this city centre sanctuary you can also see tufted ducks, muted swans, Egyptian geese, bats, squirrels and most famously, the Pelicans that were originally introduced to the park in 1664 as a gift from the Russian Ambassador.
Loved by both locals and tourists, no trip to London would be complete without an afternoon spent in St James’s Park (best enjoyed with an ice cream or hot cappuccino from the park cafe!).
Sky Garden
For a garden experience that doesn’t run the risk of getting your shoes dirty, a trip to the Sky Garden is well worth a visit. Located on the top floors of 20 Fenchurch Street, Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden, and it’s free to enter (although you’ll need to book in advance as it’s rather busy). Inside this modern, indoor garden, you can enjoy the sight of verdant, thriving ferns, a selection of unique South African flora, and seasonal flowers that burst with ornamental colours all year around.
There are some lavish dining options at Sky Garden too, such as the City Garden Bar and Darwin Brasserie, which offer some of the best views in the city, after The Shard. Although this green space doesn't have the otherworldly, historic charm of other London gardens (indeed, it’s hard to visit St James’s and not visualise Henry the Eighth hunting deer on the very same grass) – it’s glamorous, practical, and a lovely addition to the city skyscraper.
Final Take
Spending time in public green areas is central to British culture, which is clear in the effort that goes into maintaining them. Whether you want to take a moment to reflect among the cherry and maple trees of the quiet Kyoto Garden, or spend a day exploring the sprawling Kew Gardens with your family, you’re never far from a patch of clean, fresh air in London.
