A Guide to the Best Gardens in London | Immerse Yourself in Nature
Discover the best gardens in London and immerse yourself in the beautiful green spaces of the city. Plan your next visit today!
Now that you’ve booked your stay with us here at DUKES, are you perhaps looking for the best gardens in London to visit?
If so, we’ve got the guide for you.
In this blog, we’re sharing our favourite gardens across England’s historic capital, just waiting to be discovered:
Chelsea Physic Garden
Given our love of all things heritage and tradition here at DUKES London, it will come as no surprise that we suggest you visit the oldest botanical garden in London.
Situated on the Thames Embankment, The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London founded Chelsea Physic Garden in 1673 to help its apprentices study medicinal plants and their uses.
This is what makes this glorious green haven so unique: its plant collection is the only botanic garden in the country focussed on medicinal and herbal plants for human use.
Location: Chelsea, SW3 4HS
Opening times: 11am–5pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible, assistance dogs welcome
Chiswick House & Gardens
Did you know that gardens can be Grade I-listed too?
Chiswick House’s award-winning gardens are the perfect day out for history buffs. The 65-acre plot contains 21 listed garden buildings and statues, managed on behalf of English Heritage.
Internationally recognised as a place of historic significance in architectural and garden history, you and the family can also enjoy exploring the Grade I-listed conservatory, which houses the largest collection of heritage camellias under glass in the world.
Location: Chiswick, W4 2RP
Opening times: 7am until dusk
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible, assistance dogs welcome
Eltham Palace and Gardens
Eltham Palace is home to 19 acres of stunning gardens in London, with an interesting mix of medieval features woven into the landscape.
Here, you can cross the moat on the city’s oldest working bridge, or simply stop and smell the roses after wandering along the pools and cascades of the Rock Garden.
Young adventurers won’t be disappointed, either: they can run wild at the wooden outdoor play area, inspired by the Courtauld family’s travels around the globe, or follow the animal explorer trail to find the Courtauld’s pet lemur and his exotic friends.
Location: Greenwich, SE9 5NP
Opening times: 10am-5pm
Accessibility: limited wheelchair access, assistance dogs welcome
Horniman Museum & Gardens
Have you ever wondered what the world might have looked like at the time of the dinosaurs?
If you have, a visit to the Prehistoric Garden at the Horniman Museum is a must, where a display of ‘living fossils’ is filled with plant species that have been around for thousands of years. There might even be a Velociraptor lurking in there somewhere …
With 16 acres to explore, this site has something for everyone. There’s a Sound Garden inspired by the musical instruments collection, a Bee Garden designed specifically with delicious plants and different types of hotels for bees, as well as the South Downs Meadow, which provides a tranquil escape for those looking to read or practise some yoga.
Location: Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ
Opening times: 7.15am-8.30pm (from 8am on Sunday and Bank Holidays)
Accessibility: limited wheelchair access, assistance dogs welcome
Kew Gardens
Kew is a World Heritage Site and one of London’s top tourist attractions for a reason: with 330 acres of gardens and botanical glasshouses, four Grade I listed buildings, and 36 Grade II listed structures, you could easily make a whole day out of your trip there.
In addition to the above, Kew Gardens is also home to one of the largest herbariums in the world, which holds specimens of over 8.5 million preserved plants. The library has an illustration collection covering more than 175,000 drawings and prints of plants as well.
We’ll leave you with a fun fact about this last entry on the list: since 1845, Kew Gardens has had its own police force, known as the Kew Constabulary, which is still active to this day!
Location: Richmond, TW9 3AE
Opening times: 10am-7pm (last entry 6pm)
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible, assistance dogs welcome
If you haven’t booked your stay with us yet, what are you waiting for? Make your reservation now and get ready to enjoy some of the best gardens in London!
Should the weather forecast predict rain during your visit, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered with our shopping guide to London Mayfair!