Secret Gardens of London

Behind office blocks, inside bombed churches and high above the traffic, London hides a string of quiet gardens that most visitors walk straight past.

Why Seek Out London’s Secret Gardens?

London is famously green, but the Royal Parks are only half the story. Tucked between the towers of the City, along the river and on the slopes of Hampstead are smaller, stranger gardens: a ruined church wrapped in climbing plants, a walled physic garden planted by apothecaries, a Japanese garden with a waterfall and koi. Many are free, and most are blissfully quiet on a weekday morning.

Every garden below is open to the public, but several have limited hours, seasonal closures or booking rules, so we note those as we go. Always check the official website before you set out.

Hidden Gardens of the City

St Dunstan-in-the-East

If you see only one secret garden, make it this one. The church of St Dunstan-in-the-East was badly damaged in the Blitz of 1941, leaving little more than its outer walls and the tower and steeple designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire. Rather than rebuild, the City of London turned the ruins into a public garden, which opened in 1971. Today trees, climbers and ferns grow through the empty Gothic windows, and a small fountain sits where the nave once stood.

It is free, and generally open daily from about 8am until 7pm or dusk, whichever is earlier, closed over Christmas and New Year. Arrive early on a weekday: it is a favourite with photographers.

Postman’s Park and the Watts Memorial

A few minutes’ walk north of St Paul’s Cathedral, Postman’s Park is a small, shady garden on a former churchyard, named for the workers of the old General Post Office nearby. Its treasure is the Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice, conceived by the Victorian painter George Frederic Watts. Under a wooden loggia, rows of glazed ceramic tablets, the earliest made by William De Morgan, record ordinary Londoners who died saving others. The memorial was unveiled in 1900 and is Grade II listed. It is quietly, unforgettably moving. Opening hours are similar to St Dunstan’s, roughly 8am to 7pm or dusk.

Inner Temple Garden

Down by the river, behind the Inns of Court, Inner Temple Garden is one of the most beautifully kept gardens in London, with deep herbaceous borders, fine trees and a long lawn running towards the Embankment. Access is the catch: the garden is usually open to the public only on weekdays from 12.30pm to 3pm, excluding bank holidays, and it closes for private functions and maintenance. Enter by the main gate on Crown Office Row. Alcohol, barbecues and ball games are not allowed, and only assistance dogs and residents’ dogs may enter.

Sky Garden

At the top of 20 Fenchurch Street, the Sky Garden is less secret, but earns its place for planted terraces and sweeping views under a glass dome. General admission is free, but you must book a timed ticket on the official Sky Garden website. Tickets are released weekly, about three weeks ahead, and popular weekend slots go fast. Recent opening hours have been 10am to 6pm on weekdays and 11am to 9pm at weekends, with last entry an hour before closing. Avoid third-party ticket sellers.

A Walking Route Through the City’s Gardens

These City gardens link neatly into a walk of roughly two miles, best done on a weekday so Inner Temple Garden is open. Allow a relaxed half day with stops.

1. Inner Temple Garden (12.30pm): Start among the borders of the Temple, then walk up to Fleet Street.
2. St Paul’s Cathedral: Follow Fleet Street and Ludgate Hill to the cathedral, pausing in the churchyard gardens around it.
3. Postman’s Park: Just north, off King Edward Street, read a few of the Watts tablets in the shade.
4. Bank: Walk east along Cheapside towards the Bank of England and The Ned, a good spot for tea.
5. Sky Garden: Continue to Fenchurch Street for your pre-booked slot, ideally late afternoon for the light.
6. St Dunstan-in-the-East: Finish a few minutes away in the ruined church garden, best in the soft evening light before it closes.

Prefer a guide? A hidden gardens and secret London walking tour covers many of these spots with the stories behind them, or try a City of London history walk. If the art of the streets appeals too, pair this route with our London art walk along The Line.

Further Afield: Gardens Worth the Journey

Chelsea Physic Garden

Founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries to grow and study medicinal plants, Chelsea Physic Garden is London’s oldest botanic garden, a walled haven of rare plants, historic glasshouses and order beds beside the Thames. Unlike most gardens here it charges for entry and works on timed tickets. It currently opens Sunday to Friday and is closed on Saturdays, with shorter hours in winter and a closure around the Christmas and New Year period, so book ahead.

The Garden Museum

Across the river beside Lambeth Palace, the Garden Museum occupies the deconsecrated church of St Mary-at-Lambeth. In its courtyard garden, designed by Dan Pearson as part of the 2017 redevelopment, stand the tombs of the Tradescants, the seventeenth-century royal gardeners and plant hunters, and of Admiral William Bligh of the Bounty. The museum is closed on Mondays and recently opened 10am to 4pm on weekdays and until 5pm at weekends, with occasional closures for events. There is an admission charge.

The Kyoto Garden, Holland Park

In the woodland heart of Holland Park, the Kyoto Garden was a gift from the city of Kyoto and opened in 1991. Stone lanterns, clipped shrubs and a tiered waterfall tumbling into a koi pond make it one of the most serene corners of west London. It is free and follows the park’s hours, from 7.30am until about half an hour before dusk. Dogs are not allowed in the Japanese garden.

The Phoenix Garden

Between Soho and Covent Garden, on Stacey Street, the Phoenix Garden is a volunteer-run community garden created in 1984 and the last of the original Covent Garden community gardens. Wild and wildlife-friendly, it is wonderfully unexpected in theatreland. Entry is free; it opens roughly dawn to dusk, though hours can change.

The Hill Garden and Pergola, Hampstead

On the western edge of Hampstead Heath, this is London’s most romantic folly. Soap magnate William Lever, later Lord Leverhulme, bought Hill House in 1904 and commissioned the landscape architect Thomas Mawson to create a raised Edwardian pergola, begun in 1905 and extended over the following two decades. Today its weathered stone columns and timber beams are draped in wisteria and climbing roses, with views out over the Heath. It is free and managed by the City of London Corporation, opening around 8.30am and closing near dusk. Nearby, the National Trust’s Fenton House has a charming walled garden and old orchard, so check opening dates before combining the two.

Crossrail Place Roof Garden, Canary Wharf

Above the Elizabeth line station at Canary Wharf, Foster + Partners wrapped a curving timber lattice roof around a planted garden landscaped by Gillespies. It is free, needs no booking and is a surprisingly peaceful place among the towers. Hours vary by season, so check the Canary Wharf website.

Before you go, we recommend a good London gardens guidebook.

Best Seasons for London’s Gardens

• April and May: Blossom in the Kyoto Garden, wisteria on the Hampstead Pergola and fresh borders everywhere. Our favourite time.
• June and July: Roses and herbaceous borders at their peak at Inner Temple and Chelsea Physic Garden, and the longest evenings for the City walk.
• October and November: Japanese maples turn crimson in Holland Park, and St Dunstan’s climbers glow in the low sun.
• Winter: Shorter hours and some closures, but the Sky Garden and Crossrail Place make good covered alternatives.

Luxury Hotels With Notable Gardens

The Goring, Belgravia

Family-owned since it opened in 1910, The Goring has one of the largest private gardens in central London, closed to the public but enjoyed by guests, with afternoon tea on the Veranda overlooking the lawns and croquet that the concierge can arrange.

The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, Chelsea

On Sloane Street, The Cadogan gives guests keys to the private Cadogan Place Gardens across the road, with tennis courts. Chelsea Physic Garden is an easy walk away.

Ham Yard Hotel, Soho

Firmdale’s Ham Yard Hotel has a leafy rooftop garden and terrace for in-house guests, with olive trees and espaliered fruit. In the run-up to Christmas it has opened to ticket holders as a winter pop-up; check what is on. The Phoenix Garden is a few minutes’ walk away.

The Ned, City of London

In the former Midland Bank headquarters beside Bank, The Ned is the natural base for the City walk. Its rooftop, with a pool and views to St Paul’s, is part of the members’ club, so check whether your room category includes rooftop access when you book.

For dinner after a day in the gardens, see our guide to Michelin-starred dining in London.

A Perfect Garden Day in London

Morning: A timed slot at Chelsea Physic Garden. Early afternoon: Inner Temple Garden before it closes at 3pm. Late afternoon: Postman’s Park, then your booked Sky Garden slot. Evening: The ruins of St Dunstan-in-the-East, then dinner.

FAQs

Are London’s secret gardens free?

Most are. St Dunstan-in-the-East, Postman’s Park, Inner Temple Garden, the Phoenix Garden, the Kyoto Garden, the Hill Garden and Crossrail Place are free, and the Sky Garden is free with a booked ticket. Chelsea Physic Garden and the Garden Museum charge admission.

Do I need to book the Sky Garden?

Yes. Free tickets are released on the official website about three weeks ahead and are timed. Walk-ups are not guaranteed.

When is Inner Temple Garden open?

Usually on weekdays from 12.30pm to 3pm, excluding bank holidays and private events. Check the Inner Temple website or Instagram before you go.