‘To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow’ (Audrey Hepburn)
London has a lot of tomorrows if that quote is right (we think it is).
London already has 3,000 parks of all sizes. That’s a longstanding love of horticulture. In total it covers nearly 20 per cent of London’s footprint. From acres of Royal Parks that stretch across Kensington and Westminster to the pocket gardens of the City of London, there are uninterrupted walks and hidden green spaces to tempt the curious. On top of that, there are canals, wetlands and waterways.
The Natural History Museum in South Kensington has already embarked on an ambitious Urban Nature project that will, among other things, see its own Wildlife Garden double in size. The aim is to bring more nature back into the city. This is a very public commitment to conservation from a major British institution.
And then, of course, there’s Kew Gardens: it tends to 500 acres of woodland, on top of the world’s largest seed conservation project. Its famous Botanical Gardens has over 50,000 thriving plants in a UNESCO World Heritage Site within Central London.
You get the picture? London is green, but not in a centralised, one–shot way. And London works hard at it.
So here are a few of the green places of interest that this busy metropolis has to offer. It makes for a lot of diverse activities in London. Make sure you pack some sensible footwear.
Let’s start with the micro gardens of the City of London: together they make for a wonderful, almost archeological uncovering of the deep history of the City.
The City of London
Tower Hill Garden
Tower Hill, EC3.
A useful place to start if you want to get your bearings, mainly because you can’t miss it, being so close to the UNESCO world heritage site that is the Tower of London. It provides shade in sunny weather and a children’s playground, but it’s very popular. Nevertheless it’s a protected public space and very close to the wonderfully named Seething Lane Gardens.
Seething Lane Gardens
City of London, EC3
Samuel Pepys once lived on Seething Lane, and a bust of him stands among the raised beds and decorated paving. Carved into the paving stones are images relating to his life and the Great Fire of London. Back in 1381 this site was the subject of a land dispute that was resolved by the ‘payment’ of one red rose from these gardens to the Lord Mayor every year (it’s being paid to this day).
St Dustan in the East
St Dunstan's Hill, EC3
Near Seething Lane is this most picturesque of church ruins. After the Great Fire of 1666 St Dustan’s was rebuilt by Christopher Wren, only to be bombed during the Blitz of 1941. Happily, the Wren tower and spire survived, as did the north and south walls. It was transformed into a superb, leafy public garden in 1971. It’s now Grade I listed building these days and a great place to visit.
Postman’s Park
King Edward St, EC1
This intriguing public garden is just north of St Paul’s Cathedral and sits on the site of the old Post Office HQ. It’s most famous for its wall of pretty but mournful ceramic plaques that date back to the 1900s. Each one marks the untimely but heroic death of ordinary men and women. The brainchild of painter and sculptor GF Watts.
St Anne and St Agnes Church Gardens
Gresham St, EC2
An attractive church opposite Postman’s Park, this was another of Christopher Wren’s rebuilds after 1666. Actually it had burned down once before, in 1548. When it rose from the ashes for a second time it was built in red brick. It survived WWII and the churchyard opens onto an attractive public garden with seating and trees.
St Pancras Church Gardens
Near Cheapside, access from Pancras Lane EC2
A hidden space containing many delightful and intriguing carved benches in the Romanesque style, all within a paved and planted courtyard. The church is long gone but the modern benches recall church pews and medieval misericords. Skilfully carved by the City & Guilds of London Art School, each bench is entirely individual. The City of London opened this fascinating communal space in 2012.
Christchurch Greyfriars Gardens
King Edward St, EC1
Four minutes’ walk from St Paul’s Cathedral is this peaceful spot which was replanted in 2011 to increase biodiversity. It also provides the visitor with a lovely display of blooms when in season. Yet another church destroyed by fire and rebuilt by Christopher Wren, but after WWII only the west tower survived.
Superbloom at the Tower of London
Towerhill, EC3
Back at the Tower of London, Superbloom challenges the idea that gardens in the City of London have to be small. The moat that encircles The Tower is being turned into ‘fields of flowers.’ The project celebrates The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and as well as flowers, there will be sculptures and sound installations to explore. A slide will allow visitors to glide down through the flower field to experience a sensory overload of floral delight. Blue Orchid Hotel’s Tower Suites is a short walk away.
Red Cross Garden Southwark
Redcross Way, SE1
Across the river in Southwark you will find this award winning garden with its Arts and Crafts cottages. Once a Victorian slum, the cottages were transformed by philanthropist Olivia Hill. The garden dates back to 1887 and was described as an ‘open air sitting room’ for the people of Southwark. Near Union St, up the road from Borough Market.
Sculpture in the City
Until 22nd April 2022
Why not combine the ‘pocket parks’ of the City with an annual art trail of 19 contemporary artworks? Sculpture in the City ends on 22nd April. It’s a self-guided display of public art, some discreet, others eye–catching. See for yourself.
Westminster and Kensington
St James’s Park and Buckingham Palace
The Royal Parks on the West side of town can make for a great excursion. St James’s Park alone boasts 57 acres of parkland, plus cafe, food kiosks, Horse Guards Parade, The Mall – and a big lake with lots of birdlife, including pelicans (introduced in Charles II’s day about 400 years ago). And, of course, there’s Buckingham Palace itself. Blue Orchid’s Wellington and Rochester hotels are nearby.
Victoria’s Nova
Sir Simon Milton Square, SW1
For the perfect pit stop between park walks, penned as the ‘must visit foodie destination,’ Nova brings together exciting neighbourhood eateries and recreational outlets.
Cardinal Place
Victoria St, SW1
Fancy a spot of retail therapy en route to your next destination, then look no further than this stylish structure of glass and glinting steel. Cardinal Place is ideally located, and will certainly prove to have something on everyone’s wish list.
Green Park
On the other side of Buckingham Palace is Green Park. The underground station in its top corner opens onto Piccadilly, close by the exquisite shops and arcades of St James’s. If you have your walking shoes on, you can follow Constitution Hill all the way through Green Park to Hyde Park Corner; from there navigate the broad pedestrian crossings and underpasses to enter Hyde Park with its Serpentine River and gallery.
Hyde Park
This is the site of many a famous festival and gathering in the heart of London such as legendary BST Hyde Park (from 24th June to 10th July 2022). You can go boating on the Serpentine, or even swim in the Lido; people play tennis here or ride horses, there’s a cafe and that famous art gallery, named after the river.
Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens feeds into Hyde Park seamlessly. Kensington Palace, the Italian Gardens, the Serpentine, the Peter Pan statue, the Albert Memorial on its borders, and Albert Hall across the road. A gem.
The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk
This is a 7 mile stroll across all four Royal Parks mentioned above. You can follow 90 plaques set in the ground to mark the route. It will keep you busy for most of the day. Download a map of the walk here.
Ilchester Place, W8
Often overlooked, this long, narrow park near Kensington High Street is a mixture of woodland to the North, plus formal gardens and the peaceful Kyoto Japanese Garden. The Design Museum is also near the South Entrance. The remains of Jacobean Holland House form a picturesque backdrop to open air performances from the Holland Park Theatre company.
Covent Garden and Soho
Stacey St, Seven Dials, WC2
A surprising community park in London, established in 1984. It nestles behind the Phoenix Theatre and provides quite a contrast to Charing Cross Road. Nearest tube is Tottenham Court Road, so it’s a stone’s throw from Oxford Street (shops) and Great Russell Street (British Museum).
Soho Square
Soho, W1
This has long been a Central London bolt–hole for many an office worker. Originally called King Square after Charles II, a statue to the fun–loving monarch has stood here, pretty much since 1661. On the other side of Charing Cross Road from Phoenix Garden.
North London
Regents Park and Primrose Hill
Regent’s Park covers nearly 400 acres of parkland and offers formal gardens, children’s playgrounds and a boating lake. Plus an open air theatre and London Zoo. It even has a large wetland area which shelters 100 species of wild bird, and is a haven for the much loved but vulnerable hedgehog. Views across the whole of London from Primrose Hill.
Regent’s Canal and Camden Market
Regent’s Canal has long been a draw for visitors and Londoners alike. If you like the idea of traditional narrowboats, Jason’s Trip has been organising sightseeing tours for over 70 years. The route follows Regent’s Canal to glorious Camden Market. Delightful, snail’s pace view of London. Similarly the London Waterbus Co which is dog friendly, too.
Alexandra Palace and Park
On top of these rolling 196 acres sits a splendid Victorian building (known as Ally Pally to Londoners). Since the 1860s Alexandra Park has been a haven of greenery plus the ubiquitous British boating lake. Among the birds, plants and bugs that share Alexandra Park with homo sapiens, there are 38 species that are classed as rare or protected. On the weekend of 22nd to 24th April, Alexandra Palace hosts The Cycle Show and London eBike Festival. Test ride all kinds of bikes in the parkland.
That’s a lot of public green space within Central London, much of it close to museums, shops, cafes, theatres and art galleries – entertainments of all kinds.
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