Organised by London’s Parks & Gardens, each year, for one weekend only, several (this time over 100!) normally private parks and gardens across the city open up to the public. This year, we had a lovely sunny day out visiting the gardens below.
The Gardens
Nomura International plc
Summery flowers at Nomura
Our second visit to this rooftop garden with fantastic views of the city and Thames. We really enjoyed the views and sense of space and peace.
Eversheds Sutherland Vegetable Garden
Another rooftop with views of the city. They had a guide to the planting which I found so useful.
Barbican Wildlife Garden, Fann Street
This garden felt like it could be a real haven for both residents and wildlife alike.
Lincoln's Inn Gardens
My favourite out of all the gardens we visited this year. It felt like stepping into a different world with so much to explore. You can even book tours of the space where the gardeners provide fantastic insights. It's a huge and delightful place to visit.
Top tip: If you’re able to, we recommend planning a route that will enable you to walk as much as you can. You never know what you may find! We stumbled upon a garden that was already public - the Reflection Garden, 25 Cannon St, right by St Paul’s Cathedral. This also felt like a hidden gem and was wonderful to wander around.
Open Gardens weekend is well worth a visit to see some beautiful spots across the city as well as being inspired for your own space - no matter whether it’s a windowsill or a large backyard. Ones we’ve been to before include:
- Bedford Square
- British Medical Association Council Garden
- Southwark Cathedral Deanery
- Community Garden at Tate Modern
- Ham Yard Hotel Roof Garden
Worth knowing:
- You will need to book tickets for the weekend
- Not all gardens will be open on both days - so check the schedule carefully if there's somewhere you really want to see
- Due to capacity restrictions, you may need to queue for certain hotspots.
- Take water with you - we went on a really hot day, and whilst many tried, some locations may not be able to provide water or refreshments.