Despite its reputation as a bustling metropolis, London is home to a wide range of spectacular gardens. If you’re planning a stay in the capital this summer, it’s a great way to spend your time exploring one or two of these. So which ones are the best to visit?
Chelsea Physic Gardens
If you are looking for a place centrally and relatively quickly to explore, Chelsea Physic Gardens is an excellent choice. This unique collection actually represents London’s oldest botanical garden, founded back in 1673. Originally used by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries to teach apprentices how to recognize certain species.
Today, it is maintained as a living เยี่ยมชมเชลซี – and often rare – plants that are medicinal, historical, edible or otherwise useful in nature. There are more than 100 types of trees here, and the warm microclimate of the place means that varieties not typically grown in the UK – such as olive trees – can bloom here.
Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew
These are probably London’s most famous gardens with a 250-year history. It’s easy to spend an entire day exploring the site’s range of formal gardens – which include the Rock Garden, Duke’s Garden and Azalea Garden – as well as its historic buildings and decorative structures.
Perhaps one of the most exciting places to visit is the Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway, which opened in 2008. You will find this in the arboretum, approx. 18 m in the air and 200 m long. Take a walk along it and you can get a unique view of chestnuts, limes and oak trees.
Kensington Gardens
If you are eager to see more examples of the city’s formal gardens, take a trip to Kensington Gardens. Spanning 275 acres, this is home to avenue after avenue with ornamental plants and trees. Among the well-known gardens are the Italian gardens, which were supposed to have been commissioned by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria. Walk around to see scenic statues, fountains and ponds.
Open Garden Squares Weekend 2012
London is also home to a large number of communal gardens, which are usually closed to the public. On June 9 and 10, however, more than 200 of these will open their doors for Open Garden Squares Weekend. This annual event gives you the chance to explore everything from allotment gardens to roof gardens.
Cable Street Community Gardens, Eaton Square and Regent’s Park allotment garden are just a few of those featured on this year’s program. One highlight you might be particularly interested in is the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden, located on the South Bank. This is designed as part of the diamond anniversary party and you will be free to explore it over the weekend.
Tickets can be purchased online, while you can also buy them on the weekend itself, but they will be more expensive if you choose the latter option. As the gardens are located all over the city, it is a good idea to choose accommodation that is located fairly centrally, e.g. The Cumberland Hotel, to make it easier for you to get between all your chosen gardens if you plan to attend. Plus, this will also ensure you are close to the city’s other top attractions, such as the main shopping areas Oxford Street and Regent Street.
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