England is famous for its beautiful iconic roses, our traditional stately homes with manicured gardens and the grand flower displays across our parks. Especially in London, it is hugely important to have green and floral havens throughout the city to create spaces full of tranquility and beauty. In this blog, we’re going to look at some of the most stunning gardens in London, from the famous and celebrated to the smaller hidden gems dotted around the city! All of which should be top of any ‘green fingered’ tourists to-visit list.
Covent Garden in Bloom
Held in the early summer, the Covent Garden in Bloom event is a celebration of all things floral. This Market and food center of London is transformed by being covered in fresh flowers and arrangements in every single corner. You’ll be stunned by how bright, fresh and fragrant the area becomes! You can spend afternoons exploring the beautiful plants whilst dipping in and out of the markets, cafes, bars and food stalls. In the past, floral designers have used their creativity to make arrangements bursting out of the unexpected, including cars and pianos!
Kensington Gardens Flower Walk
Tucked away inside the beautiful green parks of Kensington Gardens, is the stunning flower walk. This passage of perfectly pruned hedgerows and bright blossoming flowers is taken care of by a team of expert gardeners. It is kept in perfect condition all year round, but we would definitely recommend visiting in the spring or summer, where you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful British sunshine, whilst you stroll through the grounds of these amazing palace Gardens. At either end of the flower walk you will find beautiful scenery. One side you can find the iconic bandstand, a staple of any traditional British park, and at the other, the breath-taking princess Diana memorial fountains, a real peaceful haven in the middle of the city.
Chelsea
The annual Chelsea flower show describes itself as ‘The world’s greatest flower show with cutting-edge garden design, fabulous floral displays and simply the best shopping’. This flower show is a huge event. British celebrities are known to frequent, with the Royal Family in attendance every year. This prestigious event is the centre of all things horticultural, if you want to see the best gardens the world has to offer, this is the place to visit. Check out these highlights from the 2019 flower show for an idea of the quality gardening on display:
Queen Mary’s Garden.
If you’re looking to see some iconic English roses (our national flower), then look no further than Queen Mary’s Garden. Home to the largest collection of roses in London, this garden was created in the 1930’s. It is tucked away inside Regent’s Park, and has an impressive 12,000 rose bushes. It is a breathtaking sight to see when all the roses are in bloom, so we highly recommend a visit.
Barbican Conservatory
If you’re interested in something more exotic, the Barbican’s conservatory on the 3rd floor is a tropical oasis. Opened in 1984, this garden is home to around 1,500 species of plant and tree from all over the world. The controlled climate means that species not native to the U.K are able to flourish here. You can discover tree fern, date palm, the Swiss cheese plant, and coffee and ginger plants all under one roof. For visitors wanting to know even more about the secrets hidden in this beautiful garden, there is a weekly tour guided by the expert gardeners every Sunday. Discover more about this hidden gem in this video:
Columbia Road Flower Market
Although it’s not a garden, this market is a must-see for any flower lover. Every Sunday, Columbia Road is overflowing with market stalls selling flowers, plants and colourful arrangements. The colours and smells of the flowers filling the street are extraordinary. There are plenty of local coffee shops where you can enjoy the bustling ambiance of Londoners purchasing their latest floral decorations, and plenty of trinkets and gifts you can find for yourself. Famously the biggest flower market in London, it is worth passing through whilst you’re here to understand just how important plants and flowers are to the local city dwellers.
Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
The world’s largest annual flower show, which is also run by the Royal Horticultural Society (the same organisation which run the Chelsea Flower Show), is held in Hampton Course Palace. This historic palace was one of the favourite residences of King Henry VIII. Its beautiful, spanning gardens are filled once a year with this floral spectacular. The Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival hosts show gardens, flower displays, demonstrations by celebrity gardeners and chefs, as well as plenty of shops to buy souvenirs, trinkets and gardening paraphernalia. Attracting around 140,000 visitors every year, the show takes place in the summer months, and is hugely popular with locals and tourists alike. The rest of the year, the stunningly designed gardens are open for visitors daily.
Find out more about exploring the best that London has to offer on the IH London blog and if you would like to explore London, why not join us at our school in Covent Garden, right in the city centre, for one of our many courses!