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Garden Therapy: 12 of London's Best Small Gardens
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What better place to relax than in a garden? I chose these 12 small gardens not only because they are beautiful and peaceful but also profoundly inspirational: art, history, ground breaking architecture, the celebration of courage and selflessness, community spirit, an old master and an award wining garden on what was once an industrial dump site. And to think that you can walk past some of them without even realizing it.
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Isabella Plantation in Kingston upon Thames
A 1950's woodland garden planted in what was once marshy land, Isabella Plantation is like an immense canvas bursting with colour, from the fieriest red to the deepest purple. The flowers are at their peak at the end of April/beginning of May
Hogarth's House in Hammersmith
William Hogarth's (after whom the adjective hogarthian was coined) country house. The garden reflects a more domestic and intimate side of the artist's personality, a gentlenesse rarely present in his paintings and illustrations.The mulberry tree,legend says, was planted by Hogarth himself.
Chiswick House Kitchen Garden in Hammersmith
17th century walled kitchen garden of the nearby Chiswick House, lovingly brought back to life by local volunteers after 80 years of neglect. Vegetables, fruit, herbs and cutting flowers are grown in its premises with lots of local school-children and teenagers taking part in the garden's works.
Kyoto Garden, Holland Park in Hammersmith
Created in 1991 by a team of Kyoto gardeners, it's a japanese style garden with an waterfall, ponds with coi carps, red maples and japanese shrubbery .Lovely and peaceful.
Meanwhile Gardens in Kensington
"Meanwhile Gardens is a community garden established in 1976.The gardens have many features not found in contemporary public parks, demonstrating the value of community involvement in parks. The best known feature is the skateboard 'pit'. It was the first of its kind in London and quickly became famous. There is also an excellent wildlife garden". Garden Visit
Kensington Roof Garden in Kensington
London's oldest and best roof garden covers 1.5 acres and is 100ft above street level. It has ponds, bridges, walks, trees, shrubs and sitting areas, with a pronounced Arts and Crafts character.
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion
The Serpentine's annual temporary pavilion has become a fixture in the art calendar: the only criterion is that the architects must never have completed a building in the UK before. Leading architects like Zaha Hadid,Daniel Libeskind, Oscar Niemeyer, Alvaro Siza, Rem Koolhaas and Frank Gehry have all contributed with projects in the past.This year's cloud like structure was designed by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of leading Japanese architecture practice SANAA.
Chelsea Physics Garden in Kensington
Founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries with the purpose of training apprentices in identifying plants, it continues to research the properties, origins and conservation of over 5000 species. It also harbours beehives.
Postman's Park in City of London
A small garden that celebrates the memory of everyday people who selflessly gave their lives to help others (you can read their stories in the beautiful doulton tiles on the memorial wall).The kind of place that restores your faith in the human kind
Barbican Conservatory in City of London
On the roof of the Barbican Centre (the largest multi-arts centre in Europe) "a hidden tropical oasis in the heart of the city which is home to finches, quails, exotic fish and over 2,000 species of tropical plants and trees." Barbican Webpage
Jubilee Park in Poplar
A roof garden built above an underground shopping mall and an underground station-a patch of green and a river in the middle of Gotham City like Canary Wharf.
Thames Barrier Park in Newham
This 2000 project is an amazing piece of landscape architecture on what once was a contaminated site that housed petrochemical and acid works on the riverbank. Wavy strips of plants whose coulours change with the seasons reflect the dynamic nature of the river Thames and the Flood Barriers. A Pavilion of Remembrance commemorates local people who died in the Second World War.
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Leave a comment (7 comments)
Joana said 6 months ago:
Thanks :-)
elnino said 5 months, 4 weeks ago:
This is a great guide you have here. Many thanks.
jopyfish said 5 months, 4 weeks ago:
Seems like we both enjoy gardens! If I'm ever in London, I'll definitely keep this one in mind :D
zancudomama said 5 months, 2 weeks ago:
What an informative guide. I will follow it to a tee next time we are in London. Thank you
Joana said 5 months, 2 weeks ago:
It's good to know that this guide is going to be useful
:-)
SharonGosling said 4 months, 1 week ago:
Joana this is a wonderful guide. I didn't even know these gardens existed. I can't wait to visit London tlhrough your eyes. Hopefully this time next year.
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tracy said 6 months ago:
This is such a great guide! So many beautiful and relaxing places!