Garden Lover’s Guide to London

Garden Lover’s Guide to London

Article by Jesse Wallace

Each May the world’s most avid gardeners flock to London to showcase their best work. Lush, colourful gardens pop up around the tent village in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, much to the admiration of green fingered visitors. If you’re lucky enough to have nabbed tickets to the 2012 show, you may be wondering what else to do to make the most of your visit to London. Start by finding accommodation in Kensington. The pretty suburb is home to Kensington Gardens, a beautiful park lined with majestic trees. The Italian Gardens, filled with urns and fountains, is a lovely place to enjoy a picnic of fresh strawberries and cream, which can be bought in the massive Whole Foods Market on Kensington High Street. While you’re in Kensington, be sure to visit Kyoto Garden in Holland Park. The Japanese styled garden is a true hidden gem, and is regarded as one of the most tranquil places in London. A 15 foot waterfall spills into a pond filled with koi carp, whilst red maples stand nearby. It’s generally considered that the best time to visit is Spring or Autumn, so May is the perfect time.The World Heritage Site of Kew Gardens is bound to impress botanics lovers: six glasshouses, 300 acres, and a treetop walkway provide the perfect backdrop for the massive collection of plants from around the world.Taking the trains to London may be a better option for garden lovers, as stepping off at King’s Cross they will be confronted with the King’s Cross Central Skip Garden. The self-sustaining, mobile vegetable garden was launched in 2009 and is maintained by volunteers. If the weather is a little unpleasant, head inside to The Garden Museum on Lambeth Palace Road. Of course, the museum has its own garden, but the indoor exhibits are also notable. Set in a beautiful old church building, the museum covers the history of British gardening. Exhibitions and events are held frequently so be sure to check before visiting.Although it’s not particularly notable for its plants, Postman’s Park in Central London is a lovely outdoor space that should be visited by anyone looking for something a little quirky. The Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice is heart-warming, with ceramic plaques dedicated to people who gave their own lives to save others. It is a place for quiet reflection.Once you arrive in Chelsea for the Flower Show, be sure to also pay a visit to the Chelsea Physic Garden. The Garden contains the oldest rock gardens in Europe, and is chock full of medicinal plants. The largest outdoor olive tree in Britain is also located in the Physic Garden. No matter how you decide to spend your spare time, one thing’s for certain: London is a paradise for flower and tree lovers.

About the Author

Jesse Wallace writes for a digital marketing agency. This article on trains to London has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.