London is often described as a city of constant motion red buses rushing, office crowds hurrying, neon lights flashing. But between its historic buildings and bustling streets lies another London: quiet, green, and brimming with untold stories.
These are the city’s forgotten garden spaces where history has been written in petals and paving stones. Some were born from ruin, others from philanthropy, and many have welcomed famous faces, inspired books, and even appeared on the silver screen.
Today, we step into these secret sanctuaries to uncover their hidden beauty and the tales they hold.
1. Phoenix Garden (Covent Garden)
Then: Once a derelict bomb site left over from World War II, the Phoenix Garden rose quite literally from the ashes in the 1980s, created by a determined local community.
Now: It’s a lush oasis home to frogs, bees, and carefully nurtured wildflowers. Volunteers still care for it today.
Famous connections: Known to be a quiet escape for West End actors between matinee and evening performances.
In film & TV: Featured in the background of several BBC lifestyle programs about London gardening.
Literary note: The garden’s name references the mythical phoenix, a symbol of rebirth which aligns perfectly with its post-war origins.
Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Road
2. St. Dunstan in the East (City of London)
Then: Built in the 12th century, partially destroyed in the Great Fire of London (1666), rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, and then again devastated during the Blitz in 1941. Instead of being reconstructed, the ruins were transformed into a public garden in 1971.
Now: Gothic stone arches entwined with greenery create one of London’s most hauntingly beautiful spots.
Famous connections: Sir Christopher Wren, the architectural genius behind St. Paul’s Cathedral, redesigned the church after the Great Fire.
In film & TV: Appeared in music videos and fashion shoots its atmosphere lends itself to romantic or mysterious settings.
Literary note: Evokes the kind of settings found in Charles Dickens’ works, where the city’s past lingers as a character itself.
Nearest Tube: Monument / Tower Hill
3. Postman’s Park (St. Paul’s)
Then: Opened in 1880 on the site of former churchyards, its claim to fame came in 1900 when painter and social reformer George Frederic Watts installed the Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice commemorating everyday people who died saving others.
Now: Still shaded and quiet, with benches perfect for reflection.
Famous connections: The memorial plaques mention real Londoners from police officers to children whose bravery shaped local lore.
In film: Featured in Closer (2004), starring Jude Law and Natalie Portman, in one of the film’s most poignant scenes.
Literary note: Captures the Victorian fascination with morality and heroism, reminiscent of Thomas Hardy’s social realism.
Nearest Tube: St. Paul’s
4. The Hill Garden & Pergola (Hampstead Heath)
Then: Built in 1905 for Lord Leverhulme (the soap magnate behind Lever Brothers, now Unilever) as part of his private estate. Abandoned after WWII, it fell into disrepair, giving it the faded grandeur it still holds today.
Now: Overgrown wisteria, sweeping pergolas, and terraces that feel like stepping into a romantic novel.
Famous connections: Lord Leverhulme was one of Britain’s most influential industrialists and philanthropists.
In film & TV: Used as a location for BBC period dramas and high-fashion shoots.
Literary note: Feels straight from an Evelyn Waugh or E.M. Forster novel, where the gardens themselves become characters.
Nearest Tube: Golders Green
5. Red Cross Garden (Southwark)
Then: Founded in 1887 by Octavia Hill co-founder of the National Trust and a pioneer in social housing as part of her mission to improve the lives of London’s poor through access to green space.
Now: A compact but colourful Victorian garden that still retains its community heart.
Famous connections: Octavia Hill’s legacy is visible across England her work inspired the preservation of countless landscapes.
Literary note: Perfect example of Victorian moral and aesthetic values order, beauty, and purpose combined.
Nearest Tube: Borough
6. Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance (Notting Hill)
Then: Opened in 1914 on land gifted by MP and anthropologist Emslie Horniman. Known for its unusual Moroccan-style walled garden, a nod to Horniman’s travels.
Now: A peaceful retreat in one of London’s busiest districts.
Famous connections: The Horniman family also funded the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill.
In culture: The park transforms during the Notting Hill Carnival, becoming a central hub for festivities.
Nearest Tube: Ladbroke Grove
7. Chelsea Physic Garden (Chelsea)
Then: Founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries to grow medicinal plants for training apprentices.
Now: A living museum of over 5,000 plants, including rare species from around the globe.
Famous connections: Charles Darwin corresponded with botanists here, and explorers like Sir Joseph Banks contributed plant specimens.
In literature: Featured in historical novels set in 18th-century London, often tied to the city’s botanical and scientific revolutions.
Nearest Tube: Sloane Square
