Once a year, London quietly unlocks a side of itself most visitors never get to see. Walled courtyards behind Georgian townhouses. Rooftop sanctuaries thirty floors above the City. Medieval inn gardens that have stood for six hundred years. On Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June 2026, the annual London Open Gardens event — organised by London Parks & Gardens — throws open the gates of normally private or restricted green spaces, all in a single glorious weekend.
It is, without question, one of the most distinctive and unhurried ways to experience the capital in summer. And this year, focusing on the gardens tightly clustered near the River Thames offers a seamless, scenic way to move between them without descending into the crowded underground.
What Is London Open Gardens?
London Open Gardens (LOG) is an annual fundraising event run by London Parks & Gardens, the charity dedicated to protecting and championing the capital’s green spaces. Every June, the charity negotiates access to extraordinary private, institutional and community gardens that are closed for the rest of the year — and opens them to ticketholders for just 48 hours. The event is explicitly designed to be accessible to all generations. Children under 12 enter free, and tickets for those aged 12 to 17 are priced at £10 (plus booking fees). All proceeds support London Parks & Gardens’ conservation work, and a share of any profit is distributed directly to participating community gardens — so every visit is also an act of civic generosity.“More than a hundred normally closed or private spaces, all open in one glorious weekend each June.”Beyond garden access, ticketholders can book from an extensive programme of guided walks, cycle tours, and behind-the-scenes talks — each priced at £5 and bookable after purchasing a weekend ticket. There are also free self-guided walks, a live map of participating gardens, and an online garden selector tool to help plan your route.
DATES, TICKETS & ESSENTIALS
DATES
Sat 6 & Sun 7 June 2026
Most gardens open 10:00–17:00
WEEKEND TICKET
Access to 120+ gardens
Book on Eventbrite · children under 12 free · ages 12–17 are £10
GUIDED WALKS & TOURS
£5 per booking
Available after purchasing weekend ticket
BOROUGHS
12 across London
Camden · City · Hackney · Westminster and more
Getting Between Gardens: The River as Your Route
With gardens spread across London, getting from one to the next is part of the day’s adventure. Thames River Sightseeing operates scenic cruises linking central London to Tower Bridge and Greenwich, placing you within comfortable walking distance of some of the weekend’s most distinctive hidden gems.1. Westminster Pier (The Grand Squares)
Step ashore into the heart of London’s grandest private garden squares. These are not spaces that appear on any standard tourist map, and many have been tended by the same estate gardeners for generations.- Belgrave Square Garden: A sweeping, grand residential square.
- Eaton Square Garden: Elegant, manicured lawns running through Belgravia.
- Chester Square Garden: A beautifully restored, historic residential oasis.
- Carlton House Terrace – Waterloo Place West Garden: Hidden lawns tucked quietly behind Pall Mall.
- Marlborough House: The rarely seen grounds of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
- Eccleston Square: A horticulturally rich square featuring an extensive collection of rare plants.
2. Embankment Pier (The Historic Inns of Court)
A short walk north from this stop brings you to London’s historic legal quarters, where you will find some of the oldest maintained gardens in the capital.- Inner Temple Garden: A sprawling, historic lawn leading down toward the river.
- Middle Temple Gardens: Tucked behind ancient stone archways, these gardens are usually strictly restricted to members of the bar.
3. Tower Pier & Bankside (The Sky Gardens & City Secrets)
This central hub bridges the modern rooftops of the City on the north bank with the atmospheric streets of Southwark on the south bank.- The Garden at 120 (City): A magnificent public sky garden. For this weekend, it opens an hour early exclusively for London Open Gardens ticketholders before general public access begins.
- 25 Cannon Street (City): A stunning rooftop garden terrace offering close-up, dramatic views of St Paul’s Cathedral.
- Cloth Fair Hidden Garden (City): A tiny, secluded sanctuary tucked behind London’s oldest residential street.
- 49 Bankside (Southwark): A private courtyard garden hidden right on the riverfront trail.
Planning Your Weekend: Practical Tips
- Use the Garden Selector Tool. London Parks & Gardens hosts an online map and selector tool on their website. Use it to filter by opening hours and accessibility, as attempting more than four or five gardens in a single day is ambitious.
- Check the time windows. Opening hours are strict and vary considerably. While some spaces open early, places like the Inns of Court only open for a few hours on Sunday afternoon. Build your route around these time constraints.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Even when sticking close to the river piers, walking distances between the squares and hidden alleys add up quickly.
