Best 16 London gardens

Enjoy a walk in the garden along the south side of Buckingham Palace as part of your ticket to the Buckingham Palace Summer Opening. The palace houses a hidden oasis covering 16 hectares (40 acres), including the famous herbaceous border, wisteria-clad Summer House and the beautiful Rose Garden.

Book now to secure your spot on the Buckingham Palace tour.

Explore the 130 hectares (321 acres) at Kew Gardens, which houses more than 50,000 types of living plants and millions of preserved ones. This verdant garden in south-west London has a 250-year history and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Discover a variety of lovely landscapes at Kensington Palace Gardens, including the 19th-century Italian Gardens. Walk among ponds, beautiful flowers and impressive terraces along the way.

Landscaped by renowned garden innovator Capability Brown, the 16 hectares (40 acres) of stunning outside space at Syon House feature the spectacular Great Conservatory and a host of rare trees and plants.

Created by Henry VIII, Hampton Court Palace Gardens bloom in a magnificent display of opulence and cover more than 24 hectares (59 acres). Hampton Court Palace even puts on an annual Garden Festival.

Among Charlton House's expansive grounds, the original walled garden is dedicated as a Peace Garden in support of Amnesty International's Stop Violence Against Women campaign.

The spectacular green space at Fulham Palace includes an 18th-century walled garden with wisteria, fruit trees and rare shrubs. Go for a woodland walk and step along the path lined with cow parsley and bluebells.

The grounds of Eltham Palace and Gardens feature eight hectares (19 acres) of original medieval gardens, as well as some unusual art deco elements and one of London's oldest working bridges over the moat. Water trickles down stones and cascades into the beautiful Rock Garden.

The 300-year-old Chiswick House and Grounds is a vision of Italian-inspired 18th-century architecture. As the birthplace of the English Landscape Movement, Chiswick House has had a lasting influence on a number of famous outdoor spaces, including Central Park in New York City and Blenheim Palace.

Climb the quirky yellow staircase at Queen Elizabeth Hall to find a hidden summertime roof garden, featuring more than 200 wild plants, a lawn and a cafe for stopping to enjoy spectacular views of the river Thames.

Discover a lush tropical garden at the highest point of 20 Fenchurch Street. The Sky Garden, spread across the top three storeys of the "Walkie-Talkie" skyscraper, boasts breathtaking views of the London skyline, plus two restaurants and two bars.

Discover a tucked-away rooftop garden on the top floor of The Culpeper pub in east London. This secret space comes complete with a greenhouse and a cocktail bar that can be enjoyed year-round. The pub's kitchen uses many of the herbs and plants that grow here.

Walk the tranquil paths of Kyoto Garden in Holland Park. This picturesque Japanese garden features carefully selected plants which are maintained using special pruning techniques to reflect the garden's East Asian style.

Flanders Fields Memorial Garden at Wellington Barracks commemorates troops who died in the First World War. Soil used in the garden was taken from battlefields and war cemeteries in Flanders, Belgium.

Founded in 1673 for the cultivation of medicinal plants, the peaceful Chelsea Physic Garden still grows botanical species used in medicine, as well as edible plants and woodland flora from around the world. Visit to see the largest outdoor fruiting olive tree in Britain and many rare species.

Complete your exploration of London gardens by visiting the Garden Museum, devoted to British gardening history. The fascinating museum showcases innovations in modern-day gardening and has an extraordinary garden of its own.