Rarely Accessible Green Spaces Set To Open For London Open Gardens 2026
Scandal, politics, climate change, love, laughter and art are all on the menu of tours for London Open Gardens 2026.
Image Nigel Bee Cycle Tour West London Guide Nigel Bee Sun1
A smorgasbord of tours for all tastes has been crafted to add extra value to London Parks and Gardens’ annual fundraising weekend, when more than 120 rarely accessible green spaces open for London Parks and Gardens.
Led by accredited guides, there are 30 options ticketholders can choose from.
As a sample to whet appetites, Saturday 6th June serves up:
- Lincoln Greens with guide Tim Kidd leading a walk through the historic Lincolns Inn discovering spectacular horticulture and stories of the legal profession.
- The Barbican & City of London Secret Gardens. Sarah Williams-Robbins will take you on a story rich tour of the history and creation of the fascinating green spaces in the Square Mile made from bombsites and old churchyards.
- Belgravia: Squares, Stucco & Scandal involves guide Caroline Mongan revealing tales about the people who lived, loved and died in the homes around beautiful Belgravia’s squares, cobbled mews and green spaces.
The menu for Sunday 7th June includes:
- City Eastenders: The Good, the bad and the ugly. Peter Stancliffe will test your resolve with real stories of beheadings galore, rebels, London Bridge falling down, religious fanatics, genius architects, revolting coffee, inspirational vicars and Dick Whittington and his cat.
- Blooming Bohemians & Regency Residences is a not-to-be-missed visit to beautiful Fitzroy Square, historically home to various artists and writers including members of the Bloomsbury Group whose lives led the American poet, writer, critic and screenwriter Dorothy Parker to quip they: ‘...Lived in squares, painted in circles & loved in triangles...’ Your guides are Sian Whittaker and Cathy Chivers.
- Bedlam, Bulls and Bankers takes place to the west of the Square Mile with guide Courtney Plank sharing her knowledge of carefully curated artworks, archaeological remains and thoughtful planting for biodiversity in the oldest public park in the City to some of the newest. Learn about the original Bedlam, encounter a dreaming poet and a mythical beast and hear about the Goldsmiths bankrupted by the Merry Monarch.
Book a weekend ticket and you’ll unlock these opportunities and many more covering Roman remains, the legacy of Empire, the Irish diaspora south of the Thames, pioneering female horticulturalist Fanny Wilkinson’s green lungs of London and even a day-long Sunday cycle tour.
London Open Gardens is London Parks and Gardens’ big fundraiser; enabling them to protect and celebrate the capital’s heritage landscapes all year round. Everyone booking a weekend ticket will receive a confirmation email with a link giving special access to book other activities; from the menu of tours to their unique Behind the Scenes opportunities.
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Behind the Scenes are intimate small-group tours led by head gardeners and horticultural specialists, giving a unique insider’s look at how some of the capital’s stunning green spaces evolve through the seasons, taking you beyond the garden gates and into the heart of their work.
“London Open Gardens is a glimpse into a magical world of passion, surprise, culture and dedication showing the potential of all green spaces across the capital,” says London Parks and Gardens Interim Director Tim Webb. “These tours are led by professional, accredited guides whose day jobs involve leading tourists on licensed walks. We are indebted to them for volunteering their time and knowledge to support London Parks and Gardens; sharing their fascination of and for the capital’s greenspaces.”
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