Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or looking for a quiet escape from the city, the Garden Museum is a true hidden gem. It’s the UK’s only museum dedicated to the art, history and design of gardens and one of London's most quirky museums.
Ready to plan your visit to the Garden Museum? Our guide covers everything you need to know, from how to get there to the best things to see and do.
Where is the Garden Museum?
The Garden Museum is located in Lambeth, on the south bank of the River Thames. Housed in a former church next to Lambeth Palace, it’s a stone’s throw from some of the capital’s top sights and attractions, like the London Eye and the Palace of Westminster.
The address is 5 Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB.
How to get to the Garden Museum
The nearest station to the Garden Museum is Vauxhall, then it’s a 15-minute walk to the museum. Alternatively, it’s a 20-minute walk from London Waterloo or a 7-minute journey on the number 77 bus.
Travelling by train
If you’re travelling to the Garden Museum by train, SWR has regular services to Vauxhall and London Waterloo from Reading, Woking, Portsmouth, Basingstoke, Guildford, Winchester and Southampton Central.
Plan your journey in advance to get the best prices and explore different ticket types, including Group Save, Sunday Out and Semi-Flex Return tickets. Plus, you could save even more money on your train tickets with Railcards and discounts.
Travelling in London
We operate regular trains to Vauxhall from London Waterloo, Putney, Surbiton, Wimbledon, Staines, Earlsfield and Raynes Park. When you arrive in London, use Travelcards, Oyster cards and contactless payments on buses and tubes for hassle-free travel across the city.
Things to do at the Garden Museum
There’s always plenty to do at the Garden Museum, from its annual Spring Plant Fair to a regular programme of exhibitions, talks, events and film screenings. Find out more about what’s on offer to plan your visit.
Collections
The Garden Museum’s permanent collection features gardening tools and artefacts from throughout history, along with botanical drawings, photographs, and paintings. It’s also home to the Archive of Garden Design, which preserves the work of well-known 20th and 21st-century British garden designers.
Alongside the collection, the Ark Gallery explores the life and collections of John Tradescant, who founded Britain’s first public garden museum at his home in Lambeth in the early 17th century. The former church in which the museum is housed – St Mary-at-Lambeth – is Tradescant's burial place, which is why Rosemary Nicholson founded the museum here in 1977.
Gardens
The Garden Museum has several green spaces to explore. Dan Pearson designed the courtyard garden, which sits at the heart of the museum. It is described as an ‘Eden’ of rare plants inspired by John Tradescant’s plant-collecting journeys.
The front gardens were designed by Christopher Bradley-Hole, inviting visitors to stop and admire the views across the Thames before entering the museum. Next to the front gardens is St Mary’s Garden, a free, volunteer-run public space with an experimental cutting garden. If you love wildflower gardens, be sure to pay a visit here or purchase some of the blooms in the Garden Museum shop.
Medieval tower
Once you’ve explored the collections and gardens, climb the medieval tower at the Garden Museum. Built in 1377, this is the oldest part of the museum’s historic site, boasting panoramic views over the Thames towards Westminster.
Exhibitions
Although widely known for its history and rich green spaces, the Garden Museum is also one of the best art galleries in the South West. Alongside the permanent collection, you’ll find a seasonally changing programme of exhibitions. From artists who take gardening as a jumping-off point for their work to environmentally driven initiatives and the annual British Flowers Week, there’s something everyone can enjoy here.
Events
The Garden Museum hosts a rich and varied programme of events throughout the year, including the annual Garden Museum plant fair, seasonal cooking classes, growing workshops, arts and crafts for kids, walking tours around London and talks by authors, artists and gardening professionals.
Café and shop
Want to refuel during your visit? The Garden Museum café serves a daily changing menu of seasonal dishes inspired by British and European cuisine, along with tea, coffee and light refreshments. The café is open every day from 10:00 – 17:00, with dinner service on Tuesdays from 17:30 – 21:00 and Fridays from 18:00 – 21:00.
Once you’ve finished exploring, the Garden Museum’s shop is well worth a visit, featuring gardening books, tools and equipment, gifts, cards and more.
Tickets
The Garden Museum has various ticketing options, and SWR customers can save money on their visit with our fantastic 2FOR1 offer at the Garden Museum London. Standard entry prices are listed below:
Prices include access to the tower. If you want to climb the tower without visiting the museum, tickets cost £4.
Things to do near the Garden Museum
Want to make the most of your day out in London? There are plenty of things to see and do near the Garden Museum! Explore more beautiful green spaces at Kew Gardens or get your history fix at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Fancy a stroll along the Thames? Head east along the Southbank, where you’ll find many restaurants, bars and a bustling street food market. Then, enjoy some more culture at Tate Modern– home to some of the best modern and contemporary art in the world.
Food and drinks
The Garden Museum café is a great place to enjoy a bite to eat and a drink or two, but there are several other options nearby.
Italo is a stylish Italian deli near Vauxhall station, a 20-minute walk from the museum. It serves lunch daily, which you can take away or sit in and enjoy, and has a weekend brunch menu. For classic pub fare and Spanish-inspired small plates, head to The Black Dog, a 13-minute walk away.
Accessibility
The Garden Museum is fully accessible to wheelchair users; however, there is no on-site parking. There is a lift to the first floor, where the permanent collection is kept, but visitors are advised to notify the museum in advance if they require this. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the museum and in the café.
See the museum’s website for more information about accessibility before you visit.
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