Inventory Site Record

Ennismore Gardens was built on the site of the former paddocks and gardens of Kingston House built in 1770. Named after William Hare, Viscount Ennismore and Earl of Listowel, in former times the gardens stretched the whole length of Prince's Gate. The Victorian garden was planted in 1870 and since the 1980s has been extensively restored and replanted. The garden has a central lawn edged with serpentine paths and dense shrubberies, and is enclosed on 3 sides by cast-iron railings, punctuated by 3 pairs of C19th Portland stone gate piers and four C19th corner piers. An ornamental urn commemorates actress Ava Gardner, who lived here.

Site location:

Ennismore Gardens, Knightsbridge

Postcode:

SW7 1AJ

What 3 Words:

tiger.option.admits

Type of site:

Garden Square

Borough:

Westminster

Open to public?

Occasionally

Opening times:

Has opened for OGSW. Otherwise private, keyholders only
Has taken part in Open Garden Squares Weekend 25 times, most recently in 2024.

Special conditions:

No dogs other than working dogs.

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: South Kensington (District, Circle, Piccadilly); Knightsbridge (Piccadilly). Bus: C1, 9, 10, 14, 52, 74, 414, 452.

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Google Map    
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Research updated:

01/05/2012

Last minor changes:

14/07/2022

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news.

Ennismore Gardens is overlooked by a range of listed buildings including complete palatial C19th terraced houses. The gardens have been used as a film location for example for 'Maybe Baby' in 2000, and for an episode in the Hercule Poirot television series. There is a fountain in the garden and an ornamental urn commemorates the actress Ava Gardner who lived at Ennismore Gardens for 17 years. In the autumn of both 2009 and 2010 4,000 bulbs were planted and the north border has been re-designed. In 2006 the garden won Silver Medal in London Garden Society's 'large private squares' category and in 2009 and 2010 it was Highly Commended in the same category. Adjacent is the Russian Orthodox Patriarchal Church of the Assumption of All Saints, 1848-9, designed by Louis Vulliamy.

Sources consulted:

Ben Weinreb & Christopher Hibbert, 'The London Encyclopaedia' (Macmillan, revised ed. 1993), pp.261, 621.

Grid ref:

TQ270794 (527089,179449)

Size in hectares:

Site ownership:

private

Site management:

Robert Player

Date(s):

1870

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII*: Church of the Assumption of All Saints. LBII: North 1-9 & 60-65, 27 lamp standards; south 27-34 & Mews arch adjoining 37; west 10-25; east 39-59; 2 pairs gate piers on west & south, 4 corner piers

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

Yes

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Knightsbridge

Tree Preservation Order:

Yes

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None

Ennismore Gardens - Photo: Diana Jarvis
Date taken: 10/06/18 10:17

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