Barnsbury Wood is a little hidden gem in Islington and the smallest local nature reserve in London. The site was originally the garden of a house built in the 1840s. Left to nature, this hidden woodland has become home to a range of wildlife including the long-tailed tit, lesser stag beetle, common toad and the 16-spot ladybird. The wood is owned and managed by the nature conservation team at Islington Ecology Centre with the help of volunteers, and opens to the public on Tuesday afternoons (and Saturday afternoons in summer). At other times, school groups use the site for environmental education sessions.
Nestled in the heart of London, Barnsbury Wood is a hidden, fresh and invigorating gem that offers visitors a serene atmosphere inviting you to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, surrounded by a diverse array of towering trees that create a gentle play of light and shade. There are a few special specimens that are particularly noteworthy and deserve to be admired.
Nature Conservation Team: Elena Kulla and Louisa Roscoe
Garden presents challenges for visitors with limited mobility.
Rough, unsurfaced and narrow paths around the wood. Can be muddy after heavy rain. No slopes or steps.
Additional booking required. Tour tickets will be released later in the year.
Distance (in straight line)
0.8 km / 0.5 miles
Open
Saturday 10:00–17:00
Sunday 10:00–16:00
An iconic contemporary building designed by Japanese architects Maki & Associates, which opened in July 2018. The building includes gardens that represent key elements of classic Islamic garden design.
A floating classroom on a wide-beam barge, now refitted with planters, trellises and roof decks, all overflowing with plants. Plus a floating island providing waterfowl habitat. Herbal tea workshop, refreshments, art exhibition.
Community garden located on a former railway embankment. Features include a lawn, herbaceous borders, extensive woodland, an orchard, wildflower meadow, a wildlife pond, fruit and vegetable growing, and a greenhouse.
