London Open Gardens is a well-established event where the gates of private gardens are thrown open for ticketed access every June.
Our visitors come from across the UK and around the world to explore our parks and gardens over the weekend. 33% visit between six and ten gardens, with another 20% visiting more than ten. 71% go on to visit other attractions such as museums, churches, exhibitions and theatres, while taking advantage of the city’s cafés and restaurants.
“As humans, we need greenery, flowers and nature around us for our wellbeing.”
“So many of the gardens have unique and rich backstories that educate and entertain. It would be a tragedy to lose the legacy of these spaces.”
“Once lost, it’s too late to get them back as very few new green spaces are being created. Monetary greed will try to overpower less measurable benefits.”
While almost half of London is green space, only a fifth is publicly accessible; so the weekend is a way for us to showcase some of the many private spaces contributing to London’s green landscape and economy.
Together, all these spaces help manage our urban climate, reduce the impacts of the increasing frequency and severity of storms, provide clean air for us to breathe, spaces to boost our physical and mental health, and reflect the cultures of local communities and the people who manage or created them.
“London is unique in keeping its many green spaces accessible and in good order. It is very much appreciated.”
“We need green space to relax and unwind. Our history should be preserved.”
“History is varied, and green spaces are as important as any in our history.”
The event is managed and run by the charity, London Parks and Gardens. It involves more than a hundred individual parks, community gardens, and some green and landscaped rooftops. All offer a unique glimpse of the hard work and dedication of individuals driven to bring nature into urban spaces.
“London is one of the greenest cities and it should strive to remain so.”
“Green space is what makes London such a beautiful city (cf. Manhattan), and in this time of climate change increasingly a habitable one.”
While our Open Garden weekend is important to us, it’s a small part of our work defending heritage parks and spaces. We have twice defeated the UK government in the courts over its plans to develop parks, and Mayor Sadiq Khan in his London Plan urges developers to consult us on any plans impacting heritage parks. We are London Parks and Gardens.
