The best secret garden in London is an ancient 3-acre oasis that most commuters walk straight past – and it’s completely free to visit

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Katie Forge

 –  Staff Writer

 ·  6 May, 2026

The Most Jaw-Droppingly Stunning Green Spaces That You Won’t Believe Are In London

10 London Villages That Will Make You Forget You’re In The City

We’re fairly spoilt for choice when it comes to gorgeous green spaces here in London. With around 47% of the city dedicated to parks, commons, and glorious gardens; there’s no shortage of spots to head to if you’re in need of a nature fix. But whilst the botanical bigwigs like Hyde Park and Kew Gardens are certainly popular for good reason, there’s something undeniably special about stumbling upon one of London’s lesser-known leafy locales. You know – the ones that are playing slightly hard to get. And luckily for us, the lovely lot over at The Telegraph have kindly pointed us in the direction of the some of the most surreptitious green spaces in the city.

Inner Temple Garden

Picture-perfectly perched in the heart of London’s legal quarter is Inner Temple Garden. Topping the Telegraph’s list of the best secret gardens in London; this award-winning garden is one of the oldest in the capital city. Its first gardener of the Inn was recorded back in 1307, but there are references to a garden on the site that predate the Inn. So basically, it’s pretty darn ancient. Boasting historic trees, experimental flower borders, a huge range of wildlife, and views of some of London’s legendary landmarks; it’s a corner of calm amongst the chaos of the capital city. And well worth paying a visit.

Inner Temple Garden is a ‘rich and dynamic refuge for nature and wildlife’; home to 25 distinct group species of flower-visiting insects (the most abundant being the honeybee). There’s wildflower meadows, mixed-herbaceous borders, blooming shrubs, ancient trees, and open lawns – so you can rest assured that there’s something truly gorgeous to gawp at with every turn. It’s a small sanctuary of serenity in the heart of our rather hectic capital city, and its certainly not tricky to see why it’s been named one of the best of the bunch.

The best secret gardens in London (according to The Telegraph):

1. Inner Temple Garden
2. Garden Museum
3. Museum of the Home
4. Museum of the Order of St John
5. The Exchange
6. Dulwich Picture Gallery
7. Fulham Palace
8. Brockwell Park Walled Garden
9. Cannizaro Park
10. St Dunstan in the East

📍You’ll find the Inner Temple Garden on Crown Office Row, EC4Y 7HL.

🚇 The nearest stations are Temple and Blackfriars.