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One London garden that’s well known to locals but strangely hidden from the pages of most guidebooks is Hampstead Hill Garden and Pergola.

Henry VIII may not have been a stellar husband, but he did have great choice in gardens. You can see for yourself at his old stomping ground, Hampton Court.

Here, you’ll find over 60 acres of perfectly manicured garden. It’s all very aristocratic, with perfectly polished hedgerows and imposing statues.

It’s not all serious though – there’s also a huge maze, which is great fun for kids (and kids-at-heart).

If you were fabulously wealthy in the 17th century then an impressive house and spectacular garden were definite non-negotiables.

To have a peek at how the other half lived, you can pay a visit to Ham House with its gorgeous garden.

Flowers abound in this garden – if you want to know more, you can even join a free tour of them.

A picturesque garden north of St Paul’s Cathedral, Postman’s Park is more than just a pretty face.

My favourite part of this space is the moving ‘Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice’ in the midst of it.

Here, you’ll find dozens of plaques dedicated to people who lost their lives trying to save others (it even popped up in the film Closer starring Jude Law, Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman and Clive Owen).

Not hard to see why it’s one of my favourite free gardens to visit in London.

This pretty and petite London garden is one of my favourite places to escape the city crowds. My parents always used to take me here as a child and I’m glad to say that it’s just as beautiful decades later.

The Streatham Rookery been perfectly landscaped, with impressive hedges and a beautiful pond nestled right on the edge of Streatham Common. Even better? Very few people know about this secret spot – perfect for grabbing a bit of peace and quiet.

Even many Londoners are surprised to hear that the Barbican Conservatory is the city’s largest conservatory after Kew Gardens.

That said, the fact that it only opens up on some Sundays does mean this tropical garden in London has a little less hype around it.

It also only adds to the intrigue if you ask me – and it’s well worth checking out.

If there was ever a garden to inspire you to become a budding (get it?) flower enthusiast, it’s the Isabella Plantation.

Located in Richmond Park, this flower garden in London is packed full of dreamy flowers like colourful azaleas.

Perfect for inspiration for your own garden – or just as an Insta backdrop.

The Chelsea Physic Garden was established by the “Worshipful Society of Apothecaries” (has there ever been a cooler name for an organisation?) way back in 1673.

Today, it remains popular and is one of the more unique gardens to visit in London. There’s a focus on the scientific side of the plants, including their medicinal uses.

Perfect if you’re a secret (or out and proud) flower geek.

I love the traffic and hustle and bustle of downtown London, but it’s not exactly a zen kind of place to do some reflection.

Luckily, London’s Kyoto Garden certainly is. Donated by the city of Kyoto in the 90s, it’s a peaceful oasis inspired by traditional Japanese gardens and one of the most romantic places in the city.

While it’s not enormous, there’s plenty to see and it’s best explored slowly – so I recommend leaving an afternoon to see it.

There’s no two ways about it: Kew Gardens is the most famous flower patch in England, and quite possibly the world.

In fact, calling in a “flower patch” is quite the understatement. Laid out over 300 acres with over 30,000 species of plants, this botanical garden in London is really something.

If you’re looking to visit the most famous London garden – this is probably your best bet.