An Insider's Garden Tour of London

Find out the secret destinations and hotels where plant love reigns supreme in this garden-obsessed city.

By: Felicia Feaster

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Photo By: Image courtesy of Blenheim Palace

Photo By: Image courtesy of One Aldwych

Photo By: Image courtesy of the Dorchester

Photo By: Image courtesy of Rosewood London

Photo By: Image courtesy of Rosewood

Photo By: Image courtesy of David Austin Roses

Photo By: Image courtesy of Felicia Feaster

Blenheim Palace

The birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace is a day-trip destination outside of London featuring sumptuous gardens and parklands.

To the Manor Born

The grand 18th century Baroque-style manner house Blenheim Palace features more than 2,000 acres of parks and gardens designed by one of England's most revered landscape architects, "Capability Brown" in the 1760s.

Best Kept Secret

In contrast to the manicured formal gardens at Blenheim, the Secret Garden features an informal ambiance of winding paths and bridges. As an added benefit for gardeners, the Secret Garden features plant labels for easy identification of its treasures.

Petersham Nursery

A magical growing space close to London, this haute nursery features a variety of plants and chic garden accessories, but also a food-forward restaurant where the area aristocrats come to sup (call ahead to reserve a table). Perpetually listed on every hipster London's favorite finds list, Petersham is a bit off the beaten path, but well worth seeking out.

Inspiring Products

Flower and vegetable seeds, Burgon & Ball products unavailable in America, incredible garden products from around the world and—better still—plenty of inspiration await at the well-curated garden shop that is part of Petersham Nursery in Richmond.

One Aldwych Hotel

Whether or not you book a room at this luxury hotel (we think you should) in the center of London, you'll have to stop by the jaw-dropping Lobby Bar of the One Aldwych hotel. In-house floral designer Mark Siredzuk creates unbelievable arrangements throughout the property but his epic designs in the Lobby Bar are something to behold. Enjoy them while sipping a bespoke cocktail featuring an array of exotic botanical and floral elements.

Flower Power

The One Aldwych hotel's in-house florist Mark Siredzuk creates rotating flower displays throughout this London hotel but the real fireworks happen in the hotel's Lobby Bar where Siredzuk pulls off spectacular arrangements like this tribute to fashion icon Isabella Blow created for London Fashion Week.

Blow Up

One Aldwych's in-house floral designer Mark Siredzuk created this installation centered on red roses to honor the British fashion icon Isabella Blow. One Aldwych is distinguished by its incredible floral displays created for the Lobby Bar, which also features an array of botanical cocktails to get deeper into the floral spirit of garden-centric London.

Hydrangeas Reach New Heights

Hydrangeas and foxtail lilies are the star players in this jaw-dropping floral display featured in the Lobby Bar of London's One Aldwych hotel.

Flowers Everywhere

One of the perks of having an in-house floral designer at the One Aldwych hotel is a space filled with inspired floral design. Perfect specimens of potted orchids are featured in the Covent Garden hotel's luxurious guest rooms.

Outrageous Orchids

One Aldwych floral designer Mark Siredzuk's unique arrangements are placed throughout the hotel space including the guest reception area.

Very Cool Pool

One of the many distinctive features at London's One Aldwych hotel is a pool featuring underwater music and a film screen offering changing views of clouds, sea life and other dreamy ambiance.

Kensington Roof Gardens

Hard to believe but this beautiful garden, featuring Japanese maples, lawn, flamingos, wood ducks, bridges and all, exists on the 6th floor of a London office building on a busy high street in Kensington. Divided into a Spanish, Tudor and English Woodland garden, this magical public garden is a must-see for gardening fans.

The Dorchester Hotel English Tea

Consistently ranked the top tea spot in London, the luxurious Dorchester Hotel features an exquisite lineup of champagne, countless tea varieties, sandwiches, scones and cakes as part of their memorable English tea. During the Chelsea Flower Show each May, the tea features delicate cakes and pastries infused with flower essences. The Promenade setting for the tea features the extraordinary floral designs of in-house florist Phil Hammond.

Floral Designer Phil Hammond

Anxious to ogle spectacular floral displays in an incomparable setting? The Dorchester Hotel's resident florist Phil Hammond creates extraordinary arrangements displayed throughout the hotel. Things ramp up during the annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show each May when Hammond turns out truly spectacular designs for the hotel's Promenade.

Rosewood Hotel

The impressive facade of London's Rosewood Hotel features dozens of boxwood planters that set the tone for this hotel centered on high-design, wit and an appreciation for all things floral in their signature white hydrangeas featured in every room.

McQueens Flowers

The haute London florist McQueens creates the gorgeous floral displays that define the elegant public spaces of the Rosewood hotel. Bird cages ornamenting the hotel's public spaces feature finches and budgies. Stop into this incomparably stylish hotel known for its mix of off-kilter English wit and luxurious trappings for a meal, drink or an overnight stay, but don't forget to check out these glorious arrangements from the floral brand that designs for the "Vanity Fair" post-Oscars party and high society London events.

Rosewood Buxus Trees

Beautifully manicured buxus trees ornament the exterior of the Rosewood London hotel, lending a formal, elegant air to this centrally-located London hotel.

Kew Gardens

The world's largest collection of living plants are on display in the world-famous 327-acre botanical garden Kew Gardens where you could easily lose yourself for a day or two.

Wisley Garden

Open every day but Christmas, this exceptional 135-acre botanical garden is just outside London. Established in 1903 and featuring exquisite woodland gardens, alpine gardens and tropical and desert plants in a gorgeous glass house, Wisley Garden is the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society. If you can find an opportunity to take a tour or hear a lecture by Wisley's curator (and former head gardener to the Queen Mother), the dynamic Scotsman with the charming brogue, Colin Crosbie, by all means do so.

Hampton Court Palace

The former home to Henry VII and Anne Boleyn, Hampton Court Palace boasts sumptuous gardens of every variety, from clipped and austere formal gardens, to lush herbaceous borders.

Amazing Window Boxes

It doesn't cost a dime but assures ample inspiration for your own garden back home: a walking tour of almost any London neighborhood will yield ideas for your own containers and window boxes. The English excel at making any space, no matter how small, a visual garden delight.

Chelsea Flower Show

If you find yourself in London in May, you owe yourself a trip to the Academy Awards of flower shows, the Chelsea Flower Show. Also notable, the Hampton Court Flower Show held each July is also renowned for its stellar displays and flower mad-crowd.