Chelsea Physic Garden

Not to impressed today, they have a group booking ok fine, sign on the café door says closed 10 – 11:15 and 12:30 — 2:30, that’s clear for all but no you can’t sit inside because they have a group booking, pointed out what the sign said and the rude man said «I didn’t write the sign» I said it should be taken down he just walked past me as if he didn’t hear, misrepresenting your business, not good

My partner and I trekked here last weekend to see the snowdrops, which are apparently the first sign of spring — they’re the first flowers of the season to bloom, and they’re gorgeous. The garden had them hanging up in moss balls so they were at eye level, which was a really nice touch.
It was a bit cold and most things hadn’t yet bloomed, but I can really see the potential of this place, and would love to come back when it’s a better time of year to see it. The «edible garden» section, with information about different plants and their uses in food was particularly interesting.
We also stopped in the café for a quick bite — a very limited and fairly expensive menu for savoury food, but the cakes we had for a light bite were delicious (and they had one of my favourites, a polenta cake — yum!)

So cool! I had book marked it and forgot about it until we stumbled on it today during a walk. You do have to pay to come in, I think it’s 10 pounds. The graden is filled with plants and flowers that are used for medicinal purposes. There are explanations or you can take a guided tour. There is a café bt we didn’t eat there. I’m sure it makes for a lovely wedding venue. I’ve been to quiter parks but I’m glad I came here!

What a great place to visit. We had a very informative tour around the garden and this place is a great inspiration.
The shop is great: I bought to many things and I would love to have lunch there next time. There will be a next time, because I would love to come back.

Somewhere along the Thames is a little garden that is hundreds of years old. Founded in the 1600s, the Chelsea Physic Garden is the oldest public garden in London.
Tucked away behind tall brick walls with little signage, the grounds are verdant, filled with plants and trees, healing, edible and not, from all over the world. Just walking around the garden reading signs is a full educational experience.
There is a little café on the grounds that serves fresh salads from the garden as well as coffees, cakes and other snacks. I didn’t get the chance to actually nibble anything there as it was full the day I visited, but the kitchen did smell lovely!
The entire garden survives on the money made at the shop, the ticket price at the door and donations from the surrounding community. Chelsea is world-​renowned for it’s flower festivals and it is no surprise that this garden has thrived for more than 300 years on community spirit.
Over the past centuries, the garden has evolved from pharmaceutical to a teaching garden; housing an entire classroom for students to learn about plants and giving garden tours every half hour daily.
The little shop sells seeds from some of the flowers in the garden, and not to worry Canadian travelers, if you buy any seeds you can bring them home.
Chelsea Physic Garden is a lovely spot to wander around for the day, have a latte and learn about cork trees and opium poppy’s or to just watch the flowers bloom.
T.

«The Chelsea Physic Garden was founded in 1673, as the Apothecaries’ Garden, with the purpose of training apprentices in identifying plants…» And identifying plants, people still do at this botanical garden of a different kind.
My neighbour and good friend actually works as a volunteer/​docent here at the Chelsea Physics Garden and last week we came here together and she gave us our very own private tour of the garden. I really enjoyed learning about the history of this hidden London gem and I loved listening to the many anecdotes that she told us; amongst others, that the rockery is built from Icelandic lava stones that were used as ballast on ship on an exploration led by Joseph Banks back in the 1770s.
The garden displays a variety of medicinal plants from all over the world — there’s the willow from which we have the power of Aspirin, there is another plant that is now considered powerful in the fight against breast cancer… and so on. Really interesting and well worth spending an afternoon. I do highly recommend attending a tour led by one of volunteers or even the audio guide.
My favourite part of this visit was the lunch at the in-​house café: The Tangerine Dream Café (see separate review).

Somehow I neglected to write a review after we visited this garden in ⁷⁄₁₁. We took advantage of the fact that it’s open until 10:00 p.m. on Wednesdays during July & August, and it was a luxury to be there well into the evening. Although it’s not a huge garden, it’s larger than it appears from the street and we thought it was lovely; there were many different types of flowers and many pretty/​subtle colors. The gift shop is open until closing time, but we were disappointed to discover that the café (restaurant) closed early; it has outdoor seating and it looked appealing.

So I got the London Pass which gets you into over 50 museums and attractions in London and the Chelsea Physic Garden was part of the pass so I decided to visit here since I was in the area.
It is the oldest botanical garden in London that dates back in 1673. There are just so many different types of plants from all over the world are found here. Some are edible, some have «healing powers» and some are just your ordinary plants that you may see on a daily basis.
But I can guarantee that most of the plants seen here will be new to you. And you will learn a lot as walk around the garden. The horticulturists are working diligently even as you look at the plants and flowers and they are there to answer any questions you may have.
As you walk around, be careful as there are giant bees that congregate by certain plants. There are other insects as well.

Like the beautiful Holland Park this place deserves accolades like ‘hidden gem’, ‘London’s best kept secret’, ‘secret garden’ etc.
It’s a superb place for anyone to visit.
Its especially good this time of year.
The garden itself has an amazing artificially created atmosphere where it feels intensely humid as you get near to river end.
The best way to visit this garden is to take a picnic as outside the restaurant there is a large expansive lawn, great especially when it’s dry and sunny when you can throw a blanket on the ground and forget your all your troubles in one of the most beautiful gardens in London.
Value for money this place deserves 10 out of 10.
The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, you can also hire a speakerphone device similar to the ones galleries use, so that as you walk round to each exhibit you can be filled in with all the necessary information.
Along with Holland Park this is definitely one of the top 10 places you should visit whilst in London.
Unmissable.

I thought it would be quiet but unfortunately there was some kind of private christening function and the restaurant was noisy and kids screaming.
It was so busy that when you tried to take photos, there were loads of people in the way.
I wouldn’t recommend going if there is a weekend function on.
Otherwise it was superb. Wonderful amusing talk by a lady guide. Loved the historical snippets.
Loved to see the ginko tree and mulberry, which reminded me of my childhood.
A waiter service would have been better to avoid a large queue, so I would blame the organisers for that, it was not far on the staff as they had to put up with rude customers. They were very helpful and pleasant under difficult circumstances. I bet they were glad when the day was over! The organisers didn’t display any Tipping box and I wonder why, considering they were so busy and staff very good.
You may see the odd model or famous footballer there.

Really nice relaxing day trip. I loved how the garden was divided into each type of medical usage. The little history cards were really interesting and the cute greenhouses were fantastic! It’s nice to be able to walk around the whole garden and not be overwhelmed. The garden is a little awkward to get to, but it only enhances the garden’s old world charm. If you go, buy your ticket via
as you can get it half price!

Absolutely beautiful and quaint gardens tucked away out of sight. Delightful tea in the afternoon on the grounds.
So interesting to see all the plants used for medicinal or functional purposes in our daily lives.

this is my secret garden and my place for escape in London. If you dont have a membership it costs 8 pounds to enter, but it is worth it (so is a membership if you live in the area). The café is open in the summer on select days and the food is incredible. There are over 4000 plant specimens in the garden and it is one of the largest collection of medicinal plants (apothecary) in the world. Its a favorite for sure.

A couple friends and I came to the garden a few weeks ago during one of those strangely beautiful days when the city is — dare I say — warm. I was surprised to find there was an entrance fee, the guidebook I has found it in didn’t mentioned that there would be a cost, but it was worth the $ 5.
Take note that it is the Chelsea PHYSIC garden, and thus the plants were mainly planted for medicinal purposes. Not to be confused with the Chelsea PSYCHIC Garden, which is what we thought it when we decided to go. That seemed slightly more intriguing.
Nonetheless, good for a pleasant stroll, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the origins of Sir Hans Sloane or plants explicitly associated with Harry Potter.
Be sure to stop by the pond, as sometimes children fall in. And there are frogs.

Situated in Chelsea, London apparently it claims to be a ‘Secret Garden’. Founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, it continues to research the properties, origins and conservation of over 5000 plant species. The Garden is open to the public from midday on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Bank Holidays until 30^th October. There’s often money off vouchers to be found online, so print these off before visiting, will save you £2 on the entry fee, which is normally £8.
It is worth booking a table for lunch or afternoon tea. Note: best to avoid peak times as service can be terribly slow, but once you do get served it is well worth the wait and reasonably priced. Homemade food is delicious in particular the cakes.

This is a small but cute pretty garden in Chelsea where the plants used in the pharmaceutical industry are grown. The gardens were founded in 1673 and it features the oldest rock garden in the UK open to the public.
Do take advantage of the guided tours. They are so helpful pointing out the various plants and their associated remedies. There are numerous out houses specializing in ferns and other fragile plants etc.
There is a café on site but the prices are on par with the Chelsea locality, which means rather expensive! Additionally, there are limited seasonal opening times which does restrict access to the gardens.

Established in 1673, this is the second oldest botanic garden in England. Stepping into it, away from the noise of the city, is like transporting yourself to the countryside in the space of a few seconds. It boasts both the largest olive tree in Britain and the world’s northern-​most outdoor grapefruit tree, in addition to a an amazing collection of plants that are nourished in a carefully maintained microclimate. Gravel pathways dotted with statuary and ponds meander through the beautifully kept gardens. If you’re in need of a peaceful place to meditate on a warm, sunny day you won’t find a better place than this.

Not much to add to the other reviews, except that, if you’re even thinking about going here (and it’s well worth it), check out their website
before you go so you can find out when they’re open, otherwise the opportunity may pass you by.
I went in the late spring, perhaps an ideal time to go, the flowers and ponds bustling with life — it’s a beautifully looked-​after place, but not artificial; you do get the sense that things have been left to grow naturally.
I originally went because my mother was down for the weekend, but in actual fact, I think I enjoyed it more than she did: it really is very beautiful indeed and a very inspiring place: take some pencils to draw or write some poetry! There’s a coffee shop inside, but it’s also not far (10 mins walk) from the Kings Road, and extremely close to one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants (!) — so there’s no shortage of places to relax nearby.
As another reviewer said, certainly one of London’s hidden gems — the first time you go, it’ll certainly feel inspired — even if you’re not that ‘into’ horticulture!

Not much to add to the other reviews but I visited this as a student.
A secret garden.
The thing that fascinated me was the underfloor heating system. Very advanced for its time although the Romans did it. (What did the Romans ever do for us?)
One of the staff also told me that the Bach Flower Remedies had something to do with the place originally. Can’t verify it.
It is however a tranquil and peaceful place to get away from the rush of London life.

Founded in 1673 by the Society of Apothecaries to enable their students to study medicinal plants, the Chelsea Physic Garden is one of London’s best kept secrets. Located close to the Chelsea Hospital, although it covers less than 4 acres, it encompasses a wide range of different medicinal and food plants, systematic order beds and decorative beds, all attractively laid out around a network of gravel paths. It’s a botanic garden in miniature: there’s even a cool fern house, with exotic tree ferns, and the oldest man-​made rock garden in Europe. A nice touch recently has been a series of scarecrows, designed by children, made out of domestic rubbish.
It has impressive historical associations, too, pre-​dating the foundation of Kew Gardens. Sir Hans Sloane acquired the freehold in 1712, and did much to develop the garden. The Swedish botanist Linnaeus the inventor the binomial scientific naming system still used to-​day — was a regular visitor in the 1730s, and it was from this garden that cotton was sent to Georgia in 1768.
As well as all the science and history, though, it’s just a lovely place to spend a quiet afternoon on a sunny day: there’s a café, serving tea and cakes, and a small shop selling up-​market gifts such as books, cards, natural soaps and scents, and gorgeous lavender cream-​filled chocolate.
The only quibble I have is that the entrance price is somewhat steep, at £7, although there are various two-​for-​one offers available from time to time.