The London Open Garden Squares Weekend is the one weekend during the course of the year when many of the capital’s private garden squares open their gates to the public. At the same time, a number of special events will be taking place in selected public gardens.

Private Squares
London has over 600 garden squares and a significant proportion of these are open only to local residents or selected institutions in the surrounding areas. In short, although London is a very green city, it’s pretty difficult to see quite a bit of that greenery for most of the year which is why the Open Garden Squares Weekend is such a highlight in so many Londoners' social diaries.

Gardens behind bars
The Open Garden Squares Weekend also offers unique tours of HM prison gardens at Holloway, Wandsworth and Wormwood Scrubs. Tours require prebooking.

Open Air Performances
When you're not relaxing over a picnic or savouring the beautiful flora and fauna of the open garden squares, you can catch live performances and activities. The Treblemakers, an a cappella singing group will be performing in Kensington Square and Punch and Judy will be out to entertain at Russell Square Gardens, Cassland Garden will have a children's puppet show and Reiki therapy will be available in the Culpepper Community Garden during the Open Garden Squares events.

New squares to discover
The Open Garden Squares Weekend is run by the London Parks and Gardens Trust and is supported by English Heritage. Nearly 175 gardens are opening to the public this year – some residential, some belonging to institutions, some belonging to religious institutions, some to HM prisons and others belonging to museums. 20 new gardens will also be unlocking their gates and welcoming you inside.

Secret Gardens
The London Open Garden Squares Weekend a fabulous chance to see parts of London that, chances are, you’ve never seen before. The Inner Temple Gardens will be open to the public over the weekend, and the Roof Gardens are inviting you in to see their three specially themed areas and meet their resident flamingos. The Beatrix Potter Allotments make for delightful exploring too. Uncovering usually secret gardens can definitely open your eyes to how different residents relax in London. It's not all about bars and clubs.

Expert Advice
Whether you're naturally green fingered or struggle to maintain a window box you'll be able to benefit from expert advice over the weekend. Plants and unusual herbs will be available to buy from the Geffrye Museum Gardens on Sunday 8th June, and you can ask the scientists all about different garden and wildlife species at the Natural History Museum garden. The staff at the Museum of Gardening History will be on hand to answer your gardening queries before you stock up from the range of plants and herbs for sale.

Tickets for this year's Open Garden Squares Weekend cost £6.00 in advance or £7.50 during the weekend. Admission for children under 12 is free.

For more information on the gardens involved, the weekend’s special events and how to purchase tickets, click on the link below.Other London events