A London garden day with real surprises. This private route threads together secret courtyards, apothecary plants, and a proper museum stop, all with an expert guide and black cab transport between sights. I love how the plan mixes well-known names with low-key green spaces you’d miss on your own, and I also like that it builds in time to slow down at Chelsea Physic Garden with a classic English high tea.

One thing to think about first: it’s a walking tour with a moderate pace. If you’re not a fan of cobblestones, short stairs, and moving between neighborhoods, you may feel it by the end of the day.

Key things to know before you go

• Private guide, small feel: it’s just you in the group, so questions and pacing stay flexible
• Start at St Martin-in-the-Fields: you begin right at Trafalgar Square, inside easy reach of central landmarks
• Church-and-courtyard garden stops: rose garden corners, churchyard greens, and Temple Gardens among the Inns of Court
• Lambeth’s London Garden Museum: includes a knot garden and strong interpretive displays around Lambeth Palace
• Chelsea Physic Garden + high tea: you get an apothecary-plant walkthrough and then a traditional tea break in the gardens

Where the day starts: St Martin-in-the-Fields and Trafalgar Square greens

Your tour begins at the front steps of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, on the east side of Trafalgar Square. That’s a smart choice because you can orient fast, and it keeps the morning in the most convenient part of central London.

From there, you’ll step into quieter pockets nearby, including the grounds linked with the Actor’s Church garden at Covent Garden area. You’re not just looking at plants; you’re learning how London’s most “busy” districts hide calm, planted spaces behind gates and building walls.

Covent Garden rose corners, artist churches, and getting oriented fast

One of the pleasures of this day is the way it teaches you how London “layers” its green spaces. You’ll peek into the grounds of St. Paul’s Artist Church, which was designed by Inigo Jones, and then head toward a rose garden located behind the Covent Garden entrance area.

This is the kind of stop that makes the rest of the day work. When you learn what to look for—brick walls, pocket courtyards, and garden doors tucked behind institutions—you start spotting the city’s hidden rhythms instead of just following a checklist.

Lincoln’s Inn Fields: one of London’s biggest city squares

Next comes Lincoln’s Inn Fields, described as London’s largest city square. It’s a great anchor for the tour because it’s open enough to give you breathing room, but still surrounded by the legal-institution world of the Inns of Court.

While you’re there, you’ll visit the John Soane Museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The museum is tied to garden statuary and classic decorative objects, so it fits this day’s theme well: London’s plants and buildings have always had a shared language—design, symbolism, and ornament.

A practical note: the visit helps break up the morning’s walking. If you’re doing this in cooler months, the museum-style indoor time is a real comfort.

Bamboo in the square and Temple Gardens among the Inns of Court

From Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the route moves through the area’s bamboo garden to reach Temple Gardens. Temple Gardens are meant to feel tucked away—green space that functions like a pause button between city streets and working institutions.

This part of the tour is valuable because it shows you the “in-between” London. It’s not a grand palace garden, and it’s not a busy park. It’s the kind of green you only find when someone points you to it and you walk the last few minutes off the main route.

If you’re walking with any grip issues on uneven ground, keep an eye on where the path changes from open square to tighter garden routes. It’s usually manageable, but you’re in motion for a full day.

Black cab across the Thames: London Garden Museum by Lambeth Palace

After Lincoln’s Inn Fields, you’ll drive toward the Embankment and cross the River Thames to the London Garden Museum near Lambeth Palace. That black cab hop matters more than you might think, because it protects your energy for the garden time that follows.

Inside the museum, you’ll see strong displays and you’ll get to enjoy a knot garden dating back to the 1600s. Knot gardens are all about precision—plant spacing, geometry, and restraint—and this one gives you a direct sense of how London used to design “living patterns” long before social media.

You’ll also find a relaxing café stop here. I like that because it’s not just sightseeing; it’s built-in time to recharge before Chelsea Physic Garden, which is where the day’s “garden immersion” really lands.

Chelsea Physic Garden: apothecary plants and a guided garden oasis

Then it’s off to Chelsea Physic Garden, established in 1673 and known for its apothecary plants. This is one of the most education-friendly stops on the day because you’re not only admiring leaves and flowers—you’re learning how these plants relate to medicinal use and early plant science.

You’ll be walked through the grounds by one of the garden’s own guides, which is a big advantage. Staff guides usually know the plants at a closer, more practical level than a general sightseeing guide, and they can explain what’s being grown and why that matters.

One of the best parts of the whole schedule is that Chelsea Physic Garden is described as being a short distance from Sloane Square, but it still feels like a pocket of calm right in the city. That contrast is exactly what makes the day worth it.

High tea in the gardens: the best kind of schedule break

Chelsea Physic Garden is also where you’ll enjoy traditional English high tea. Since tea is included, you’re not juggling extra meal decisions while you’re walking between stops—this is the kind of practical inclusion that improves the whole day.

I like the rhythm this creates: you do the guided plant learning, then you slow down with tea right where the plants are. You’re not transporting to a café and losing the garden mood; you keep the setting continuous.

You’ll also have time to see surrounding garden areas, including a sunken garden in the palace grounds. That adds variety to the day’s visuals without turning it into an endurance contest.

Price and value for a private garden day

The tour is listed at $526 per person for a one-day private experience. On the other hand, the pricing details say it can be £325 per person for a couple, with the per-person cost dropping if you add more people. Because pricing can vary by group size and how it’s sold, I’d focus less on the headline number and more on what you actually get.

Here’s what’s doing the heavy lifting for value:

• Black cab transport between neighborhoods
• All admissions tied to the gardens and museum stops
• English high tea at Chelsea Physic Garden

For a central London day, that combination usually costs more if you assemble it yourself. The private guide also matters because this route depends on knowing what to look for—churchyard garden corners, institutional greens, and the right internal museum entry moments.

Who this tour suits best (and who should skip it)

This tour fits you if you love flowers, gardens, and plant explanations, and you want more than just a stroll past famous landmarks. It’s also a great fit if you enjoy structured time in multiple garden types: courtyard roses, a museum-linked collection, apothecary plants, and a historically designed knot garden.

It’s less ideal if you hate walking or you want a low-movement day. Even with cab rides, you’ll be moving through several zones in one day, and the tour notes moderate fitness.

Should you book Secret Gardens of London Private Tour?

I’d book it if you want a London day with a clear theme—green spaces—plus smart access. Starting at St Martin-in-the-Fields, ending in the Chelsea Physic Garden with high tea, and including the John Soane Museum gives you variety that still feels connected.

I’d think twice only if you’re extremely sensitive to walking pace or you’re planning during a time when gardens aren’t in season. This runs daily except Saturdays during the garden season from April 1 to September 30, so timing affects how satisfying it feels.

FAQ

How long is the Secret Gardens of London private tour?

It’s listed as a one-day tour with a total duration of 1 day.

Where do we meet for the tour?

You meet at the front steps of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, on the east side of Trafalgar Square.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It’s a private group experience.

What’s included in the price?

The tour includes transportation by a black cab, an informative guide, all admission fees, and English high tea at Chelsea Physic Garden.

What should I plan for in terms of walking?

It’s described as a guided walking tour with moderate fitness required.

When does the tour run?

It runs daily except Saturdays during London’s garden season from April 1 to September 30.

Do children pay for the tour?

Children 5 and under are free.