Lambeth Palace garden covers just over 10 acres and is one of the oldest gardens in England.
The garden features many species native to England, as well as plants from around the world, reflecting the breadth and scope of the Anglican Communion.
Trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals from Europe mix happily with a wide range of plants from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia.
Who looks after the garden?
We have two experienced full-time gardeners. They are supported by a team of volunteers who help with weeding, pruning, and planting, as well as collecting leaves in autumn.
Volunteers join us here for all kinds of reasons. Some come to gain practical skills and experience to enhance their studies, while others have a particular affinity for the garden itself.
Many enjoy the peace and contemplative quiet that the garden offers from the busy world outside.
Greener gardening
We manage the garden organically, without chemical pesticides or herbicides. This helps encourage natural predators.
Lacewings and ladybirds help keep aphid numbers down, while numerous small birds feed on the leaf miners that harm some of the trees. Hundreds of toads have made the garden their home – they are especially partial to slugs.
We create habitats, such as longer grass in some areas or discreet piles of decaying logs, to encourage more wildlife. Our aim is to achieve a natural balance and provide a haven for all kinds of living things amid the city's hustle and bustle.
Visit the gardens
The garden is usually open to the public once a month between May and September. After a fallow year in 2025, we intend to reopen the garden for summer open days in 2026.