The Garen Museum

Situated in the restored church of St Mary-at-Lambeth, adjacent to Lambeth Palace on the banks of the River Thames, the Garden Museum provides an insight into the history and development of gardens and gardening in the UK. The museum houses one of the finest public displays of garden tools and garden related artefacts and curiosities in the country, as well as an intriguing collection of garden related ephemera. In addition, a beautiful reproduction 17th century garden filled with flowers and shrubs of the period has been created in St Mary's graveyard around the tombs of famous 17th century plant hunters, the John Tradescants, (father and son), and Captain William Bligh of the 'Bounty'.

The Garden Museum (formerly the Museum of Garden History) aims to become the leading national venue for exhibitions and debate on gardens and garden design. The Garden Museum opened our doors on Tuesday 18 November 2008 having undergone a dramatic transformation. While the historic structure remains untouched, the Garden Museum welcome visitors to a newly designed interior with a sequence of individual spaces for exhibitions, the permanent collection, education, café and shop. For the first time a selection from our collection of work on paper is on display; and it  began a series of temporary exhibitions with "Beth Chatto: a Retrospective"

Situated in the restored church of St Mary-at-Lambeth, adjacent to Lambeth Palace on the banks of the River Thames, the Garden Museum provides an insight into the history and development of gardens and gardening in the UK. The museum houses one of the finest public displays of garden tools and garden related artefacts and curiosities in the country, as well as an intriguing collection of garden related ephemera. In addition, a beautiful reproduction 17th century garden filled with flowers and shrubs of the period has been created in St Mary's graveyard around the tombs of famous 17th century plant hunters, the John Tradescants, (father and son), and Captain William Bligh of the 'Bounty'.


Visiting Garden Museum:


Opening Times
The Museum, Garden and Cafe are open:
Sunday to Friday 10.30am - 5pm
Saturdays 10.30am - 4pm
Museum is closed on the first Monday of every month (except Bank Holidays).

Travel:

Underground Stations
    Lambeth North Tube (11 minutes)
    Waterloo Tube (15 minutes)
Railway Stations
    Waterloo Railway Station (15 minutes)
    Waterloo East Railway Station (15 minutes)
Car Parks
    Library Street NCP (18 minutes)
    Elephant and Castle NCP (20 minutes)
 
The Garden Cafe:
Open Daily* from 10.30am to 4.45pm.
Lunch served from 12pm until 3pm
Serves fresh vegetarian cuisine and delicious homebaked cakes. Try our new take away service.
The Garden Cafe is closed on the first Monday of each month.

Shopping: The Garden Museum Shop, influenced by the Museum’s permanent collection and wide range of Museum exhibitions, stocks unique gifts that will appeal to all – from the nostalgic gardener to the modern city allotment holder.