Gardens and parks in London

As the days begin to shorten, our gardens and parks in London begin their autumnal transformation. From the leaf-littered loveliness of Morden Hall Park to wide open space of Osterley Park, there are plenty of paths to explore.

Spot fungi tucked into woodland corners at Runnymede and see autumnal fruits adding colour to the orchards at Rainham Hall and Ham House.

Every time you come to crunch through the leaves, you help us look after these places for seasons to come.

Latest visiting update 

Our gardens, parks, cafés, shops, countryside locations and many houses are open. You no longer need to pre-book at many places. Some still require booking ahead, so please check the property webpage before you travel.​

More information on visiting
Cherry garden in autumn at Ham House
Ham House and Garden   Surrey

Ham House and Garden

Escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy some autumnal fresh air at Ham House. There's a riot of colour in the Kitchen Garden where a huge variety of vegetables are ready to harvest and burnished tones of red and gold all around the riverside estate.

Find out more
A family playing outside at Osterley Park and House, London
Osterley Park and House   Middlesex

Osterley Park and Garden

As autumn arrives so does the opportunity to see swathes of colour around the estate at Osterley Park and House. From the Shagbark Hickory showing glorious golds and rich reds, to the bright orange and yellows of pumpkins and gourds from the Ornamental Vegetable Garden.

Step this way
Family playing with leaves in the autumn at Morden Hall Park, London
Morden Hall Park   London

Morden Hall Park

Watch as the light glimmers off golden leaves during an autumn walk at Morden Hall Park. The park's iron bridges offer somewhere to stop and savour the seasonal sights before tucking into something warm in the Potting Shed Café.

Escape outdoors
Rainham Hall is a historic Georgian House in Rainham, London
Rainham Hall   London

Rainham Hall

Stop by Rainham Hall’s community garden, a tucked away treasure of nearly three-acres. The garden is accessible with sloping gravel paths, lawns and a small orchard with apples, plums, mulberry and pear trees. It’s free to enter too.

Head outdoors
Runnymede Magna Carta Memorial
Runnymede and Ankerwycke   Surrey

Runnymede

Explore this wide open countryside space, wandering through historic meadows and crunching along leaf littered woodland paths. Bring your dog too, they'll be welcome across the whole site. The ground can be muddy during the colder months, wellies or sturdy shoes are best.

Wellies at the ready
Visitors enjoying the autumn leaves at Belton House, Lincolnshire

Six things to see on an autumn woodland walk 

An autumn woodland glowing with colour and rich with the smell of damp earth is a wonderful place to be. National Trust Ranger Chloe Bradbrooke suggests six mini wonders of nature to look out for on an autumn woodland walk.

Head out on an autumn woodland walk

Winter in London

Visitors enjoy winter walk through the Hornbeam Arch at Ham House and Garden, Richmond-upon-Thames
Snowy winter scene in the garden at Osterley Park, Middlesex, showing a path with a garden seat under a hedge.
Man walking dog in winter at Morden Hall Park. Low sun and bare branches.
A view of the exterior of Rainham Hall
River Thames at Runnymede winter view

Ham House and Garden 

Savour the winter scenery as you saunter through Ham House and Garden. See how the Cherry Garden gleams after a light dusting of frost and warm up with a seasonal snack at the Orangery cafe.

Osterley Park and House 

The ever-evolving Winter Garden at Osterley provides bursts of coloured bark, fabulous leaf shapes and seed heads to spot, with snowdrops appearing during the early months of the year too. Perfect for a winter adventure with the family.

Morden Hall Park 

Peaceful frosty mornings in the park are the perfect antidote to a busy day in south London. Explore the wide open spaces of the South Park or head to the wetlands to spot winter birds before warming up with hot drinks from the Potting Shed café.

Rainham Hall 

The garden at Rainham Hall is a continuous community project featuring a wildlife-friendly woodland and several natural play features for children too. In winter as the trees turn bare the low winter sun opens up beautiful views towards the house. And if you’re visiting in late January you’ll spot snowdrops bringing a welcome splash of bright white colour to the garden.

Runnymede

Blow away the cobwebs with a bracing walk through the meadows at Runnymede this winter. The Magna Carta tea-room will be on hand with hot drinks to warm up chilly hands. Snowdrops arrive in late January, tucked away under the trees in Coopers Hill Woods, an early sign of spring on the horizon.

Spring in London

A lawn filled with crocuses at Ham House and Garden, near Richmond, West London
Spring bulbs in the Garden House at Osterley
A family on Runnymede's spring trail
The garden at Fenton House

Ham House and Garden 

Mosey through the meadow and then soak up spring sights around the gardens, or simply breathe in the scent of fresh wisteria along the walls of the Kitchen Garden and Orangery Café.

Osterley Park and House 

Scented blooms fill the air as spring arrives at Osterley Park and House where rich aromas are accompanied by swathes of bright yellow daffodils. See cheerful cherry blossom line the Winter Garden as primroses poke through by the Temple of Pan.

Runnymede

Spot fluffy goslings bobbing along the Thames at Runnymede during spring along with colourful splashes of bluebells in Coopers Hill Woods. Bring the whole family along and make the most of warmer days with a refreshing walk.

Fenton House and Garden 

Wander into the walled garden at Fenton House and find a sumptuous display of soft blossoms in the orchard. With the grass left to grow longer a meadow of seasonal wild flowers immerge accompanied by 2000 white hyacinths.

Summer in London

The cut flower garden at Red House, Bexleyheath, London
Runnymede, Surrey
Fenton House exterior from the garden terrace
The Cherry Garden at Ham House, London
Exterior of Rainham Hall
The Garden House at Osterley, Middlesex

Red House 

Daylilies and phlomis bring colour to the summer boarders at Red House as climbing roses clothe the house itself. Enjoy a sheltered walk among soft pinks and reds in the rose arch before settling down for a picnic as William Morris and his family would have done in the orchard.

Runnymede 

Spot colourful dragonflies and damselflies whizzing by on a wander through the meadows at Runnymede during summer. Grasses and wildflowers grow long giving the meadows a hazy colour, perfect for keen photographers. There are plenty of shady patches to enjoy under the trees of Coopers Hill Woods and the cafe will be on hand with cooling treats.

Fenton House and Garden 

Contrasting colours combine to create a vibrant display in the lawn boarder at Fenton House and Garden during the summer months. In the North Terrace cosmos and salvia stretch to impressive heights whilst in the Kitchen Garden and orchard the serious business of growing begins.

Ham House and Garden 

Wander the formal gardens, walled kitchen garden and relax in an environment filled with plants from the time of the Duchess of Lauderdale.

Rainham Hall 

Settle in to the sculpted amphitheatre and enjoy the sunshine as coral and ‘plum pudding’ poppies will emerge in the newly seeded wildflower meadow. See dragonflies and cinnabar moths move from the meadow to the mixed perennial boarder with its vibrant summer display.

Osterley Park and House 

The formal gardens at Osterley Park and House offer a relaxing retreat from urban life with herbaceous borders, roses and ornamental vegetables beds. Look out for the original Robert Adam summer house full of lemon trees and highly scented shrubs then take a break on the deckchairs on the temple lawn or a picnic in the ancient meadow, bursting with wildflowers and butterflies.