14 Secret Japanese Gardens in London & Best Roof Gardens

You know, Japanese gardens in London are some of my favorite places to visit. Filled with smaller secret flower gardens, those hidden gems in London make me happy anytime I spend a bit of time there. When it’s sunny, it’s even better, innit. I’ll also be talking about the most beautiful roof gardens in London here on this guide. There are many Japanese gardens in London, from the amazing Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park to the cute Japanese Garden Island at Regent’s Park. And they’re perfect to spot the cherry blossom in London, for one.

But the beautiful view of London that you can have on free roof gardens in London just takes the experience up a notch. In one of the gardens on this list, you can even spot peacocks in London! If you’re looking for cherry blossom in London, too, those secret Japanese flower gardens and roof gardens are hopefully going to make you satisfied with life come springtime.

The Best Japanese Gardens in London

Today, we’re going to be all about secret Japanese gardens in London. But not only. You probably don’t know that, but flower gardens in London are equally peaceful. And super instagrammable. If you’d like to spot cherry blossom in London, those are definitely gardens you’re going to want to visit ASAP.

Roof gardens, sky gardens, and secret spring gardens in London – I’ve listed only the best and most beautiful gardens in London. They also make for the best date ideas in London, like when you spend a moment in a deliciously instagrammable cafe in Chelsea! Totally free, hidden gems in London, and picture-worthy all year round.

14 Secret Japanese Gardens in London And Beautiful Flower Gardens

Before we dig into this list of the most beautiful Japanese gardens in London and other amazing flower gardens, I’d like to share with you a few The London Local guides that you might really love if you love quirky and beautiful hidden places in London:

• Hampstead Cafes in London
• Tremendously cute cafes in London with cats roaming around
• A beautiful park in London with dinosaurs 
• Super romantic restaurants in London with a view

Those are all really amazing places to visit in London, not too famous, and just really peaceful. They’ve got nothing on beautiful Japanese gardens in London, but they’ve all got a quirky charm. Granted, you can’t see peacocks in London in those places. But, importantly, they’re a bit off the beaten path, so you can discover London like a local. Oh, and by the way, if you’re as interested in Japanese culture as I am, you might love to read all about the best Japanese shops in London – thank me later!

Japanese Gardens in London And Beautiful Flower Gardens

Who doesn’t like finding hidden places in London? I’m a sucker for them, and it seems like the best gardens in London are nothing like the ones advertised on popular travel websites. I like my botanical gardens in London. I like my secret little hidden places in London. I love getting off the beaten path and discovering romantic spots. Don’t you?

Japanese gardens in London are nothing if not the most romantic places in the city, or so I think. Especially if in them, you can see peacocks in London! Aside from Japanese gardens, though, I’ll also be talking about very instagrammable flower gardens and stunning roof gardens in London. Why? Because they deserve all the hype they can, and since not many people know about them, you can really have a romantic date in London there. 

So, Holland Park Kyoto Garden, sky gardens in London, and amazing rooftop gardens, here we come!

Japanese Garden in London: Peckham Rye & Common

The first Japanese garden in London I’d like to mention is the Japanese Garden at Peckham Rye Park and Common, a beautiful park in South East London. One of the very beautiful Japanese gardens in London, if I may say so, and very much underrated. 

If you’re looking for nice parks in London to have a walk with your family or your significant other, that’s one to visit. I know that when we talk about Japanese gardens in London, we most often think of Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park, which I will mention down on this guide. But if you’re looking for a hidden gem in London, then Peckham Rye Park & Common and its beautiful Japanese garden will blow your mind. 

Although it’s a free garden, which you can visit all year round, you can imagine why I’d tell you to come see the cherry blossom in London at the Japanese Garden in Peckham Rye Park. For a breath of fresh air outside of the hustle and bustle of the city, that’s it. There’s everything you could ever wish for in this proper Japanese garden. A small secluded garden, a beautiful pond with a fountain, stunning wildlife, and, of course, the cutest cherry blossom trees in London. Calm and peaceful, well-preserved, one of the best hidden places in London to reflect on life. 

Japanese Gardens London: Hammersmith Park Japanese Garden

I’ll soon write a guide about the best spots to spot cherry blossom in London. And in terms of Japanese gardens in London, the Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park really is a sight. Another hidden gem in London, and one of the flower gardens that will make you happiest when you visit. It’s really calm and soothing to walk at Hammersmith Park, a) because it’s really not crowded like Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park might be when the time to celebrate cherry blossom in London, and b) because it really feels like you’re outside of London.

Located in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, the London Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park is a proper destination for two things. The first would be to really take a break from all the sightseeing and charity shopping in London you might have been doing up till now. The second would be to fill your Instagram feed with lots of pictures of the cherry blossom in London. Best believe lots of people come here during springtime at cherry blossom time, but Hammersmith Park has cherry blossom trees all around, so you won’t really bump into anyone.

It’s a perfect place to have a romantic date if you’ve been looking for date ideas in London. But if you’d like to take the kids roaming around and discovering wildlife as it resembles in Japan, the Japanese Garden is a hidden gem in London. A really family-friendly place, and one of the gardens to visit in London solo to just, you know, take a break and be yourself, centered and soothed. You could definitely have a moment there, and then come back slowly to the center to treat yourself to some amazing Japanese stationery – that would finish the day beautifully.

London Japanese Gardens at Kew Gardens

It’s no secret that Kew Gardens are one of the best flower gardens in London, now is it? But one of the best Japanese gardens in London is a hidden gem inside Kew Gardens. Romantically named Japanese Landscape at Kew Gardens, the Japanese garden needs a bit of walk inside the botanical gardens to be reached. And a bit of travel on the Tube, innit, since Kew Gardens are set in the beautiful village in London Richmond.

What’s really cool about hidden places in London is that they all boast a rich history, like Holland Park Kyoto Garden. Well, at Kew Gardens, you can find the Chokushi-Mon, which, translated in English, means the ‘Gateway of the Imperial Messenger’. This gate was a present to Kew Gardens, and it’s been there since after its presentation in the 1910 Japan-British Exhibition. This gate is the replica of a temple gate in Kyoto, so it’s even more interesting than just being part of one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens in London.

Japanese Gardens in London: Kew Gardens Atmosphere

There are three parts in this Japanese garden: a garden of peace, a garden of harmony, and a garden of activity. They are the evocation of a Japanese tea garden, of elements of nature, and of Japanese mountains. So yeah – visiting Japanese gardens in London is amazing and calming. But when there’s so much history tucked behind, they instantly become even more beautiful than all the roof gardens in London. Yes, even the Crossrail Place Roof Garden, and even the Garden at 120. 

Oh, and if you’re a real Japanese lover, there’s a Japan festival that takes place at Kew Gardens. With the beautiful Japanese Landscape in the background, you can attend Japanese artistic and cultural events. The Japanese garden becomes lively and colorful, really all in all one of the most beautiful flowery Japanese gardens in London.

Japanese Gardens in London: Kyoto Garden in Holland Park

Amongst all the beautiful gardens to visit in London, Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park have got to be one of the most famous. I’ve spent lots of time there, as it’s one of the free flower gardens in London. All you need to do is take the Tube to Holland Park, and you’ll reach this London Japanese garden in no time. 

From the station to Holland Park itself, you just have to walk a few minutes. And you’ll pass by some of the poshest areas in West London. Colorful Notting Hill and Hampstead Heath have got nothing on this area, where the streets are not that colorful, but certainly just as luxurious.

Japanese Gardens in London: Kyoto Garden Nature

In terms of Japanese gardens in London, Kyoto Garden in Holland Park gives off an otherworldly vibe. If you’d like to spot the cherry blossom in London come March and April, that’s definitely one of the best flower gardens in London to do that. There are beautiful stone sculptures there, and a waterfall that makes it one of the most stunning spring gardens in London. Ah, and, have you ever thought you could see peacocks in London? That’s the place! 

When I was a makeup artist, I came to do makeup on models and photoshoots at Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park many times. After all, no other London Japanese garden resembles Kyoto Garden. That’s definitely one of the hidden places in London that is still very kept secret, although it’s advertised so much on social media. It’s the first of the Japanese gardens in London I ever visited, and wow. Beautiful, peaceful, the very place for cherry blossom and peacocks in London, I mean – it doesn’t get any better than that.

Japanese Garden Island at Regent’s Park

Now, the Japanese Garden Island in Regent’s Park is, I feel, one of the most beautiful flower gardens in London. And very much underrated, given that few people know about it. I’ve been to the stunning Regent’s Park more times than I can remember. This is one of the best Japanese gardens in London, and both locals and tourists make it a priority during the weekend to visit it. Large and well-preserved, it goes without saying that Regent’s Park is one of the very flower gardens in London to visit as soon as you get the chance. 

It gives off a very family-friendly atmosphere, and it feels like a little city inside, with large paved roads on which many cycle. The Japanese Garden Island is exactly what you wish Japanese gardens in London would look like, much like Kyoto gardens in Holland Park, or the Japanese Landscape at Kew Gardens. 

Japanese Gardens in London: Nature at the Japanese Garden Island

If you love waterfalls, stone sculptures, and wooden bridges like the ones you’d find in Japanese gardens in Japan, by all means, visit the Japanese Garden Island. This is a spot to laze about and observe the world moving around you at the time of cherry blossom in London. It’s really close to Fitzrovia and other really posh areas, so everything about Regent’s Park looks like a dream come true.

The first time I went to the Japanese Garden Island, I felt this was without a doubt one of the most beautiful flower gardens in London, and definitely a hidden gem. I love all kinds of bridges in London, and I love anything that comes to Japanese food. Most importantly, I love bettering myself and my mindset every single day. So, you can understand why hearing the water flow and the wind in the flowers and trees would make me happy. If you can’t go as far as Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park, this London Japanese garden is truly one of the very best date ideas in London. 

Japanese Gardens in London: Japanese Roof Garden at SOAS University

Well, I’d say that this is one of the best hidden places in London when it comes to Japanese gardens in London. The Japanese Roof Garden is one of the roof gardens in London, as its name suggests, and it’s located on top of the SOAS University of London. How cool is that, to be able to relax on roof gardens? I’ve always loved places to see the view of London, and this is one of the cutest free gardens in London.

If you’re looking for a proper Japanese garden in London, the Japanese Roof Garden is perfect to step back from the bustling city. It’s all stone, and there are not many flowers there, if not for the blossoming wisteria. That makes the SOAS roof garden very different from other Japanese gardens in London. Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park or the Japanese Garden at Peckham Rye and Common Park are very centered on nature, for instance.

Japanese Gardens in London: SOAS Japanese Roof Garden Nature

The SOAS Japanese Roof Garden in London is different from any other Japanese garden in London as it’s really very stoney, without too much “nature” in it. Opened in 2001, it is evocative of forgiveness. I love how philosophical Japanese gardens are, bringing a bit of humanity to the fast-paced London. 

The Japanese Roof Garden is surely one of the best sky gardens in London, allowing for meditation and contemplation. If you’d like to host a reception or an exhibition, it’s possible to do so in this roof garden. It’s also one of the free gardens in London, open to the public during the Brunei Gallery’s opening hours. Do visit when it’s time to relax under the cherry blossom in London if only to take a break from Central London!

Temple Gardens: Japanese Gardens in London at Langley Park

Temple Gardens is the last of the Japanese gardens in London I’ll mention on this list of the flower gardens in London. However, do stick around, as I’ll talk about stunning roof gardens and secret gardens that you’ve probably never heard of before. Or, if you have, you should still definitely visit them, especially if you’re a lover of hidden places in London.

Temple Gardens at Langley Park are located further away from Central London than all the other London Japanese gardens I’ve mentioned above, in Iver. If you’re looking for off-the-beaten-path spots to see the cherry blossom in London, this definitely is one of the spring gardens that you’ll love. And for hopeless romantics, it’s one of the perfect date ideas in London for whoever really wants to cut themselves from the world. 

Why not, for instance, prep a full day out walking in Temple Gardens with a picnic and your other half? Since all the famous Japanese gardens in London garner ever more attention with each passing year, I mean. That’s the moment to discover other stunning flower gardens in London, like Temple Gardens in Buckinghamshire. I promise it’s not that far! You could make it a day visiting designer outlets in London, and driving or taking the train to Langley Park Temple Gardens. As far as secret gardens in London go, you can only feel your true self there. Perfect spot to relax under cherry blossom trees!

Stunning Flower Gardens & Roof Gardens in London

Roof Gardens in London: Crossrail Place Roof Garden at Canary Wharf

Now we’re going to be moving on to the most beautiful nature and flower gardens in London. I’ve already mentioned the Crossrail Place Roof Garden in London in my guide to the very cool things to do in London this year. Located in Canary Wharf, one of my definite favorite places in London, the Crossrail Place roof garden is one of the very unexpected sky gardens in London. It’s beautiful, it’s peaceful, and it’s full of trees and plants that you’ve probably never encountered before. A lot of exotic plants, too. All you need to do is go up to the top of the Canary Wharf Shopping Centre, and you’ll be on one of the most stunning roof gardens in London.

And what do we do when we’re in sky gardens? We stare at the view of London, duh! 

First of all, this might be a different vibe than at Japanese gardens in London, but its greenery is stunning. Amazing first date idea, too. Take a break from the fast-paced city, enjoy your packed lunch there, or maybe a takeaway with delicious Japanese dumplings from Rainbo Food? The Crossrail Place roof garden is nothing but a hidden gem in London, and I think anyone you ask would tell you the same thing. 

And it’s not just one of the best free gardens in London. It’s also a place open until 9 pm, so you can definitely take your date there. Take some pretty pictures, stare at the London views, at the stunning skyline cutting up from the sky… Yup – one of the best roof gardens in London. There’s just no other way to put it. 

Roof Gardens in London: The Garden at 120

One of the most beautiful roof gardens in London, the Garden at 120 is located in Central London. To reach it, you just need to walk a few minutes from Leadenhall Market, one of the super famous landmarks in London. It used to be a hidden gem in London, but Leadenhall Market has garnered so much popularity on social media that more people visit it now. It still remains one of the super local hidden places in London, if I may say so. 

Why? Because Leadenhall Market is situated between London Bridge and Liverpool Street. And Liverpool Street really is one of the places in London frequented by Londoners coming and going from work, it’s not that much of a tourist attraction in London.

Roof Gardens in London: The Garden at 120 Atmosphere

That’s why the Garden at 120, on Fenchurch Street, is still one of the best roof gardens in London. Because you won’t find large crowds staring at the view there, so it’s still one of the best date ideas in London. Very different from Japanese gardens that I’ve mentioned before, as in, the Garden at 120 is definitely a peaceful place to see the view in London. But the greenery there is very different, and obviously more paved, since you’re in one of the roof gardens in London. 

It’s free to access, and if you’d like to see the sunset in London from a different perspective than stunning Primrose Hill or Hampstead Heath, markdown the Garden at 120. Since it’s completely free to access and you can spot stunning views of London, I’d say that’s just one of the best roof gardens in London, and overall still a peaceful place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. 

Eltham Palace and Gardens

A little waterfall park in London would do wrong to no one looking for peace in the city, right? Ah, well, we’re moving from roof gardens to secret gardens in London with Eltham Palace & Gardens! Located in South East London in Greenwich, this art deco mansion is one of the views in London that you really can’t miss. Love finding a hidden gem in London here and there? The Eltham Palace is it. Granted, it’s not one of the free gardens in London. But within the entry fee, you can visit the beautiful medieval castle, an aqueduct, and just peaceful lakes in London. Small lakes, but lakes all the same. 

Very different from what you’d find in a Japanese garden in London or one of the roof gardens, innit? But with the sunken rose garden and stunning waterfalls, we can’t get any better in terms of English History. Because yes, that’s one of the gardens to visit in London if you’re a history lover. Henry VIII used to live at the Elham Palace!

Ah, and since I’m a huge coffee shop lover, as you may have seen when I talked about stunning independent coffee shops in Covent Garden, there’s the quaintest cafe in Eltham Palace. So in addition to visiting one of the most secret gardens in London, Eltham Palace will also gift you with a peaceful coffee moment. 

Hyde Park Rose Garden

It’s no secret that Hyde Park is one of the most beautiful flower gardens in London at this point. But have you ever heard about the Hyde Park Rose Garden? Because it’s a thing, and being able to spend time at a spot that looks straight out of Alice in Wonderland… I mean, does it get better than that, even if you’re visiting roof gardens in London? I guess not.

For the lovers of the Hampstead Heath Pergola, finding one at the Hyde Park Rose Garden will make you very happy. I’ll give that to you, the Hyde Park pergola is much smaller, and it’s much less of a secret garden in London than Hampstead Heath is. Although Hampstead Heath is not that much of a secret garden anymore, but located so far on the Northern line that it remains one of the very local gardens to visit in London. 

Flower Gardens in London: Hyde Park Rose Garden

One of the things to note about the Hyde Park Rose Garden is the scent of the roses and all kinds of flowers mixing to give off the most romantic atmosphere. So if you’re looking for date ideas in London, you should think of the rose garden at some point. During spring, to spot the cherry blossom in London, Hyde Park is a favorite of Instagram influencers. And during the summer, it just gets one of the best gardens in London to spend some time reading in the grass or just chill with friends. 

I remember looking for free places in London to study the first year I moved to London, in 2019. Hyde Park quickly got out as one of my favorites, as it’s so wide and lively. Looking for a hidden gem in London? You’ve got the Rose Garden right there, and you’re going to be happy you’ve taken the trip to Hyde Park, which is, Winter Wonderland or not, one of the most beautiful parks in London. 

Fulham Palace Garden

For lovers of secret gardens in London, Fulham Palace is your next destination. It’s huge and completely free to access, so for a romantic walk and a picnic, do mark it down on your must-visit list! Far from any famous London attractions, the Fulham Palace gardens offer a peaceful retreat just minutes away from the center on the Tube. The Thames River is not too far, so you could basically visit Fulham Palace gardens and then walk back down to the Tate Modern and stunning Millenium Bridge (the one that we spotted in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – yes, I’m a Potterhead through and through).

Like the beautiful Japanese gardens and roof gardens in London, Fulham Palace is peaceful and romantic. Whether you’re looking for cool things to do with kids in London or are, like me, a freelance writer in search of quiet places to work and study in London… Fulham Palace gardens are it. Former home of the Bishops of London, it’s just… stunning. And I mean, why not let inspiration come to you while you’re sitting on one of the beautiful benches, surrounded by greenery? 

Fulham Palace Cafe in London

The Drawing Room Cafe surely is one of the most peaceful places to grab a coffee in London. Grab a bite, a delicious cup of joe, and you’ll forget you’re just minutes away from the city. And that’s why I love London so much because it’s full of villages like Stoke Newington, Notting Hill, and Hampstead that take away the feeling that you need to hurry to do just about anything.

You’ve pretty much understood me, Fulham Palace gardens are, like pretty roof gardens in London, a peaceful place to relax on your day off or during the weekend. Or during any day of the week, really, especially for lovers of hidden gems in London. Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park have nothing on this piece of history, and that’s a fact. 

De Beauvoir Rose Garden

Ah, well, having lived in Mile End and Bethnal Green in East London for years, I spent lots of time in Hackney, around Victoria Park.It’s an artsy place where many students go to study in London, and many artists meet to discuss their next projects. And there, in Hackney slash Islington, you’ve got one of the most beautiful flower gardens in London, the De Beauvoir Rose Garden.

De Beauvoir Town is one of the hidden gems in the city, and that’s also one of the spots to witness cherry blossom in London. It’s a time of the year I’m always very much expectant of, because cherry blossom trees, guys. Yes, even if you’re not in Japanese gardens in London like Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park. De Beauvoir Rose Garden is located there, in that quaint little village in London, all quiet and different from any other free gardens in London. As the name suggests, you’ll find lots of roses there, and it smells good, and it’s beautiful.

It’s most definitely one of the very local spots to have lunch during your break. But if you’re living around Bow Church, Mile End, Hackney, or Bethnal Green, you know. Just have a walk to De Beauvoir Rose Garden. It’ll reset you for the upcoming week, probably as much as a moment in Japanese flower gardens or roof gardens in London. 

Kensington Roof Gardens

Although I’ve talked about some of the most beautiful roof gardens and Japanese gardens in London here, I feel like the Kensington Roof Gardens are something out of this world. Something really different, especially since it’s both one of the most beautiful roof gardens in London, and a flower garden. And completely free. So basically, all you need to do is take the tube to South Kensington, and you’ll be super close. And needless to say, the Kensington Roof Gardens are one of the most secret gardens in London. I’ve always loved this area, and the fact there are many amazing cafes in South Kensington really plays a part in that.

There’s a restaurant up there, something private and very posh, like restaurants in Mayfair, for instance. At the Kensington Roof Gardens in London, you also have events like weddings and parties taking place. And it looks a bit like a Japanese garden, but an English vibe, if that makes sense. Although the gardens are free, it’s worth calling ahead to know whether you can visit, due to all the private events hosted at the Kensington Roof Gardens. 

There used to be flamingos there, like – live flamingos in the center of London, but they’ve been moved to a Natural Park in Norfolk. Still, I mean – that’s one of the most stunning and well-kept sky gardens in London, and there’s just no other way to say it. Where else can you find gardens structured as precisely, with fauna and flora that beautiful?

Japanese gardens in London like Kyoto Garden or the Japanese Landscape at Kew, most probably. But they’re not roof gardens in London, and they don’t provide a view of London so breathtaking. You could definitely have a stop at a South Kensington coffee shop before going up to the roof garden and have a delicious dinner with a view of London. That’s an option that boasts all the charisma and romanticism we all need sometimes.

14 Secret Japanese Gardens in London And Beautiful Flower Gardens

There you have them, all the beautiful – stunning is the word! – Japanese gardens in London. I’m in love with anything that touches color, so you can understand why spending time at flower gardens in London would make me feel centered and satisfied with life. Same reason why I spend so much time roaming around the best cafes to work in London around Shoreditch or sipping hot cups of tea and artisan coffee in Covent Garden.

Why spend time in Japanese flower gardens and roof gardens in London?

I like my peace and quiet, and as a blogger and freelance writer, what’s better than observing life happening and stopping in secret gardens in London? I don’t really see what could be more peaceful than a break from the city at Kyoto Garden in London, or some stunning flower gardens like the very secret Fulham Palace Garden. I’d still say that being able to see peacocks in London at the Holland Park Kyoto Garden is an experience you’ll never have anywhere else in the city.

I love nature and to feel like I do belong in this world, and that everything keeps evolving, like when I visit cafes in Stoke Newington. All stopped, all quiet, yet lively. Very philosophical, I know. But any of the Japanese gardens in London are nothing but a hidden gem in London. If you’re looking for a place to spot the cherry blossom in London, almost any of these will do.

What now on The London Local?

However, if you were just looking for roof gardens in London, then, well, no cherry blossom there. However, they’re perfect for seekers of cool date ideas in London. Crossrail Place roof garden at Canary Wharf, for one, will always be one of the secret gardens in London I admire. From there, you can see the full view of London, feeling like you’re on top of the world and disconnected from all. Is there anything better than Japanese cherry blossom and roof gardens in London? I think not, folks.

If you love discovering hidden places in London and quirky things, I suggest you take a look at those London guides: 

• Beautiful Hampstead Heath Pergola and Hill Gardens
• Underrated, fun things to do in London for all thrill-seekers
• Stunning sustainable brands of vegan candles in London

Until next time!

PS. Did you know that you can get real Italian coffee in London? Like, authentic, like in Italy!