Green Sanctuary

The Garden Museum next to Lambeth Palace is a very special place. Tucked away 15 minutes walk from Waterloo station, it is based in St Mary at Lambeth church where the Tradescants are buried. John the Elder and his son John the Younger travelled widely bringing back plants from Russia, North Africa (horse chestnut, gladioli and roses ) and North America (magnolias, tulip trees and asters). They were Britain's first gardners working for Royal favourites such as Robert Cecil, George Villiers and then for King Charles I himself. John the Elder's collection of seeds, bulbs and other curiosities known as "The Ark", was the first museum in Britain to open to the public (now in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford). In their Lambeth botanical garden (a stone's throw from the Garden Museum), they were the first to grow many plants which are now staples of the English Country Garden.

The museum within the church nave celebrates the art, history and design of British gardens and you can also climb the church tower to get a fantastic view of the Houses of Parliament across the River Thames. The cafe specialises in organic and fair trade produce and is located next to a gorgeous, lush courtyard containing the tombs of the Tradescants and that of Captain William Bligh, captain of the infamous ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ voyage.