Parks · Our pick in London
Chelsea Physic Garden
London’s oldest botanic garden
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Northmetpit · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Chelsea Physic Garden
Chelsea Physic Garden was established in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries and describes itself as London’s oldest botanic garden. Its four walled acres by the Thames hold thousands of plants, including medicinal and useful plants, a rock garden and glasshouses. There is a café and a shop. Sloane Square station is about fifteen minutes’ walk, and buses run along the Embankment. Opening days are seasonal, so check the website before visiting.
Why it's on our list
- Established 1673
- Walled garden
- Medicinal plants
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Chelsea Physic Garden before you go.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to Chelsea Physic Garden, as the crow flies.
- The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel0.8 mi17 min walk
- The Ampersand Hotel0.9 mi17 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from Chelsea Physic Garden are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest stations
- Sloane SquareDistrictCircle0.6 mi12 min walk
- Battersea ParkWindrush lineNational Rail0.8 mi16 min walk
- South KensingtonPiccadillyDistrictCircle0.8 mi16 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Sopwith Way0.6 mi13 min walk
- Taxi rank, Circus Road West0.7 mi14 min walk
Black cabs can also be hailed in the street: a lit yellow TAXI sign means the cab is available.
Key sights
- Harrods1.0 miWalk 20 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Buckingham Palace1.4 miWalk 28 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Westminster Abbey1.8 miWalk 36 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Trafalgar Square2.2 miWalk 44 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 19 min
- London Eye2.2 miWalk 45 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 20 min
- Leicester Square2.3 miWalk 45 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 20 min
- Covent Garden2.5 miCycle 16 minCar or taxi 22 min
- The British Museum2.8 miCycle 18 minCar or taxi 24 min
- The Shard3.5 miCycle 23 minCar or taxi 29 min
- Tower of London4.0 miCycle 26 minCar or taxi 33 min
Main rail terminals
- Victoria1.2 miWalk 23 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Paddington2.2 miWalk 44 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 19 min
- Charing Cross2.2 miWalk 45 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 20 min
- Waterloo2.4 miCycle 16 minCar or taxi 21 min
- Euston3.3 miCycle 21 minCar or taxi 27 min
- King’s Cross St Pancras3.6 miCycle 23 minCar or taxi 30 min
- London Bridge3.6 miCycle 23 minCar or taxi 30 min
- St Pancras International (Eurostar)3.6 miCycle 23 minCar or taxi 30 min
- Liverpool Street4.1 miCycle 26 minCar or taxi 34 min