London is loud, fast, and permanently in a rush, which is exactly why its Japanese gardens feel like such a treat.
Tucked inside Victorian parks, botanical gardens, and even on top of a university building, these little pockets of calm swap traffic noise for koi ponds, stone lanterns, and perfectly pruned maples.
Some date back more than a century, while others were created as gestures of friendship between Britain and Japan.
Almost all of them are free to visit (Kew being the exception). Here’s where to find the most beautiful Japanese gardens in London, plus a few tips for making the most of your visit. (And if you’re building a list of places to tick off, add these to your London bucket list.)
1. Kyoto Garden, Holland Park
Holland Park is lovely on its own, but the Kyoto Garden is the reason most people make the trip.
A gift from the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce in 1991, it was designed and built by a renowned Japanese garden designer and his team, and it still feels remarkably authentic.
Expect a tiered waterfall tumbling into a koi pond, stone lanterns, a little bridge over the water, and Japanese maples that turn fiery red in autumn.
Keep an eye out for the resident peacocks, who wander about like they own the place (honestly, they probably do).
Holland Park is a short walk from Notting Hill, so pair your visit with a pastry from one of the best bakeries in Notting Hill and a wander past its colourful houses.
It gets busy on sunny weekends, so go early on a weekday if you want it mostly to yourself.
Opening Hours: Daily from 7:30am until dusk.
Location: Holland Park, Holland Park Ave, London W11 4UA
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2. The Japanese Landscape, Kew Gardens
Kew is famous for its glasshouses, but its Japanese Landscape is one of the most peaceful corners of the whole estate.
Designed by Professor Masao Fukuhara of Osaka University and opened in 1996, it’s split into three areas.
The Garden of Peace is inspired by a traditional tea garden, the Garden of Activity uses raked gravel and large rocks to represent flowing water, and the Garden of Harmony ties the two together.
At its heart is the Chokushi-Mon, or “Gateway of the Imperial Messenger”, a four-fifths replica of the Karamon gate at Nishi Hongan-ji Temple in Kyoto.
It was built for the 1910 Japan-British Exhibition before finding a permanent home at Kew, and the carved woodwork is seriously impressive up close.
Pair it with a wander through the nearby Bamboo Garden and Minka House for the full experience.
If you’re visiting in winter, Kew’s after-dark light trail is worth the trip on its own. Here’s everything you need to know about Christmas at Kew.
Opening Hours: Daily, with closing times that change seasonally. Entry tickets are required.
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Rd, Richmond, TW9 3AE
3. The Japanese Roof Garden, SOAS University of London
Above the SOAS Gallery (formerly the Brunei Gallery), just off Russell Square, sits one of London’s most peaceful secrets.
The Japanese Roof Garden opened in 2001 and is dedicated to forgiveness, the meaning of the kanji character carved into its granite water basin.
Designed by Peter Swift, it’s small and minimalist, with raked gravel, granite, and wisteria trailing above the benches.
It won’t wow you the way Kew or Holland Park will, but that’s sort of the point. Bring a book, sit quietly and pretend Bloomsbury isn’t buzzing just below you.
Make a culture day of it with a visit to the British Museum around the corner, or browse our guide to the best museums and galleries in London for more ideas.
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:30am to 5pm (until 8pm on Thursdays). It’s closed on Sundays, Mondays, bank holidays and during exhibition changeovers, as you reach the garden through the gallery.
Location: SOAS Gallery, Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG
4. The Japanese Garden, Peckham Rye Park
This is South East London’s answer to Holland Park, and it’s a lot less crowded.
The Japanese Garden in Peckham Rye Park opened back in 1908, when Japanese-style gardens were the height of fashion. It was lovingly restored in 2005, along with its traditional shelter and bridge.
Today it’s a tranquil little corner of maples, Japanese plants, and trickling water, kept looking its best by the Friends of Peckham Rye Park.
Make an afternoon of it with a stroll around the lake and the rose-covered pergolas of the neighbouring Sexby Garden.
Opening Hours: Daily from 7:30am, with closing times that vary throughout the year.
Location: Peckham Rye Park and Common, Strakers Road, London SE15 3UA
5. Fukushima Garden, Holland Park
Just a few steps from the Kyoto Garden is its quieter, lesser-known neighbour.
The Fukushima Garden opened in 2012 as a thank you from the Japanese people for Britain’s support after the earthquake and tsunami of March 2011.
It’s strikingly simple: an open lawn with a few carefully placed rocks and a stone lantern, designed to evoke the emptiness the tsunami left behind. It’s a reflective spot rather than a showy one, and well worth a few minutes when you visit the Kyoto Garden.
The peacocks pop over here too!
Opening Hours: Daily from 7:30am until dusk.
Location: Holland Park, London W8 7QU
6. The Japanese Garden, Hammersmith Park
Despite the name, Hammersmith Park is actually in Shepherd’s Bush, and it’s home to the oldest publicly owned Japanese garden in the UK.
It started life as part of the 1910 Japan-British Exhibition, built with materials shipped over from Japan by a mixed team of Japanese and British workers.
After decades of neglect, the garden was restored for its centenary in 2010. In 2018, a traditional Japanese gateway and an avenue of stone lanterns were added.
Come for the pond and waterfall, and visit in spring or autumn when the planting is at its most colourful.
Opening Hours: Daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Location: South Africa Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 7PT
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Tips For Visiting Japanese Gardens
- Best times to visit: These gardens are beautiful all year round, but spring brings the cherry blossom and autumn turns the maples every shade of red and orange. Both seasons feel especially authentic.
- Accessibility: Check the garden’s website before you go for details on step-free paths and ramps. Some entrances, like parts of Holland Park, sit on steep inclines. Many gardens also publish maps online, so you can plan your route in advance.
- Etiquette: These are spaces designed for calm, so keep your voice low, take your litter home, and resist the urge to touch or feed the wildlife (yes, even the peacocks).
- Mindful photography: Snap away, but be considerate of other visitors and respect any signs where photography isn’t allowed. Need something for the ‘gram afterwards? Our London Instagram captions have you covered.
- Cultural events: Many of these gardens host tea ceremonies, festivals, and performances throughout the year, so check their calendars before you visit.
- Make a day of it: Round off your visit with a matcha latte at one of the best Japanese cafes in London, or keep the green theme going at one of London’s most beautiful botanical-inspired restaurants.