Away from the tourist hotspots of the Tower of London or the National Gallery which are all great in their ways, some smaller destinations deserve attention.
This includes a secret garden in the heart of Westminster that was once a derelict dump and is now a spot for peace and tranquillity.
Find out how you can visit this free garden that has its own cafe and greenhouse in the centre of London.
The Onion Garden is a not-for-profit green community hub set in the heart of Westminster just off the street from a busy junction.
On their website , organisers shared the space was created by Jens Jakobsen who had a vision for transforming “an unloved and abandoned concrete corner of Westminster into an enchanting space that the whole community can enjoy.”
Despite being within an urban location surrounded by brick townhouses and glass high rises, with all its greenery and tall plants, the Onion Garden is said to transport you away from the busy streets of London.
The Onion Garden is open to all, with one of their main visions explaining that anyone “who shares its philosophy of kindness and tolerance to all living creatures can get involved.”
@the_london_spy Please, please support this fabulous social enterprise called the Onion Garden, it’s just off Victoria Street in the house of Westminster behind Westminster City Council, a few minutes walk from Westminster Abbey, and I love it . The Onion Garden is a not-for-profit, green community hub in the heart of Westminster for humans and nature to share and enjoy. It is born out of Jens Jakobsen’s passion for plants and nature, and his vision in transforming an unloved and abandoned concrete corner of Westminster into an enchanting space that the whole community can enjoy. It is even more special given its unlikely location and very urban surroundings. It is a work in progress and when fully realised it will provide an event space and meeting place for the whole community. All are welcome to enjoy, to volunteer, or to hold events. Please come and visit, get involved and support us.A garden open to all; anyone who shares its philosophy of kindness and tolerance to all living creatures can get involved A green space for gathering, connecting, enjoying, sharing, collaborating, inspiring and learning A haven of peace and tranquility for humans, and much needed biodiversity for wildlife. ##davidharry ##thelondonspy ##londonguide ##secretgarden ##onion ##garden ##urbangarden ##londonhotspots ##secretlondon ##hiddenlondon @@Jens ♬ original sound – David Harry – The London Spy
The space is not just to enjoy the beautiful plants, it’s to help people gather, connect, share, collaborate, inspire and learn.
Plus, it’s not just for humans, described as a “haven of peace and tranquillity”, the garden is also a key spot for biodiversity for wildlife.
The Onion Garden is also home to bees, with a local beekeeper keeping the buzzing creatures happy and safe in their hive.
There is even a cafe in the local spot, The Onion Garden Cafe is open from 8am to 3.30pm in the Orangery from Monday to Friday and serves hot drinks and a small selection of cakes.
You can find out more about the Onion Garden via their website here .
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The secret spot even has a TripAdvisor page, and although currently only has one review, it’s five stars and describes the spot as a “Haven of peace in a busy city”.
The user writes: “A secret place where you can sit in among beautiful plants and trees and have a great coffee. I almost hesitate to write about this special place as I want to keep it to myself!”
To find the Onion Garden, follow this address: 5 Seaforth Place, London SW1E 6AB