The Chelsea Physic Garden is one of Britain’s oldest botanical gardens. It is home to Britain’s largest outdoor fruiting olive tree, the world’s most northerly outdoor grapefruit tree and England’s oldest garden dedicated to alpine plants; but the garden’s raison d’être is its collection of herbs and edible and medicinal plants.
Established in 1673 as the Apothecaries’ Garden, the Chelsea Physic Garden is one of Britain’s oldest botanical gardens.
The garden is home to Britain’s largest outdoor fruiting olive tree, the world’s most northerly outdoor grapefruit tree and England’s oldest garden dedicated to alpine plants; but the garden’s raison d’être is its collection of herbs and edible and medicinal plants.
Visiting the Chelsea Physic Garden
The Chelsea Physic Garden is near the River Thames in Chelsea, around a 15-minute walk from Sloane Square tube station. Bus 170 (which runs between Victoria and Clapham Junction railway stations every 7–10 minutes) stops outside the main entrance.
The garden operates a programme of events including guided tours and garden-themed workshops.
If you have an interest in horticulture you may enjoy the garden’s Thursday evening supper talks where you can listen to experts talk about an aspect of the gardens and also enjoy a drink with a buffet dinner.
The admission fee is rather steep for what it is, particularly when you can visit the much larger Kew Gardens for not that much more. It is popular with Londoners as a quiet retreat but most locals visit with a season pass (which only costs a few pounds more than a single entry ticket). You can visit the Chelsea Physic Garden for free if you are a Historic Houses member or if you have a valid London Pass.
Free entry to the Chelsea Physic Garden with the London Pass
The London Pass gives you free entry to the Chelsea Physic Garden plus entry to over 80 other attractions in London.
We may earn a small commission if you purchase a London Pass after clicking this link.
There are no comments yet.