Six south London gardens normally closed to the public will open their gates for one weekend in June.
Taking place from Saturday, June 6 until Sunday, June 7, London Open Gardens is an annual fundraising weekend where more than 120 London parks and gardens usually closed to the public open their doors.
The event raises vital funds to help maintain and protect London’s unique and historic green spaces, with visitors able to purchase a weekend ticket for £24 per adult to access all participating gardens.
In Southwark, six gardens and green spaces will be open, ranging from hidden historic courtyards to neighbourhood squares and allotments with links to film and community history.
We’ve rounded up all the Southwark gardens opening for London Open Gardens weekend and everything you need to know before you go.
49 BANKSIDE, Borough
Where: 49 Bankside, accessed via Cardinal Cap Alley, SE1 9JE
When: Saturday, June 6 from 10am – 5pm
Tucked between the Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern, this hidden courtyard can only be accessed via Cardinal Cap Alley — London’s narrowest street.
The gardens date back to the 14th century, with the current houses dating to the 18th century, and feature a small, paved courtyard with a pond.
Dogs on leads are permitted, with limited entry numbers due to the courtyard’s small size.
ILIFFE YARD, Elephant & Castle
Where: Iliffe Yard, off Iliffe Street, SE17
When:
Saturday, June 6 from 9am – 7pm
Sunday, June 7 from 10am – 6pm
Part of the historic Pullens Estate, Iliffe Yard is a cobbled Victorian courtyard originally built as progressive live‑work housing for artisans in the late 19th century.
Now a creative hub, the yard includes studios, workshops and a community‑led garden created within the original courtyard space.
Visitors can expect planting focused on herbs, vegetables and pollinator‑friendly flowers, alongside live music, local stalls and community activities across the weekend.
MERRICK SQUARE, Walworth
Where: Merrick Square, off Trinity Street, SE1
When: Sunday, June 7 from 12pm – 6pm
Normally accessible only to residents, Merrick Square is said to be one of Southwark’s best‑preserved Victorian garden squares.
Maintained by Trinity House, the square retains its original railings, mature trees and traditional planting, and has previously been used as a filming location for the 2018 Disney film Christopher Robin, starring Ewan McGregor and Hayley Atwell.
The garden opens alongside a neighbourhood fête, with stalls, refreshments and activities taking place in the afternoon.
TRINITY CHURCH SQUARE, Walworth
Where: Trinity Church Square, SE1 4HT
When: Sunday, June 7 from 10am – 6pm
A secluded Regency‑era square hidden between Borough and Elephant & Castle, Trinity Church Square is rarely open to the public.
At its centre stands what is now believed to be London’s oldest outdoor statue — a combination of Roman and 19th‑century stonework revealed during conservation work in 2021.
Established planting, climbing roses and mature trees make this one of the most atmospheric squares to visit during early summer.
WALWORTH ALLOTMENT ASSOCIATION, Walworth
Where: Fielding Street, off Walworth Road, SE17
When:
Saturday, June 6 from 10am – 6pm
Sunday, June 7 from 10am – 6pm
Created by residents in the 1970s on a former housing site, this organic community allotment is home to individual plots, wildlife areas and beehives.
Visitors can explore vegetable beds, soft fruit, ponds and pollinator planting, with early summer produce at its peak.
The allotment reflects Walworth’s historic role as a centre of food growing before the area became densely urban.
WALWORTH GARDEN, Walworth
Where: 206 Manor Place, SE17 3BN
When:
Saturday, June 6 from 10am – 5pm
Sunday, June 7 from 10am – 5pm
Founded in 1987 on reclaimed derelict land, Walworth Garden is a community garden and horticultural charity with more than 250 plant species on site.
The garden includes an apiary, wildlife areas, training spaces and a plant centre selling propagated plants.
It is designed by the Matrix Feminist Design Co‑operative.
What to know
Tickets for London Open Gardens Weekend 2026 can be booked online via the London Gardens Trust website and Eventbrite.
A single £24 adult weekend ticket grants access to all participating gardens across both days, with under‑12s entering for free.
Some gardens operate limited entry or open on just one day, so visitors are advised to check individual opening times in advance.
Optional guided walks and behind‑the‑scenes tours can also be booked online for an additional fee and are expected to sell out quickly.
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