Even really keen gardeners may never have visited the Museum of Garden History – somehow it was a really good idea that never quite took off!

However, all that has changed and a group of media types including representatives from Muswell Hill Gardeners met up for breakfast at Lambeth Palace a couple of weeks ago to celebrate the arrival of the new kid on the block – the Garden Museum. Its new identity is accompanied by an award winning new interior for the St Mary at Lambeth Church designed by architects Dow Jones and the first gallery in Britain dedicated to gardens and gardening.

The gallery idea is fascinating – there are wonderful opportunities for trips down memory lane for the more mature visitor and for younger visitors a great chance to look at artefacts and advertising from the past. The new curator, Mary Guyatt, will know what I mean when I say that, in displaying the range of gardening implements from both recent and distant past, the organisers had truly taken the measure of the situation!

Standing on the gallery (“The Belvedere”) one is accorded the opportunity to appreciate the space and spaciousness of the whole design. It is light, airy and altogether thoroughly satisfactory, this ultra modern Museum cradled in a beautiful old church with ample opportunity to appreciate the original and beautiful stained glass windows. Room has been created for a specific featured exhibition – the first is a retrospective dedicated to Beth Chatto – there is a Café serving excellent food and a small but well-stocked Museum Shop.

Outside the Knot Garden and the Wild Garden manage to make one forget for a merciful moment the swirls of heavy traffic thundering past in every direction.

The whole is a great success and it is well worth a visit – especially for those going in a group and taking advantage of the special rates. It is also possible to arrange for a talk and (if wanted) refresments tailored to the requirements of your own particular group or club.

If you are arranging a family outing, plan to eat there – the food really is that good. Don’t bother with a car – the Museum is a pleasant 12 / 15 minute stroll beside the Thames from Charing Cross.

Garden Museum
Lambeth Palace Road
London
SE1 7LB (see map)
+44 (0)20 7401 8865
info@gardenmuseum.org.uk
www.gardenmuseum.org.uk