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London's galleries and private gardens open to all

Aaron Hargreaves Foster + Partners A shot at night of Battersea roof gardens, with flowers lit up and the power stations famous chimneys in the background. Aaron Hargreaves Foster + Partners
Gavin Gardiner The facade of the red-brick Grade I listed mansion, surrounded by neatly mowed lawn and green, leafy trees. Gavin Gardiner
Battersea Roof Gardens feature in London Open Gardens this weekend
Marlborough House returns for the first time since 2017

More than 200 of London's gardens and galleries are opening to the public this weekend as part of events to highlight the city's attractions.

London Open Gardens (LOG) 2025 is returning for its 26th year with visitors able to see the lesser-seen private spaces around the capital including an RHS Chelsea Flower Show winner and Tudor courtyards.

Run by the charity London Parks and Gardens, this year's event will see more than 100 gardens open including five that are new to the scheme while Marlborough House is returning for the first time since 2017.

Moving indoors, London Gallery Weekend (LGW) is back for its fifth year with 125 open for art lovers to discover London's creative communities.

'Enjoyment of nature'

London Parks and Gardens interim director Tim Webb said: "Protecting these green areas from harmful development will protect us from the worst impacts of climate change, adding greater value to our lives."

He added that last year 93% of visitors said the event "reinforced their enjoyment of nature and appreciation of London's horticultural heritage".

Some of the gardens open this year include:

  • Battersea Roof Gardens: One of London's largest residential roof gardens next to Battersea Power Station
  • The Sanctuary Garden at Freedom from Torture: A silver-medal winner at the Chelsea Flower Show 2024
  • The Charterhouse Square Garden: Six courtyard gardens within the Tudor walls of the Charterhouse site
  • 25 Cannon Street: A mini jewel of a city rooftop space, overlooking St Paul's Cathedral
London Gallery Weekend/Linda Nylind Two people embracing with a crowd around them clapping. They are surrounded by long, colourful tapestries. London Gallery Weekend/Linda Nylind
London Gallery Weekend/Linda Nylind A handful of people dispersed around the gallery, around a multicoloured shack. London Gallery Weekend/Linda Nylind
People flocked to galleries in LGW's 2024 event, like this crowd in the Richard Saltoun Gallery
The Goodman Gallery participated in 2024

Of LGW, organisers say the event is the world's largest of its kind and "unique among global gallery events", with more than 60 free events on offer.

Open from Friday to Sunday, it aims to showcase London's diverse communities.

Founder and director Jeremy Epstein and co-director Sarah Rustin said: "London Gallery Weekend reframes the city's dynamic and continuously evolving gallery community, serving the public, gallery and institutional sectors alike through our expanded programme and partnerships.

"LGW's broadening scope of cross-sector initiatives address the challenging climate the sector is faced with, underscoring London's endurance as a locus for contemporary art - for ambitious exhibition making, global contemporary art discourse, and where artists' markets are established and consolidated."

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