St. Mary's Gardens
St. Mary's Gardens is a small attractive open space in Waterloo, well served by public transport and within easy travelling distance of Westminster, Albert Embankment and the South Bank. It is also next to Lambeth Palace, the Garden Museum, Archbishop's Park and St. Thomas's Hospital, and provides residents and visitors alike with a safe and attractive place to meet, sit and relax.
St. Mary's Gardens has been transformed by a partnership of residents, local volunteers, businesses and the council into a bright and welcoming space which respects local heritage but provides a balance between the needs of people and nature.
- Address: Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1
- Tube: Lambeth North (Bakerloo Line), 0.5 miles (0.8 km), Waterloo (Bakerloo, Jubilee and Northern Lines), 0.8 miles (1.0 km)
- Rail: Waterloo or Vauxhall (South West Trains), 0.8 miles (1.0 km)
- Buses: C10, 3, 77, 344, (from Brixton, Canada Water, Clapham, Clapham Junction, Stockwell, Shoreditch, Waterloo and Westminster).
See a location map of St. Mary's Gardens
Facilities
- Flower gardens
- Educational gardening 'pods'
- Ornamental fountain and seating area
Opening times
St. Mary's Gardens is open at all times.
An area rich in history
St. Mary's Gardens is situated on a site that served for over 500 years as a vital 'gateway' to Lambeth and Westminster across the River Thames. Up until 140 years ago nearby Lambeth Bridge didn’t exist, and a horse ferry carried people to and from Westminster; much of the around the gardens were still fields, marshland and orchards that imposed an impressive patchwork pattern on the landscape.
St. Mary's Gardens lies on what used to be the road leading up to the first Lambeth Bridge, which opened in 1862. When this was replaced in 1932 by a newer bridge on a new alignment, the old roadway was turned into a formal garden.
St. Mary's Gardens is next to Lambeth Palace, the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is also close to Archbishop's Park, a popular open space created in 1901 on land that was once part of the grounds of Lambeth Palace.
The gardens were named after the adjacent Church of St. Mary the Virgin at Lambeth, which used to be the parish church for North Lambeth, now home to the Garden Museum. This was founded in 1977 as the world’s first museum dedicated to the history of gardens and gardening, and they now manage the church grounds to demonstrate traditional and modern gardening practices.
St. Mary’s Gardens has been restored through a partnership of Lambeth Council, Friends of Archbishop’s Park, Garden Museum and Lambeth Palace, as well as local schools, businesses and community groups, with funding and support provided from a wide range of organisations.
Walking through the gardens reveals a contemporary mixed border planting scheme as well as areas for wildlife and community gardening. This created space for gardening activities for children and local people led by the Garden Museum. There are sunflowers and edible flowers and there will be more projects to come. If you would like to get involved email the Museum on info@gardenmuseum.org
Help us look after St. Mary’s Gardens
St. Mary’s Gardens is managed by Lambeth Parks and Greenspaces and come sunder the North Lambeth Parks Area. It also comes under an area patrolled by the Bishop’s Safer Neighbourhoods Team of Lambeth Borough Police, who work in close partnership with the council and community to ensure the site is safe and welcoming for everybody.
Please remember that whilst St. Mary’s Gardens welcomes responsible dog owners, it contains areas managed as formal gardens as well as areas used for wildlife gardening and growing food. Please keep dogs under close control or on a lead in the Gardens and pick up and safely dispose of any waste or other litter when you leave.
For more information on St. Mary’s Gardens and how to help us keep it clean, green and safe, please contact us on 020 7926 9000 or email parks@lambeth.gov.uk
Friends of Archbishop’s Park
The Friends of Archbishop’s Park have been actively involved in the transformation of St. Mary’s Gardens, and represent those living around and using both the gardens and nearby Archbishop’s Park. Visit the Friends of Archbishop's Park website to join or or to find out more about their work.
How to get to St. Mary's Gardens
Address: Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1
Tube: Lambeth North (Bakerloo Line), 0.5 miles (0.8 km), Waterloo (Bakerloo, Jubilee and Northern Lines), 0.8 miles (1.0 km)
Rail: Waterloo or Vauxhall (South West Trains), 0.8 miles (1.0 km)
Buses: C10, 3, 77, 344, (from Brixton, Canada Water, Clapham, Clapham Junction, Stockwell, Shoreditch, Waterloo and Westminster).
See a location map of St. Mary's Gardens
Further information