Highlights
- Collections of medicinal, edible and useful plants arranged within the walled garden
- The Pond Rockery of 1773, credited as one of the earliest of its kind
- Edwardian glasshouses, with a free audio guide to the tropical corridor
- Free volunteer-led tours from April to October
About Chelsea Physic Garden
The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries took a lease on this riverside plot in 1673 to create an outdoor classroom where apprentices could learn to identify plants and their uses. Sir Hans Sloane later secured the land for the Apothecaries, and for half a century from 1722 the garden was run by Philip Miller, author of The Gardeners' Dictionary. The garden has been run by an independent charity since 1983 and first opened to the public in 1987.
Its high walls create a sheltered microclimate in the heart of Chelsea, and the focus remains on plants that heal, feed and are useful to people. It is a compact, characterful garden that rewards a slow look.
What to see
- Medicinal and useful plants: around 5,000 different edible, medicinal, useful and historical plants.
- Pond Rockery: created in 1773 and credited as the first of its kind.
- Glasshouses: a range completed in 1902, with a tropical corridor and a free audio guide.
- Historic trees and walls: the walls date from the 1670s, and the first cedars of Lebanon in England were planted here in 1685.
Planning your visit
The visitor entrance is at 66 Royal Hospital Road. Sloane Square and South Kensington stations are each about 15 minutes' walk away, and bus 170 stops nearby. There is metered street parking and one accessible bay outside; bicycles are not allowed inside the garden.
Paths are flat shingle, a few wheelchairs can be borrowed, and there are accessible toilets in the main building and the café. There is no cloakroom or luggage storage. Two-for-one entry is offered with National Rail Days Out and BBC Gardeners' World.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Chelsea Physic Garden?
Adult tickets are £15 including a voluntary donation, or £13.50 without. Students and young people aged 5 to 25, and people on Universal Credit or Pension Credit, pay £6.50 (£5 without donation). Children under 5 go free, and the glasshouses are included.
Is Chelsea Physic Garden open on Saturdays?
No. The garden opens Sunday to Friday from 11am to 5pm, with last entry 30 minutes before closing, and is closed on Saturdays.
Is Chelsea Physic Garden wheelchair accessible?
The garden is on one level with flat shingle paths, and a few wheelchairs can be borrowed. There are ramps to the café and education space, and accessible toilets, though the upstairs gallery has no lift.