London’s largest private garden – a 39‑acre oasis of lawns, wildflowers, and a tranquil lake behind Buckingham Palace.
The Palace Garden at Buckingham Palace is London’s largest private garden, spanning 39 acres and forming a remarkable green sanctuary in the heart of the city. Carefully cultivated over centuries, it combines formal planting with areas of wilder habitat.
The garden features over 350 different species of wildflowers, around 200 mature trees, and a 3‑acre lake that mirrors the palace façade. It provides an important refuge for birds, insects, and small mammals, with conservation work increasingly focused on biodiversity and sustainability.
Beyond its natural beauty, the garden is also a setting for ceremonial occasions including the famous Garden Parties, where thousands of guests are invited to experience the royal grounds each summer.
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Over 350 species of wildflowers and ornamental plants create changing colour and texture throughout the seasons, supporting pollinators and other wildlife.
Around 200 mature trees, including ancient plane trees and oaks, provide shade, structure and nesting sites for birds across the garden.
The 3‑acre lake forms the focal point of the garden, with islands, bridges and carefully managed banks that attract waterfowl and other wildlife.
Each year, thousands of guests are welcomed to Garden Parties, experiencing the lawns, flower borders and lake as part of one of the monarchy’s most cherished traditions.
Once marshy ground fed by the River Tyburn, the site has been gradually transformed since the 17th century into a formal landscape, reaching its current form under Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
In the 19th century, new planting schemes and the ornamental lake were introduced, turning the garden into a setting suitable for outdoor receptions and royal leisure.
Today, the garden balances its ceremonial role with conservation priorities, creating habitats for birds, butterflies and invertebrates while managing the landscape sustainably.
Visitors on the State Rooms route typically exit through the garden, walking along the broad path beside the lawn and lake, with views back to the palace façade.
