Five of the world’s most spectacular secret gardens

From pocket parks to rooftop terraces and greenhouses galore – secret gardens can be found in the wildest of urban jungles. The Club’s Hannah Ralph picks out the most enchanting of big-city gardens

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Green Escapes: The Guide to Secret Urban Gardens by Toby Musgrave (Phaidon, £16.95) is out on 18 May 2018. You can pre-order Green Escapes here

Chelsea Physic Garden, London

In London’s affluent SW3 postcode hides a trapezoidal greenhouse and gardens with heaps of history. Founded in 1673 for the cultivation of pharmacological plants, Chelsea Physic Garden is the capital’s oldest botanic sanctuary. Its Instagram-worthy appeal comes from butter-coloured blooms and a gorgeously green fernery, while its cultural kudos can be found in Europe’s earliest rock garden, ferried from Iceland by Sir Joseph Banks in 1772.
When to go: Open Monday-Friday, Sundays and Bank Holidays from 11am-6pm.

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Photo: Courtesy Chelsea Physic Garden / Photographer: Haarkon

The Lotus Garden, New York City

Spilling with greenery and flanked by red-bricked apartment buildings, The Lotus Garden is a free-of-charge hideaway in the city’s otherwise exclusive Upper West Side. Atop a low-rise parking garage, the garden’s 650 square metres squeeze in a dainty lotus pond, delightfully unstructured flower beds, plus a scatter of resting places – perfect for kicking back with a bagel and coffee from neighbouring Westside Market.
When to go: Open every Sunday, 1pm-4pm, from the second week of April to the first week of November.

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Photo: Courtesy Lotus Garden / Photographer: Shanna Forlano

Himeji Garden, Adelaide

Adelaide packs a mighty green punch when it comes to urban parks. Circled by verdant parkland, the bustling city centre is only a short walk from Himeji Garden, an oasis of meditative walkways, surprise sculptures and well-manicured foliage surrounding one stand-out pool. Given to Adelaide by the Japanese city of Himeji when the two became sister cities in 1982, it has remained peaceful ever since.
When to go: Open all week, 8am-5:30pm, except April to September when it closes at 4:30pm on weekends and public holidays.

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Photo: Courtesy Ray Warren Backgrounds / Alamy

Estufa Fria, Lisbon

At the bottom of a former basalt quarry, Estufa Fria is a disguised delight near Lisbon’s Marquis of Pombal Square. Estufa Fria has three greenhouses oozing with sub-tropical vibes, waterfalls, statues and sunlight that pours through the roof. It actually started by accident: in 1912, the disused quarry stored plants from all over the globe, intended for local gardens. Forgotten during World War I, the plants flourished and Estufa Fria was born.
When to go: Open April to October, 10am-7pm, and 9am-5pm between November and March. Closed on major public holidays.

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Photo: Getty Images

Butterfly Garden, Singapore

For those who need calm when going through an airport, Singapore’s Changi Airport is here to help. In Terminal 3, be prepared to stumble upon a miniature marvel of airport tranquillity: the Butterfly Garden. This tropical garden is a world-first and bursting with tall palms, flowering sprawls and, of course, butterflies. If you have a night flight, the garden and its grotto waterfall are illuminated for your viewing pleasure.
When to go: Open 24 hours.

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Photo: Getty Images