The Garden Museum

The Garden Museum Review

This rather unassuming museum was created in the mid-1970s after two gardening enthusiasts came upon a medieval church which, they were horrified to discover, was about to be bulldozed. The churchyard contained the tomb of John Tradescant, an adventurous 17th-century plant collector who introduced many new species to England. Inspired to action, they rescued the church and opened this museum. With the support of a dedicated team of volunteers, it has subsequently acquired one of the largest collections of historic garden tools, artifacts, and curiosities in the world, in addition to creating beautiful walled gardens that are maintained year-round with seasonal plants. One section contains a perfect replica of a 17th-century knot garden, built around Tradescant's tomb; another is devoted entirely to wildflowers. It's also worth visiting the church itself, which contains the tombs of William Bligh, captain of the Bounty, and several members of the Boleyn family. As well, there's a green-thumb gift shop and the Garden Café serving vegetarian lunches and home-baked cakes—the toffee-apple variety is a must!