Explore two beautifully landscaped London gardens with over 130 years of history, featuring seasonal plantings, mature trees, and a winding path reminiscent of the historic New River.

Duncan Terrace & Colebrooke Row Gardens comprise two interconnected public green spaces in Islington, London, with significant historical importance dating back to 1893. The gardens follow the route of the New River, which supplied London with fresh drinking water for nearly 300 years during the 17th and 18th centuries. Designed by Fanny Rollo Wilkinson, the first woman landscape gardener, the original planting scheme featured weeping willows over a winding path intended to evoke the river that once flowed above ground. Today, the gardens offer families a peaceful retreat with seasonal character and changing displays throughout the year. Duncan Terrace Gardens was replanted in 2008 with over 1,000 flowering shrubs, herbaceous perennials, ferns, bulbs and trees, while Colebrooke Row Gardens features distinctive tufa stone blocks along its banks. The Friends Group actively manages the gardens in partnership with Islington Parks, continuously developing the spaces with climate change and biodiversity in mind. The venue is free to enter, dog-friendly, and pushchair-friendly, making it ideal for families with young children and pets. The gardens were featured in The Telegraph as one of London's best secret gardens and won the Award for Design Excellence in 2009. Visitors can enjoy walking paths, mature trees planted to honour special occasions, and displays that provide a different experience in every season.

Venue Details

What this place offers

Toilets

Public transport nearby

Accessible toilets

Free WiFi

Baby changing facilities

Food available

On-site parking

🐕Dog-friendly

Parking nearby

Pushchair friendly

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jean larwood

4 months ago

Beautiful oasis..you could be anywhere when you sit and hear the birds and look at the lovely plants. Congratulations to all who look after it. Can't wait to visit again.

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Natalia

a year ago

Beautiful garden that I enjoy passing through, very well maintained and plenty of benches to take a rest and soak up the nature

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J. Q

a year ago

Maintained by locals and volunteers in a sustainable way, the gardens supporting biodiversity through a process of ongoing natural habitat creation and maintenance, climate-sensitive planting, good water management, and increasing the sources of pollen, nectar and berries for wildlife throughout the seasons. It’s an oasis in the city. Benches are provided throughout the park. What it lacks is a children’s play area.

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jeff benjamin

3 years ago

Narrow linear strip developed over the historic course of the New River ably landscaped with a footpath, benches, a variety of mature trees, desultory shrubs and plants. Pleasant and peaceful but lately succumbing to lassitude possibly from cursory intervention though still reasonably maintained.

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Stefano Ragni

3 years ago

Nice small park/garden. Ideal for squirrels spotting and feeding. The terrace is well maintained and also hosts within "Spontaneous City", which is a little complex of especially designed bird and insects' houses on a big tree, help their preservation.

Reviews last updated: 7 October 2026