Tabard Gardens is a small but vital green space located near London Bridge and Borough in Central London. In an area that lacks open greenery, it offers a refreshing retreat for both locals and international students staying nearby, especially during the warmer months. The park includes a children’s play area, a modest wildlife-friendly zone, and a green turf pitch popular for casual football games. It also boasts a rich variety of trees—cherry, pine, linden, oak, mulberry, magnolia, walnut, and others—adding to its charm and seasonal beauty. Tabard Street, which runs alongside the gardens, was once a quiet road but has recently become plagued by crime. Phone snatching is rampant—you can lose your device within seconds of taking it out. Speeding cars and electric bikes further add to the danger, especially for children and elderly park-goers. It is unacceptable that residents in Central London, including around Tabard Gardens, are left so vulnerable. As someone who has had their phone snatched three times, I say this with urgency: enough is enough. Police response is minimal, and victims are often left to fend for themselves. London is becoming the crime capital of Europe, and the situation is spiraling out of control. The time has come for the law to empower residents—not just to report crime, but to actively defend themselves and their property. Citizens must be granted legal rights to carry and use personal security tools such as body-worn cameras, defensive sprays, high-decibel alarms, and secure neighbourhood communication tools like WhatsApp alert groups. If the authorities cannot keep us safe, then we must be enabled to protect ourselves, our families, and our homes with stronger, lawful measures. This is not a call for chaos — it’s a call for self-preservation and dignity. Finally, drivers and riders passing Tabard Gardens should also be cautious—football shots often go over the fences and could hit moving vehicles.

Great view.

We had to play the game between Sussex Sea Raiders and LSE All Stars here. It's a friendly and green environment.

This long rectangle is a great size for a residential park so close to London Bridge. Surrounded by 5-storey buildings from the 1930s it doesn’t feel overlooked. It has a kind of orchard-vibe due to long paths, how the trees are laid out and hedges allowed to merge with fencing. It is broadly separated into 3 parts, the Northern end being mostly open; the middle a ‘Nature park’ which seems to have some issues with vandalism but nice nonetheless, and the Southern end is playground and sports. The playground has two sections, a little baby bit that feels a bit odd (you can’t see any other kids in the other bit) and then a pretty well setup main playground. Only the big swings are missing. Sports-wise, you have 3 table tennis tables; the outdoor gym, a basketball court and sizeable astroturfed football courts. Definitely enough to keep you going. Whether you want to picnic on the grass, find a bench for some thoughts or be more active, there’s a lot going on here. We popped in while changing busses nearby and are glad we found this gem, just one road back from the main road. It’s worth a stop.

Very nice garden/park for a short walk or dog walk with lots of seats/sitting areas, greenery perfect for a picnic. Also has a outdoor gym, childrens play area and football cage.