Urban gardens
Amazing gardens from towns and cities
A zesty tangerine-coloured roof top garden in London designed by Nigel Dunnett
On the edge of one of London’s busiest roundabouts, Nigel Dunnett has created exciting combinations of drought-tolerant plants for a roof garden that is as unexpected as it is joyful. Words: Natasha Goodfellow, Photographs: Alister Thorpe
A zero waste garden: this space was completely transformed, without sending anything to landfill
Designer Miria Harris gave herself the challenge of a no-skip, zero-waste project, giving away, recycling or reusing everything in this back garden before transforming it into a space her client could love.
Words: Zia Allaway, Photographs: Rachel Warne
From boarded up library to gorgeous community garden: this space in London was transformed by a Chelsea gold-winning designer
A new community garden designed by Sarah Price around
an old library turned arts centre in southeast London is a treasured space for local residents
and garden lovers alike.
This professional designer transformed his own typically long, narrow town garden into an urban oasis
Landscape architect Matt Evans has turned his typically long, narrow, town garden in Bath into a plantsman’s paradise. Words Veronica Peerless photographs Jason Ingram
This tiny, tranquil city sanctuary garden designed by Harry Holding makes the most of its shady situation
For this small London garden, designer Harry Holding has taken inspiration from the lush textures of tropical forests to create an urban woodland oasis.
Words: Natasha Goodfellow, photographs: Alister Thorpe
A small sloping backyard was given a designer update and is now a beautiful, flower-filled family garden on different levels by Farlam & Chandler
Design duo Farlam & Chandler has transformed a heavily shaded plot into a beautiful, flower-filled family garden
Watch Nigel Slater's exclusive tour around his own small garden and discover why he wouldn't want a bigger one
While Nigel Slater might occasionally dream of a larger garden, the joy he feels cocooned in his tiny basement courtyard has convinced him size isn’t everything.
Illustration: Paul Wearing, Portrait: John Campbell
Lush, Japanese-style planting in a small garden in Bristol from designer Artisan Landscapes
In Bristol Artisan Landscapes have created a calming tranquil space that invites the owners to immerse themselves in its cool, textural greens. Words Juliet Giles, photographs Jason Ingram
This small plot in London has been transformed into an exotic, lush garden that has year-round interest and evokes memories of Kerala
In this Islington garden, designer Declan Buckley has used lush, jungle-style planting to remind his clients of their childhoods in Kerala. Words Natasha Goodfellow Photographs Rachel Warne
Be inspired by this small suburban Suffolk retreat designed by Colm Joseph
In this once-overlooked suburban plot, designer Colm Joseph has created a modern gravel garden that offers a relaxing green retreat. Words Kate Jacobs Photographs Richard Bloom
Award-winning designer Ula Maria's garden of childhood memories in Northampton
An award-winning show garden from designer Ula Maria has been given a second life in her father’s small plot. Words Rae Spencer-Jones Photographs Rachel Warne
Dripping with wisteria, this tiny city courtyard garden is a masterclass in using every inch of space
Plants are an integral, all-encompassing part of this small, multi-storey live/work space in the Belgian city of Antwerp. Images by Sabrina Rothe.
A green corridor in the heart of Sheffield | What is Grey to Green? The initiative bringing colour to Sheffield city centre
The city of Sheffield's green makeover is all thanks to a groundbreaking environmental strategy. Words Jodie Jones, photographs Richard Bloom
Inspiring spaces | A wildlife-friendly garden for lovers of mid-century design
Designer Barbara Samitier has transformed an urban orchard into a stylish, wildlife-friendly garden for a couple who love mid-century design as much as they love nature. Photographs Annaïck Guitteny
Exotic planting brings Californian style to Adam Sykes's London garden
Exotic evergreens provide structure for diverse planting in soft greens and whites, taking a London garden to West Coast America. Words Matt Collins, photographs Jason Ingram
How to create a pocket park
Revitalising a residential street, guerilla gardener Richard Reynolds has made his mark on a pocket park in Devon. Word Lia Leendertz. Photographs Jason Ingram.
Inspiring natural ponds and swimming pools for your garden dip
Ideas for adding a natural pond or swimming pool to your garden, whatever its size and inspiration for hard landscaping materials
Modern small garden ideas
Whether you want minimalist design, Japanese elegance or an intimate green retreat, you’ll find lots of inspiration for modern small gardens in our expert guides below. Photograph Alister Thorpe
Cool, calm and connected - a small garden in Kent
Designers Harriet Farlam and Ben Chandler have squeezed much into this serene town garden on the north Kent coast. Words Jodie Jones. Photographs Richard Bloom.
A small modern meadow garden by Jenny Bloom
For this garden in north London, designer Jenny Bloom drew inspiration from the unusually wild landscape on its fringes. Words Kate Jacobs. Photographs Richard Bloom.
Inside Andy Sturgeon's modern coastal garden
We take a tour around Andy Sturgeon’s small coastal garden in Brighton, where hard landscaping is minimised to allow for plentiful planting. Words Annie Gatti, photographs by Jason Ingram.
Gardens Illustrated's photographers' favourite gardens
To mark the 30th anniversary of Gardens Illustrated, we asked some of our longstanding photographers to pick the image they took that they loved the most that we've featured in the magazine
How to create a luminous oasis in a small modern garden
Designer Sheila Jack’s sparing use of colour in her own city garden transforms a partially shaded space into a luminous oasis of calm, just when she needs it at the end of a busy day. Words Belinda Cooper, Photographs Britt Willoughby Dyer
How to create a wildlife-friendly modern garden in the city
Prolific design duo Harris Bugg have created an exquisite slice of urban meadow in a wildlife-friendly garden in north London. Words Kendra Wilson. Photography Jason Ingram.