D
Google
Tucked behind red-brick mansions and just steps from the bustle of Mayfair lies one of my favourite secret spots in London, Mount Street Gardens. It is a secluded and beautifully maintained retreat, peaceful, shaded, and quietly elegant. What makes it unique is not just the tranquillity, but the sense of layered history. Once a burial ground for a Victorian workhouse, it was transformed in the late 19th century into a public garden.
And for those interested in rare plants, the gardens are also home to a surprisingly diverse collection of rare and exotic plants, thanks to the sheltered microclimate created by surrounding buildings. You'll spot palms, tree ferns, and unusual evergreens that wouldn’t survive in most London parks. Simply a quiet horticultural curiosity hidden in plain sight.
Overlooking it all is the striking Jesuit Church of the Immaculate Conception, whose Gothic spire and mellow bells add both drama and calm...also worth visiting and like the park, well worth seeking out.