The Top Most Impressive Palm Trees in London to check out!

[Norwaypalmtrees]

Hi

I am going to London during the coming weekend. I will of course look for palm trees and other exotics 🌴

I was wondering if some of you could give me any advice (addresses/locations) about where to see the most impressive palm trees of the city?

I am especially interested in seeing how Washingtonia palms and Phoenix canariensis do in London. I know there are quite a few spectacular specimen out there.

 

Thank you!

[Chester B]

3 hours ago, Norwaypalmtrees said:

Hi

I am going to London during the coming weekend. I will of course look for palm trees and other exotics 🌴

I was wondering if some of you could give me any advice (addresses/locations) about where to see the most impressive palm trees of the city?

I am especially interested in seeing how Washingtonia palms and Phoenix canariensis do in London. I know there are quite a few spectacular specimen out there.

 

Thank you!

There are some pretty extensive threads on here detailing locations and such courtesy of @UK_Palms.  I suggest you search out those posts first.

[Josh76]

Not sure how up-to-date this map is, but you might find it useful:

 

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1Jcv2Y32BIlpDgYWGGh67LZEBySikc0BK&ll=52.24903555742125%2C-1.902037599999984&z=7

 

If you are happy to let us know where you're staying, I might be able to direct you to a few local specimens 👍

[UK_Palms]

So London is obviously a very big city and it really depends on what areas you are going to be in exactly?

I am assuming you are going to Kew Gardens, as many palm/gardening nuts would do? If so, go visit the Washingtonia's on nearby Mortlake Road and get us some photo updates...

 

Just across the road from Kew Gardens, there is a Brahea Armata at Cambridge Cottages...

 

I would also tie that in with a trip to the nearby Palm Centre, even if it is just to see the Jubaea there. A few Butia's too...

 

Presumably you will be in central London for at least some time. If you are going to St James Park, as many do, pay a visit to nearby St James Square as well. There are 3 Washingtonia there and some Echiums that will be in full flower. I definitely recommend passing by if you go to St James Park.

 

Mount Street Gardens isn't far from there...

 

From there you could also check out the Phoenix Canariensis at Egerton Terrace, which is amongst the best looking palms in London. This too may have Echiums growing on, or around it, which would be flowering now...

 

I would also tie that in with a trip to the Natural History Museum, which is the 5th top attraction in London according to Tripadvisor. There are extensive gardens with Cycads, Dicksonia Antarctica, Washingtonia Robusta, Willomi pine, Phoenix etc there.

 

There is a decent size Washingtonia near the Paddington Lock as well, in Little Venice, where the London Waterbus company departs...

 

Chelsea Physic Garden could also be worth a visit for CIDP, Washingtonia, Butia, Jubaea etc.

Also, if you'e near Heathrow... Phoenix Theophrasti on Salcombe Road in Ashford...

 

There are much bigger Phoenix and Washingtonia in London, but not really on the 'tourist' trail so to speak.

I doubt you fancy hunting down the Wimbledon Filibusta...

 

Or the River Gardens CIDP in Fulham...

 

Do keep an eye out for backyard Washingtonia especially, although this one is more out of the way in Wapping, East London...

[Norwaypalmtrees]

Thank you so much @UK_Palms! after I posted this thread I found that you had mentioned many of these palm trees in other threads! Super nice with the street locations. So I have put it all together in a youtube video 😊 Go check out my channel "Nordic Experience" and hit the latest video

[UK_Palms]

UNBELIEVABLE VIDEO! This must be one of the best London palms video I have seen and I am really impressed by all the different specimens you managed to check out, despite visiting from abroad. Most UK palm nuts would struggle to find or get to most of those, so you did a fantastic job! And those two CIDP's outside Hackney Town Hall are really stacking on size nowadays! Looks like big flower spathes sticking out of the huge Darlaston road Filibusta/Filifera too.

Looks like you were there during the brief wet spell. If you had visited a few days later you would have had great weather! Most days this week are going to be about 30C / 85F.

[Norwaypalmtrees]

Thank you so much for your feedback. I did some preparations before I went there, mapped out the different locations and made routes to check them all in 2 days. The Darlaston Washy was truly impressive, California vibes! Crazy growth. Imagine if more people start to plant Washies how it will look in 10-15 years! 

[Stelios]

I was just looking of some photos from our trip to London in the summer and I remembered I took these photos of some palms there.

The first is at the natural history museum and it looks like a sabal

 

[Stelios]

The other 2, a kentia and a spindle palm are at St. James's park. It will be very interesting to see how these 2 are doing during the winter in London.

 

[Ryan Wonka]

On 1/2/2026 at 11:47 AM, Stelios said:

The other 2, a kentia and a spindle palm are at St. James's park. It will be very interesting to see how these 2 are doing during the winter in London.

 

they plant these out every year, they're all tender houseplants. i saw them last spring too looked like they were freshly planted