Fulham Palace & Gardens
a bishop's palace and garden, free by the river
The riverside palace and walled garden of the old Bishops of London, free to roam, with a small museum and a knot garden by the Thames.
Free to visit · Fulham · Putney Bridge · SW6 6EA
Opening: Gardens daily · house & museum Sun–Thu, check times
For more than a thousand years this riverside site was a home of the Bishops of London, and today the palace, museum and gardens are all free to visit. The buildings range from a Tudor courtyard to Georgian rooms, with a little museum telling the long story of the place, and there is no ticket to wander in.
The real joy is outside. There is a beautiful restored walled garden with a knot garden and old glasshouses, ancient trees including a famous holm oak, and lawns running down toward the Thames, all of it free and rarely crowded.
It sits right next to Bishop's Park and the river path, so you can fold it into a longer free riverside walk. A cafe in the old buildings handles the spending if you want it, but the grounds alone make a generous afternoon.
Getting there: A short walk from Putney Bridge station through Bishop's Park, by the river in Fulham.
Best time to go: A bright spring or summer day when the walled garden is at its best.
Insider tip: Head straight for the walled garden, the prettiest corner and easy to miss behind the main house. Then walk out through Bishop's Park to the river for a free Thames-side stroll.
Official site: https://www.fulhampalace.org
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide