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Little Abbey and Abbey Orchard Courtyard Garden are part of Peabody Trust's Abbey Orchard Estate near Westminster Abbey and as its name suggests it was once the site of an orchard. The six-storey blocks were constructed in 1882. After consultation with residents, the gardens and courtyards of Abbey Orchard were refurbished and form a private and secluded enclave in the heart of Westminster. A series of courtyard gardens include Little Abbey to the north and Abbey Orchard Courtyard Garden, created in 2003. The latter has an inscription 'ABBEY ORCHARD COURTYARD GARDEN/ A TUDOR VINEYARD THE MONKS OWN ORCHARD/ON THIS ANCIENT SITE WE HAVE A GARDEN AGAIN'.

This is a private garden provided for the use of the inhabitants of the surrounding houses in Alma Square, which were built in the 1860s when the Eyre Estate was developed on what had been agricultural land. The garden was owned by the freeholders and managed by a committee elected by householders, each of whom was bound under their lease to pay an annual subscription to cover the maintenance of the gardens.

The gardens, which lie between the two red brick mansion blocks that comprise Ashley Gardens, provide a welcome relief from the towering striped buildings of the area. The long rectangular strip, well planted with trees, shrubs and ivies, is visible from Thirleby Road through the railings and is kept in excellent condition. Ashley Gardens and Morpeth Terrace are some of the earliest purpose-built blocks of flats in London.

Maida Vale is renowned for its mansion blocks, lining the broad avenues and bringing a European flavour to the area. Among the first, Ashworth Mansions was built in 1899-1900, two red-brick blocks in Queen Anne Revival style overlooking the communal garden provided for the residents. Planting consists of mature trees, shrubs and perennials, herbaceous borders and beds, set in lawns. The road frontages on Elgin Avenue and Grantully Road also have landscaped areas.

* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

Belgrave Square was designed by architect George Basevi, who laid out the square and the gardens were first planted by Thomas Cubitt in 1826. They have been restored to the layout of 1867, and have lawns, large plane trees, pergolas with wisteria, roses and annuals, a quiet garden, tennis court and play area for children. In 2008 the original viewing mound in the centre of the garden was re-instated and among the trees are those that date from the original plantings. Within the garden is a collection of statuary, including modern figurative works.

* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

Berkeley Square Gardens were originally laid out in 1740s, the present layout dating from 1766/7. Lord Berkeley of Stratton, Royalist commander in the Civil War, acquired extensive lands north of Piccadilly soon after the Restoration and the family's London residence was situated near here until 1733. When, in 1696, the 3rd Lord Berkeley sold Berkeley House to the 1st Duke of Devonshire, he agreed to keep a strip of land clear of development to protect the view north from the house. This condition was honoured when the Berkeley estate was laid out for speculative building in the 1730s/40s, and resulted in the present square. The garden was first enclosed in the mid 1740s. Having become neglected, it was laid out anew in 1766/7 since when it has remained virtually unchanged. Improvements carried out in 1994 by WCC included restoration of the statue 'Woman of Samaria'. The surrounding London Plane trees are among the oldest in central London, planted in 1789.

Bessborough Gardens was once open fields in the vicinity of the Millbank Penitentiary. It was laid out as a garden for the surrounding terraces between 1841-43, a wedge-shaped enclosure with Holy Trinity Church to the south, now demolished. In 1982 the terraces were demolished for road improvements, replaced by new buildings in C19th style. New gardens were laid out within an irregular rectangle surrounded with modern railings, and contain several mature trees, a lawn crossed by stone and brick paths, seating areas and shrubberies. In the centre is the Queen Mother's Commemorative Fountain (1982), which incorporates a cast of one of George Vulliamy's dolphin lamp standard bases from the Embankment.

Brown Hart Garden was originally designed in 1903 by C. Stanley Peach as an Italian Garden above the new electricity substation he designed for Westminster Electricity Supply Company. It replaced an earlier communal garden of 1889 that had been provided for residents of the surrounding model housing built for the working classes. By the 1980s the terrace garden was neglected and was eventually closed by the then tenant, EDF. In 2007 after 20 years of closure the garden re-opened as a public space and major renovation was completed by 2013. Situated on a terrace above Duke Street electricity substation, it has been described as the Mayfair Estates’ fullest flight of Edwardian Baroque.

Bryanston Square is an early C19th garden square built on the Portman Estate. Montagu Square and Bryanston Square were the chief compositions of the estate between Gloucester Place and Edgware Road. The garden was provided for residents of surrounding houses. It retains notable London plane trees, mainly around the perimeter but also on the central lawn, a memorial drinking fountain erected in 1862/3, and the path layout is recognisably descended from the symmetrically undulating perimeter.

* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

Buckingham Palace has been the residence of the reigning monarch since the time of George IV. The framework of the present gardens, with its fine lake, lawns, horticultural displays, and woodland, date from the informal layout of c.1826 for the Prince Regent, which replaced formal gardens created for the Duke of Buckingham in the early C18th.

Oxford and Cambridge Squares and Norfolk Crescent were created on the site of the earlier, much larger Stanhope Square, which was laid out pre-1834. The area was within the Bishop of London's extensive Paddington Estate and developed from 1838 as part of George Gutch's 'Final Plan for Tybernia'. The form of the garden is intact although surrounding buildings date from the 1960s. The garden contains 6 notable mature London plane trees, has modern bedding, privet topiary and modern railings.

Carlton House Terrace Gardens comprise two main enclosures, laid out on part of the former site of C18th Carlton House and its grounds. The site has a lengthy history: it was part of a Royal deer park and gardens of Charles II's Palace of St James. Carlton House became the home of Frederick Prince of Wales and later the Prince Regent but on his accession, George IV took Buckingham Palace as his residence. Carlton House was demolished in 1827 and Carlton House Terrace and Carlton Gardens were built as a revenue-generating scheme. Designed by John Nash, it included 3 ornamental gardens, together with other landscaped areas. Many of the C19th houses survive and the area remains part of the Crown Estate.