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Description

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

Lansdowne Road and Lansdowne Crescent Garden is part of the Ladbroke Estate, laid out as a planned garden suburb with a coherent layout of concentric crescents and large communal gardens whose features were first suggested in a plan by architect and estate surveyor Thomas Allason in 1823. His scheme was later modified by others, including James Thomson, although he remained involved until his death in 1852. Building started in the 1840s; the outer concentric crescents date from the 1860s. During the lull in building development, the land was leased for a time for a racecourse, the Hippodrome, which operated from 1837-41. After Allason's death, artist and designer Thomas Allom was responsible for the next phase of development.

Practical Information

Site location Lansdowne Road/Lansdowne Crescent
Postcode W11
What3Words ///limes.reach.begins
Type of Site Garden Square
Borough Kensington & Chelsea
Open to Public Occasionally
Opening Times Has opened for London Open Gardens. Otherwise private, for keyholders only
Facilities playground
Public Transport Tube: Ladbroke Grove (Hammersmith & City). Bus: 23, 52, 70
Research Updated 1 October 2007
Last Updated 18 October 2026

Full description

Ladbroke Estate: Site on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens, for Register Entry see https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list. The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England was established in 1984 and was commonly called English Heritage. In April 2015 it split into 2 separate entities, Historic England (HE), which continues to champion and protect the historic environment, and the English Heritage Trust, whose role is to look after the 400+ historic sites and monuments owned by the state. HE manages the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) that includes over 400,000 items ranging from prehistoric monuments to office blocks, battlefields and parks, which benefit from legal protection.

Part of the Ladbroke Estate, laid out as a planned garden suburb with a coherent layout of concentric crescents and large communal gardens whose features were first suggested in a plan by architect and estate surveyor Thomas Allason in 1823. His scheme was later modified by others, including James Thomson, although he remained involved until his death in 1852. Building started in the 1840s; the outer concentric crescents date from the 1860s. During the lull in building development, the land was leased for a time for a racecourse, the Hippodrome, which operated from 1837-41. After Allason's death, artist and designer Thomas Allom was responsible for the next phase of development.

This is a curving triangular-shaped garden on steep slope, backed by terraced houses on 2 sides, Lansdowne Crescent (1860-2) to the south and Lansdowne Road (1860-4) to the north. Part of original path layout survives with some mature ash, supplemented by late C20th trees and shrubs and with a playground inserted. Protected under 1863 Garden Square Act.

Further Information

Grid Reference TQ244808
Size in hectares 0.48
Site Ownership private
Dates c.1840-60
Designers Thomas Allason, architect and surveyor (overall plan of Ladbroke Estate)
Listed Structures LBII: 19-28 and 29-38 Lansdowne Crescent
On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens Yes
NHLE grade Grade II
Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 No
Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 Yes
Local Authority Kensington & Chelsea
In Conservation Area Yes
Conservation Area Name Ladbroke
Tree Preservation Order Not known
Nature Conservation Area Yes - Borough Importance II
Green Belt No
Metropolitan Open Land No
Special Policy Area No

Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.

Nearby parks and gardens

  • Kensington & Chelsea
  • 0.1 miles away
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

Until 2011, Rosmead Garden was known as Lansdowne and Elgin Crescent Gardens. It was built as part of the Ladbroke Estate, laid out as a planned garden suburb with a coherent layout of concentric crescents and large communal gardens whose features were first suggested in a plan by architect and estate surveyor Thomas Allason in 1823. His scheme was later modified by others, including James Thomson, although he remained involved until his death in 1852. Building started in the 1840s; the outer concentric crescents date from the 1860s. During the lull in building development, the land was leased for a time for a racecourse, the Hippodrome, which operated from 1837-41. After Allason's death, artist and designer Thomas Allom was responsible for the next phase of development.
  • Kensington & Chelsea
  • 0.1 miles away
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

Part of the Ladbroke Estate, laid out as a planned garden suburb with a coherent layout of concentric crescents and large communal gardens whose features were first suggested in a plan by architect and estate surveyor Thomas Allason in 1823. His scheme was later modified by others, including James Thomson, although Allason remained involved until his death in 1852. Building started in the 1840s; the outer concentric crescents date from the 1860s. During the lull in building development, the land was leased for a time for a racecourse, the Hippodrome, which operated from 1837-41.
  • Kensington & Chelsea
  • 0.1 miles away
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

Part of the Ladbroke Estate, laid out as a planned garden suburb with a coherent layout of concentric crescents and large communal gardens whose features were first suggested in a plan by architect and estate surveyor Thomas Allason in 1823. His scheme was later modified by others, including James Thomson, although he remained involved until his death in 1852. Building started in the 1840s; the outer concentric crescents date from the 1860s. During the lull in building development, the land was leased for a time for a racecourse, the Hippodrome, which operated from 1837-41. After Allason's death, artist and designer Thomas Allom was responsible for the next phase of development.