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Description

* 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 including Kensington Park Road.

Practical Information

Previously known as Stanley Gardens South
Site location Kensington Park Road
Postcode W11
What3Words ///backs.rigid.escape
Type of Site Garden Square
Borough Kensington & Chelsea
Open to Public No
Opening Times private
Facilities children's playground
Public Transport Tube: Holland Park (Central), Notting Hill Gate (Central, Circle). Bus: 52, 452
Research Updated 1 April 2002
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.

The Ladbroke Estate was 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.

South Stanley Garden is trapeziform in shape, backed by the tall mansions along Kensington Park Gardens designed by Thomas Allom in 1852-53 to the south, with a break in the centre and a gated entrance. The stucco houses with their bow fronts along Stanley Gardens by Allom, 1853-4 form the boundary to the north and north-east. The garden was designed without private back gardens and retains its original path layout, internal and street railings and many C19th trees. The mid C19th circular bed has been converted into a children's playground and the C19th planting has been continued with C20th trees and flowering plants. Protected under 1851 Garden Square Act.

Further Information

Grid Reference TQ247807
Size in hectares 0.6306
Site Ownership private
Dates 1850s
Designers Thomas Allason, architect and surveyor (overall plan of Ladbroke Estate)
Listed Structures LBII: 25-33 Kensington Park Gardens, 34-37 Kensington Park Gardens, 12-16 Stanley Gardens, 17-29 Stanley Gardens.
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 Yes - Area of Archaeological Importance

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Nearby parks and gardens

  • 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. After Allason's death, artist and designer Thomas Allom was responsible for the next phase of development, which included Stanley Gardens.
  • Kensington & Chelsea
  • 0.1 miles away
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

Stanley 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, including Stanley Crescent. This is one of the least altered of the communal gardens on the estate.
  • Kensington & Chelsea
  • 0.1 miles away
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

Ladbroke Square 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. Building started in the 1840s; the outer crescents date from the 1860s. During the lull in building development, the land was leased from 1837-4 for a racecourse, the Hippodrome. Ladbroke Square commenced in 1842 and is one of the largest private garden squares in London, the communal garden laid out in 1849. It has three lawns, shrubbery and mature trees.