Wisteria walks in London

Wisteria season in London is truly a phenomenon: on my corner of Instagram, everything is purple for a solid month. There is a reason wisteria hysteria is the most popular hashtag. While there is a lot of beautiful wisteria donning the houses in Kensington and Chelsea, where most of the photos I see are from, my favourite places in London for wisteria walks are a little bit quieter (and more local to me). Here are my four favourite wisteria walking routes in South West London.

Wisteria houses on Kew Green and Strand on the Green

Start this walk in Kew Green. The houses all along Kew Green, on either side of the main street, are beautiful displays of wisteria. It is also worth wandering the smaller streets behind to see what treasures lay behind.

After wandering every corner of Kew Green, cross the bridge and head to Strand on the Green (towards Chiswick). This gorgeous strip of historical houses along the river is a step back in time and a walk I love doing at all times of year. Several houses will be boasting wisteria, and there’s also plenty of charming pubs to stop off in.

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Wisteria walk to Chiswick House and Mall

Start this walk at Chiswick House. The wisteria in the gardens is stunning, but the house itself and the rest of the grounds are well worth exploring. Chiswick House in West London is a stunning 18th-century villa that is renowned for its beautiful gardens and architecture. One of the highlights of the gardens is the impressive display of wisteria, which is particularly noteworthy due to its age and size, with some of the plants believed to be over 150 years old. The wisteria is planted around the glasshouse framing the structure and the rose garden beyond.

After leaving Chiswick House, walk down to the river path which will eventually lead to Chiswick Mall. This walk will take you past gorgeous houses framed with cascading wisteria. Make sure to pop over to Fuller’s Brewery when passing, as it has a wall covered in wisteria that is several hundred years old. This walk also passes many charming pubs and cafes, and will end near the iconic architecture of Hammersmith Bridge.

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Wisteria at Ham House and Ham Common

Ham Common is an unlikely destination, but I happened to walk around it when visiting Ham House a few years ago and was astounded at the wisteria displays on the variety of houses on the common. It seemed like very single house boasted wisteria in some way or another. It is home to one of my favourite London houses ever, pictured below with its gingerbread facade covered in purple blooms. There’s a few charming pubs around here as well, and it’s possible to walk to Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park from here if you’re off to see the rhododendrons.

From Ham Common it is an easy walk or drive to Ham House, a National Trust property along the river. Ham House has a beautiful stablehouse-turned-cafe which is adorned in wisteria at this time of year. It’s the perfect place to stop off if you intend to carry on down the river path toward Richmond town centre (and the walk below).

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Wisteria walks in Richmond

Richmond is one of the most charming areas of London at every time of year, so do see my full guide on things to do in Richmond. In the springtime it is a perfect walking route for wisteria-covered houses and cottages.

Start on Richmond Green and explore the charming alleyways of shops before ogling the wisteria cladding the enormous homes lining the green.

From there, walk through Old Palace Yard to Old Palace Lane, where this iconic row of white cottages sits. I am always envious of those who live here. Just at the end of the road is a fantastic pub called the White Swan, and further down will take you back to the river path if you intend to carry on further.

I hope you’re able to enjoy wisteria season in London this year, and do let me know your favourite spots for it below.

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