Planning a family trip to London doesn’t have to drain your travel budget. This vibrant city offers countless free adventures that’ll spark your children’s imagination while keeping your wallet happy. From world-class museums with interactive exhibits to sprawling royal parks and historic landmarks, London provides enriching experiences perfect for young explorers. As families know, traveling with kids requires smart planning – prioritizing safety, accessibility, and engaging activities. This guide reveals 21 spectacular free things to do in London with kids that combine education with excitement. You’ll discover hidden playgrounds, dinosaur exhibits, panoramic city views, and cultural treasures that make learning feel like playtime. Get ready to create unforgettable memories without spending a single pound on admission fees!
Natural History Museum
Step into a world of wonder where towering dinosaur skeletons greet you in the spectacular Hintze Hall. Your kids’ jaws will drop at the massive blue whale model suspended from the ceiling, creating the perfect Instagram moment. Wander through the Volcanoes and Earthquakes gallery to experience simulated tremors – a thrilling (but safe) adventure for families accustomed to seismic activity.
The Darwin Centre cocoon hosts fascinating scientist talks where children can ask questions about real specimens. Don’t miss the interactive Investigate Lab where young explorers handle meteorite fragments and fossils using microscopes and measurement tools. The animatronic T-Rex in the Dinosaur Gallery remains a crowd favorite, with its realistic roars and movements captivating visitors of all ages.
Free family trails available at the information desks turn museum exploration into exciting scavenger hunts. The museum’s spacious design and clear sightlines make it easy to supervise children while allowing them freedom to explore. Multiple baby-changing facilities and family-friendly dining options ensure comfort throughout your visit.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: World-renowned dinosaur exhibits that bring paleontology to life
- Key Experiences: Earthquake simulator, volcanic displays, hands-on science labs
- Ideal Time: Weekday mornings or after 3 PM to avoid school groups
- Getting There: South Kensington Station (District/Circle/Piccadilly lines), 5-minute walk
Pro Tips: Download the museum’s Explorer app before visiting for augmented reality features that make exhibits interactive
Hyde Park
Spread across 350 acres in central London, this royal park offers endless space for kids to burn off energy. Families will appreciate the temperate climate as children pedal rented bikes along Serpentine Road or chase squirrels through ancient oak groves. The Diana Memorial Playground features a massive wooden pirate ship that sparks imaginative play – bring spare clothes as water features prove irresistible on warm days.
Watch skilled riders at the Hyde Park Stables or join the ducks, swans, and geese at the Serpentine Lake. During summer, families paddle rented rowboats across the shimmering water with iconic city views as backdrop. Free guided nature walks depart from the park’s ecology center, teaching children about local bird species and conservation efforts.
Four conveniently located playgrounds cater to different age groups, with rubberized surfaces ensuring safety. Wide, paved pathways make navigation easy with strollers, while numerous benches allow parents to relax while watching children play. The park’s open layout provides clear visibility, giving kids freedom to explore within sightlines.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Central London’s largest green space with diverse activities
- Key Experiences: Pirate ship playground, pedal boating, wildlife spotting
- Ideal Time: Spring for blooming flowers; summer for fountain play
- Getting There: Lancaster Gate (Central line) or Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line) stations
Pro Tips: Pack a picnic from nearby supermarkets – the park has hundreds of shady spots perfect for family lunches
Science Museum
Ignite your children’s curiosity through seven floors of interactive wonders where touching exhibits isn’t just allowed – it’s encouraged! The Pattern Pod mesmerizes toddlers with light, sound, and texture explorations, while Wonderlab’s live science shows demonstrate explosive experiments that make learning physics unforgettable. Families will appreciate the air-conditioned comfort during summer months as kids launch paper rockets or create giant bubbles.
Future-focused galleries showcase space technology, including actual capsules from historic missions. The Flight Gallery displays suspended aircraft that seem to soar overhead, complete with cockpit simulators. Free timed tickets for temporary exhibitions are available online, ensuring you won’t miss limited-run installations during your London visit.
Special family events like “Lates” evenings feature themed activities and workshops. Clear signage throughout the museum helps navigation, while multiple rest areas prevent sensory overload. The basement cafeteria offers affordable meal deals and high chairs for younger children.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Hands-on exhibits that make complex concepts accessible to kids
- Key Experiences: Flight simulators, IMAX documentaries, engineering workshops
- Ideal Time: Late afternoons on weekends when crowds thin
- Getting There: South Kensington Station (District/Circle/Piccadilly lines), step-free access
Pro Tips: Head straight to the basement Garden area first – it’s less crowded and has excellent interactive water play
Changing of the Guard
Witness Britain’s most iconic ceremonial tradition without spending a penny. Arrive early to secure prime viewing along the Buckingham Palace fence where your family can admire the precision of the Queen’s Guard in their distinctive red tunics and bearskin hats. This spectacle offers a cultural immersion unlike any other – the marching bands, gleaming swords, and military pageantry create lasting memories.
The ceremony lasts about 45 minutes, perfect for young attention spans. Time your visit to see both the foot guards and cavalry units during full ceremonies (check official schedules). The Household Cavalry Museum nearby offers free viewing of stables where magnificent horses are groomed – a hidden gem many tourists miss.
Position yourselves near the Victoria Memorial for optimal views of both the palace and approaching processions. Morning ceremonies mean cooler temperatures and smaller crowds. Palace stewards maintain orderly viewing areas, ensuring children can see without jostling.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Iconic British pageantry in a family-friendly setting
- Key Experiences: Military bands, horseback processions, palace backdrop
- Ideal Time: 10:15 AM arrival for 11:00 AM ceremony; daily in summer
- Getting There: St. James’s Park (District/Circle) or Victoria (Victoria line) stations
Pro Tips: Stand on the right side of the palace gates to see the new guards arrive up close
British Museum
Travel through human history across continents under one magnificent roof. The Great Court’s stunning glass ceiling creates an awe-inspiring welcome before exploring Egyptian mummies, Greek sculptures, and Samurai armor. Free family trails transform galleries into treasure hunts – pick up themed activity backpacks at the Families Desk featuring handling objects and puzzles.
The Mitsubishi Corporation Japanese Galleries captivate with life-sized warrior displays, while the African collections feature vibrant textiles and ceremonial masks. Interactive digital screens throughout allow kids to virtually “unwrap” mummies or design Greek pottery. Special family workshops on weekends include artifact handling sessions led by expert educators.
Clear gallery maps and color-coded zones simplify navigation. Baby carriers are available to borrow, and multiple family rest areas provide quiet spaces. The ground floor pizzeria offers child-friendly meal options at reasonable prices.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Unparalleled global collections spanning 2 million years
- Key Experiences: Egyptian mummies, Rosetta Stone, Parthenon sculptures
- Ideal Time: Friday evenings for smaller crowds and special events
- Getting There: Tottenham Court Road (Central/Northern lines), 4-minute walk
Pro Tips: Enter via Montague Place entrance for faster security checks and immediate Great Court access
Sky Garden
London’s highest public garden offers breathtaking 360-degree views without the price tag of observation decks. Ascend to the 35th floor “Walkie Talkie” building where tropical plants thrive amidst skyscraper vistas. Kids love spotting landmarks like The Shard, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Tower Bridge from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Families will appreciate the familiar humidity levels in the lush garden areas.
Free timed tickets released three weeks in advance book quickly, so set calendar reminders. The open-air terrace provides stunning photo opportunities, while interactive digital telescopes identify landmarks. Evening visits reveal London’s glittering lightscape – particularly magical during winter months when the city illuminates early.
Guards monitor all viewing areas, ensuring child safety near windows. Wide pathways accommodate strollers easily. Though the cafe charges premium prices, you’re welcome to bring sealed snacks and water bottles.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Panoramic city views with unique garden setting
- Key Experiences: Landmark spotting, architectural exhibits, seasonal displays
- Ideal Time: Sunset slots for golden hour photography
- Getting There: Monument Station (District/Circle lines), 3-minute walk
Pro Tips: Book Wednesday afternoon tickets when weekend slots sell out – equally spectacular views with fewer crowds
South Bank Walk
This vibrant Thames-side promenade buzzes with free entertainment between Westminster and Tower Bridge. Street performers dazzle crowds with acrobatics and magic shows near the London Eye – arrive early for front-row views. The Queen Elizabeth Hall rooftop garden offers a peaceful oasis with wildflowers, vegetable patches, and panoramic river views perfect for family photos.
Discover the Book Market under Waterloo Bridge, where children can browse vintage comics and illustrated classics. Watch skateboarders flip tricks at the Undercroft skatepark or spot playful riverboats from Golden Jubilee Bridges. Seasonal festivals transform the area with pop-up installations, sand sculptures, and interactive art.
Wide, level pathways accommodate strollers with numerous benches for rest breaks. Clear sightlines along the river make supervision easy. Public restrooms are available at key intervals, including accessible changing facilities.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Constant energy with street performers and riverside attractions
- Key Experiences: Book markets, skatepark viewing, festival activities
- Ideal Time: Weekend afternoons for maximum street entertainment
- Getting There: Waterloo Station (Jubilee/Northern/Bakerloo lines)
Pro Tips: Start at Westminster Bridge for iconic photos with Big Ben before walking east toward Tower Bridge
Diana Memorial Playground
Inspired by Peter Pan stories, this magical playspace features a massive wooden pirate ship surrounded by sensory trails, teepees, and beach coves. Unlike tropical climate, the sand and water play areas offer refreshing coolness during London’s rare warm days. Rangers supervise all areas, ensuring safe play while encouraging imaginative adventures.
The sensory trail with musical instruments and texture panels delights younger children, while older kids navigate rope bridges and crow’s nests. Hidden nooks throughout the site invite quiet reading or pretend play. Unlike typical playgrounds, the natural landscaping incorporates trees, shrubs, and grassy mounds that blend play with nature exploration.
Entry is carefully managed with queue systems during peak times, preventing overcrowding. The on-site cafe serves healthy child-friendly meals, while shaded picnic areas allow packed lunches. Multiple accessible play structures ensure inclusive fun.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Imaginative play structures in a beautifully landscaped setting
- Key Experiences: Pirate ship climbing, sensory gardens, beach coves
- Ideal Time: Weekday mornings before 11 AM for shorter queues
- Getting There: Queensway (Central line) or Notting Hill Gate (District/Circle lines)
Pro Tips: Bring waterproof shoes – kids can’t resist the water pumps and stream features!
Museum of London
Journey through London’s evolution from Roman settlement to modern metropolis in this underrated gem. The prehistoric gallery features mammoth skeletons that dwarf curious children, while Victorian walkways transport families to Dickensian streets. Hands-on history carts stationed throughout invite touching replica artifacts – try on Roman helmets or examine medieval pottery.
The Fire! exhibition recreates the Great Fire of 1666 through immersive projections and soundscapes. Children operate replica fire pumps and “escape” the flames in interactive displays. Free family workshops on weekends include archaeological digs and costume design sessions that bring history alive.
Quieter than central museums, it offers relaxed exploration. The spacious galleries allow stroller navigation, and family rest areas provide coloring stations. Barbican underground connections make access easy regardless of weather.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Engaging chronological journey through London’s history
- Key Experiences: Great Fire simulation, Roman artifacts, Victorian streets
- Ideal Time: Afternoons when school groups depart
- Getting There: Barbican (Circle/Hammersmith & City/Metropolitan lines)
Pro Tips: Download the “Streetmuseum” app beforehand for augmented reality historical views around London
Regent’s Park
Beyond the famous zoo lies London’s most elegant green space with dedicated play areas and stunning rose gardens. The Boating Lake offers affordable pedalos, while the Broad Walk’s wide avenue invites family bike rides past ornate fountains. Families will appreciate the cooler temperatures under centuries-old shade trees during summer months.
Queen Mary’s Gardens showcase over 12,000 roses with fragrant pathways perfect for sensory exploration. The recently renovated Gloucester Gate playground features inclusive equipment suitable for all abilities, including wheelchair-accessible roundabouts and sensory panels. Look for free outdoor theater performances during summer months on the park’s performance lawns.
Multiple cafes offer ice cream stops, while ample picnic areas near playgrounds allow supervision during meals. Park wardens regularly patrol, and clear signage helps navigation between attractions.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Beautiful floral displays combined with recreational facilities
- Key Experiences: Rose gardens, pedal boating, summer theater
- Ideal Time: June for peak rose blooms; summer evenings for performances
- Getting There: Regent’s Park (Bakerloo line) or Camden Town (Northern line)
Pro Tips: Enter through Chester Gate for quickest access to both playgrounds and rose gardens
Tate Modern
Contemporary art becomes accessible family fun in this converted power station. The Turbine Hall’s monumental installations often invite physical interaction – walk through fog sculptures or bounce on responsive floors. Free family trails transform gallery visits into discovery games, with activity cards encouraging close looking and creative responses.
The Viewing Level on floor 10 offers panoramic Thames vistas with spotting scopes identifying landmarks. On weekends, drop-in workshops in the Learning Studio let families create collaborative artworks inspired by current exhibitions. The Starr Cinema hosts free family film screenings of art-inspired animations during school holidays.
Wide corridors and ramps accommodate strollers easily. Family rest areas provide coloring materials and books. The Espresso Bar offers affordable kid-friendly snacks with river views.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Innovative approach to making modern art engaging for kids
- Key Experiences: Turbine Hall installations, viewing platform, family workshops
- Ideal Time: Sunday mornings for quiet gallery exploration
- Getting There: Southwark (Jubilee line) or Blackfriars (District/Circle lines)
Pro Tips: Borrow sensory backpacks containing tactile objects and visual aids to enhance gallery experience
Horniman Museum and Gardens
This quirky South London gem combines an acclaimed aquarium with extensive gardens and anthropological collections. The Music Gallery invites hands-on experimentation with global instruments – let kids play African drums or Indonesian gamelan. The Natural History gallery’s overstuffed “walrus celebrity” sparks conversations about conservation.
Outdoors, the Animal Walk introduces alpacas, rabbits, and guinea pigs in spacious enclosures. The Nature Trail winds through 16 acres of woodlands with sensory plants and bug hotels. The sunflower-covered bandstand hosts free family concerts during summer weekends.
On-site facilities include baby-changing rooms and microwaves for warming bottles. The extensive gardens provide safe exploration space, while indoor exhibits offer rainy-day refuge. Step-free access throughout ensures accessibility.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Eclectic collections with excellent hands-on exhibits
- Key Experiences: Aquarium, musical instrument gallery, animal petting
- Ideal Time: Weekends for full animal walk access and events
- Getting There: Forest Hill station (Overground), 10-minute walk
Pro Tips: Visit the beehives near the conservatory at 2 PM when keepers conduct hive inspections
Grant Museum of Zoology
Step into a Victorian cabinet of curiosities featuring 68,000 zoological specimens, including extinct creatures like the dodo and quagga. Kids marvel at the jarred “mermaid” (a monkey-fish hybrid created by sailors) and the eerie Micrarium – a glowing display of microscopic organisms. Unlike larger museums, the intimate scale allows close examination without crowds.
Free family activity packs include magnifying glasses and specimen identification games. Special “Object Handling” sessions on weekends let children touch fossils, skeletons, and preserved specimens with expert guidance. The museum’s manageable size makes it perfect for shorter attention spans.
Clear labeling and low display cases ensure children can view specimens independently. Staff provide engaging explanations tailored to young visitors. Located within University College London, it offers easy access to other Bloomsbury attractions.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Rare biological specimens in an intimate setting
- Key Experiences: Extinct animal displays, microscope stations, skeleton collection
- Ideal Time: Afternoons when university students are less present
- Getting There: Euston Square (Circle/Hammersmith & City/Metropolitan lines)
Pro Tips: Ask staff about the “Museum Mystery” game sheets that turn specimen viewing into detective work
Greenwich Park
Combine stunning city views with maritime history in this Royal Park overlooking the Thames. The prime meridian line offers photo opportunities with one foot in each hemisphere – a geography lesson made tangible. Deer herds roam the park’s wooded areas, often visible during early morning visits.
The recently renovated playground features nautical-themed equipment, including a giant shipwreck climbing frame. The Rose Garden provides fragrant pathways perfect for sensory exploration. Free astronomy sessions at the Peter Harrison Planetarium courtyard introduce constellations through powerful telescopes.
Gentle slopes make navigation manageable with strollers. Multiple refreshment kiosks offer ice creams and drinks. Park rangers conduct free nature walks focusing on local ecology during weekends.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: UNESCO World Heritage site with panoramic London views
- Key Experiences: Meridian line, deer spotting, planetarium courtyard
- Ideal Time: Early morning for deer sightings; clear evenings for stargazing
- Getting There: Cutty Sark DLR station or Greenwich Pier riverboat
Pro Tips: Bring a ball for impromptu cricket matches on the park’s famous Oval Lawn
Victoria and Albert Museum
The world’s leading museum of art and design captivates families with its stunning Cast Courts featuring towering replicas of Michelangelo’s David and Trajan’s Column. The interactive Design Gallery lets kids build virtual chairs and create digital patterns – Creative families will particularly enjoy these hands-on stations.
Free family trails explore themes like dragons or jewels through the collections. The courtyard fountain provides cooling fun during warm days, while the John Madejski Garden offers peaceful retreats. Weekend drop-in workshops teach traditional crafts like printmaking and textile design.
Borrow explorer backpacks containing magnifiers, sketchbooks, and themed activities. Family rest areas include storytelling corners. The garden cafe offers high chairs and kid-friendly meal options.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Spectacular architectural reproductions and hands-on design studios
- Key Experiences: Cast Courts, digital design stations, jewelry gallery
- Ideal Time: Friday evenings for smaller crowds and special events
- Getting There: South Kensington (District/Circle/Piccadilly lines)
Pro Tips: Head to Room 64a to see miniature Renaissance masterpieces through magnifying viewers
Covent Garden Piazza
This vibrant square buzzes with world-class street performers from jugglers to living statues. Arrive early for front-row views of scheduled acts – children often get invited onstage for participation. The Apple Market’s craft stalls showcase handmade toys perfect for souvenirs, while Neal’s Yard dazzles with rainbow-colored buildings ideal for family photos.
Watch skilled artisans demonstrate glassblowing at the London Glassblowing Workshop (viewable from the street). The Transport Museum’s outdoor exhibits feature vintage buses kids can explore without admission fees. Free family workshops occur seasonally in the market building, teaching circus skills or puppet-making.
Pedestrianized areas allow safe exploration, while raised seating provides viewing perches. Public restrooms include family facilities. Nearby Seven Dials offers quieter lanes with toy shops and sweet stores.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Continuous entertainment with scheduled street performances
- Key Experiences: Craft markets, living statues, vintage transport displays
- Ideal Time: Weekday afternoons for varied performers without weekend crowds
- Getting There: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line) or Leicester Square (Northern/Piccadilly lines)
Pro Tips: Check the official street performance schedule online for kid-friendly acts like magic shows
National Gallery
Introduce children to masterpiece paintings through engaging family programs. Free storytelling sessions bring artworks to life with dramatic retellings of mythological scenes. The Art Detective trails transform gallery exploration into clue-solving adventures – pick up activity packs at the Sainsbury Wing entrance.
Interactive digital displays allow kids to “enter” paintings or create digital collages inspired by collections. Free family workshops on weekends include portrait sketching sessions and art-themed treasure hunts. The Sunley Room often features family-friendly exhibitions with hands-on elements.
Borrow toddler carriers and folding stools at information desks. Family rest areas provide coloring materials related to current exhibits. The Espresso Bar offers affordable snacks overlooking Trafalgar Square.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: World-class art made accessible through family programming
- Key Experiences: Interactive displays, storytelling sessions, art trails
- Ideal Time: 10 AM opening for quiet viewing; family events on Sundays
- Getting There: Charing Cross (Bakerloo/Northern lines) or Leicester Square (Northern/Piccadilly lines)
Pro Tips: Start in Room 34 with Van Gogh’s Sunflowers – its vibrant colors immediately capture children’s attention
Hampstead Heath
Escape urban bustle in this sprawling woodland with panoramic city views from Parliament Hill. Kids scramble over ancient oak roots and discover hidden ponds teeming with newts and frogs. The designated swimming ponds offer safe, lifeguarded dips during summer months (separate family sessions available).
Adventure playgrounds feature zip lines and treehouses constructed from natural materials. The free Golders Hill Park zoo houses exotic birds and deer within the heath. Free guided “Safari in the City” walks teach children urban ecology through pond dipping and bug hunting.
Well-maintained trails accommodate sturdy strollers. Multiple refreshment kiosks provide picnic supplies. Park keepers patrol regularly, and clear maps prevent getting lost in wooded areas.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Wild natural landscapes with central London views
- Key Experiences: Parliament Hill vistas, woodland playgrounds, pond dipping
- Ideal Time: Summer for swimming; autumn for spectacular foliage
- Getting There: Hampstead Heath Overground station or Gospel Oak station
Pro Tips: Bring binoculars for birdwatching – over 180 species have been recorded here
Museum of London Docklands
Explore London’s maritime past through interactive exhibits in a historic sugar warehouse. Kids hoist cargo in the Sailortown gallery, navigate ships in simulators, and uncover secrets in the “Mudlarks” children’s gallery designed like archaeological dig sites. Families will connect with the East India Company galleries showcasing Asian trade routes.
Free family workshops include knot-tying sessions and sailor song singalongs. The “London, Sugar & Slavery” exhibition presents complex history through age-appropriate displays. Waterside picnic areas offer views of modern docks with massive container ships.
Elevators provide step-free access throughout. Family rest areas include nursing spaces. The museum’s location in Canary Wharf provides striking architectural contrasts between old and new.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Hands-on exploration of London’s port history
- Key Experiences: Ship simulators, cargo handling exhibits, Mudlarks gallery
- Ideal Time: Weekday afternoons when nearby offices are busy
- Getting There: West India Quay DLR station, step-free access
Pro Tips: Time your visit with high tide for the best views of dock activity from the museum windows
British Library Treasures Gallery
Discover literary wonders from Magna Carta manuscripts to handwritten Beatles lyrics in this free exhibition. Kids marvel at Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks and ancient illuminated texts like the Lindisfarne Gospels. Interactive digital tables allow “virtual page-turning” of fragile texts too precious for handling.
Free family trails transform the gallery into literary scavenger hunts. The Philatelic Exhibition showcases rare stamps with magnifying glasses for close examination. Regular “Behind the Scenes” tours reveal conservation labs where experts preserve historical documents.
Quiet study areas provide coloring stations when children need downtime. The cafe offers children’s lunch boxes and high chairs. Conveniently located near St. Pancras International, it’s perfect for arrival/departure days.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Priceless literary artifacts in an accessible setting
- Key Experiences: Magna Carta, da Vinci notebooks, stamp collection
- Ideal Time: Mornings during school term for quiet contemplation
- Getting There: King’s Cross St. Pancras (Circle/Hammersmith & City/Metropolitan/Northern/Piccadilly/Victoria lines)
Pro Tips: Borrow “treasure spotter” cards at reception that highlight child-friendly exhibits with discussion prompts
Bushy Park
This lesser-known royal park offers serene landscapes with roaming deer herds and the stunning Diana Fountain. Families will appreciate the park’s tranquility compared to central London spots. The Woodland Gardens feature sensory trails with aromatic plants, while the Water Gardens showcase ornamental ponds with diverse waterfowl.
Multiple playgrounds cater to different ages, including accessible equipment. The Pheasantry Welcome Centre offers free nature activity packs with bug-collecting kits and bird identification charts. Free guided “deer walks” during rutting season (September-October) provide safe viewing opportunities of impressive stags.
Flat, wide paths accommodate strollers and bikes. Refreshment kiosks serve ice creams and drinks. Park rangers maintain visible presence, especially near deer herds.
Key Highlights:
- Why Visit: Peaceful wildlife encounters away from tourist crowds
- Key Experiences: Deer herds, ornamental gardens, woodland trails
- Ideal Time: Autumn for rutting season; spring for bluebell displays
- Getting There: Teddington or Hampton Wick rail stations, both 10-minute walks
Pro Tips: Visit the Upper Lodge Water Gardens – the hidden Italianate garden rarely appears on tourist maps
