Lost Gardens of London

“This appreciation of gardens lost and the vital role they played is a rallying call to protect what might otherwise be lost in the future.”—Jodie Jones, House & Gardens“This examination of London’s lost gardens is both fascinating and moving. Superb image research … supports this new work from gardening’s answer to Peter Ackroyd.”—English Garden“In this exceptionally well-illustrated book … [Longstaffe-Gowan] reprises the role of connoisseur of garden curiosities.”—Tim Richardson, Literary ReviewIncluded in The Spectator’s “The Year’s Best Gardening Books,” 2024“Enjoy the beautiful illustrations, watercolours, engravings and photographs of gardens ranging from the grand to the humble, the literary to the aristocratic, those dedicated to parties and others to contemplation. Urban jewels each one.”—Phoebe Frangoul, Elle Decoration, “Best Books to Gift or Keep, Christmas 2024”“Lost they may be, but through this exhibition and book of the same name, this curious assortment of gardens lives on.”—Pamela Buxton, The Riba Journal“It is the Longstaffe-Gowan’s skill at weaving in a multiplicity of contemporary references and the rich collection of rarely-seen images which make this book an essential addition to the shelf of anyone with an interest in the topography of London.”—​London Topographical Society Newsletter“A new pair of secateurs has been crossed off my Christmas present list for the first time in decades in favour of Todd Longstaffe-Gowan’s book Lost Gardens of London.”—London Landscapes“A superb read from a gifted and passionate historian.”—Historic Houses Association“A fertile seedbed of visual information that illuminates a thoroughly entertaining, page-turning horticultural and social narrative. It proves—to gardeners at least—that the past is not a foreign country. They didn’t do things so very differently there.”—The Oldie“Longstaffe-Gowan has an eye for the bigger picture as well as a love for choice anecdotes.”—Peter Watts, World of Interiors

Todd Longstaffe-Gowan is a landscape architect with an international practice based in London. He is gardens adviser to Historic Royal Palaces, lecturer at New York University (London), president of the London Gardens Trust, editor of the London Gardener, and author of several books, including The London Town Garden (Yale, 2001) and The London Square (Yale, 2012).