Thursday lunchtime I joined the "women wot lunch" from work and visited Chelsea Physic Garden in London. The gardens were founded by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries in 1673 and is very much hidden away in Chelsea. In fact, until F suggested going there I have to admit that I hadn't heard of it! Entry price could be considered a bit steep, but luckily F had found some vouchers in a local pub that gave each of us a £2 discount.
Apparently the gardens used not to be open to the public, but in 1983 a charity took over the running of the gardens and opened them to the public. Now it really is an oasis of calm in the middle of a busy city. If it weren't for the aeroplanes going overhead on their way to Heathrow you wouldn't even think you were near London.
Our group of ladies enjoyed lunch in the cafe before dodging the rain showers and wandering round the garden. The food in the cafe was delicious and very obviously homemade on the premises. I enjoyed a wonderful cheese platter whilst others had a fantastic pasta dish. There was also an amazing array of fattening puddings and cakes. One colleague was even able to enjoy some homemade lavender scones. And we were able to wash it all down with a glass of Pinot Grigio, paid for by our boss!
The gardens themselves were a wonderful mix of plants, shrubs and trees from around the world. Of particular interest to me were the various fruit and vegetables there were being grown. Unfortunately we didn't get long enough in the gardens before having to head back to the office. But now I know where they are I'll certainly be looking to visit again in my lunch break.
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