Author: Jubilee Gardens Trust

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75 Years On: Jubilee Gardens and the Festival of Britain

On 1 May 1951 the Festival of Britain opened to the public – a bold, hopeful moment for a country rebuilding after the Second World War. Today, as we mark its 75th anniversary, it’s worth remembering that Jubilee Gardens stood right at the heart of that story.

Credit: All images – Southbank Centre Archives

This much-loved green space was once home to the Festival’s most iconic structure: the vast Dome of Discovery, and was overshadowed by the striking Skylon, which seemed to float above the South Bank skyline. Together they symbolised innovation and a belief in a brighter future. Millions of people came here to experience new ideas in science, design and culture – encountering a transformed London after the bombing and deprivations of WWII.

But there’s a challenge at the heart of this story. Unlike the nearby Royal Festival Hall, which still stands today, the Dome and Skylon were dismantled soon after the Festival closed. Almost nothing physical remains. What was once a centrepiece of national optimism has largely disappeared from view.

That’s what makes Jubilee Gardens so special. The current lawns and trees hide a layered history that reflect London’s ever-changing, richly woven story of constant reinvention. This site has evolved from marshland and working wharves to the post-war Festival of Britain, a short-lived air terminal, decades as a GLC car park, and later open parkland that became a space for public gathering and protest, before becoming the much-loved Gardens we enjoy today. Yet without visible reminders, it’s easy for this fascinating past to be forgotten.

This anniversary is a chance to look again. As you sit, play or pass through the Gardens, you are standing on the very ground where one of Britain’s most ambitious cultural moments unfolded. It’s a story of reinvention, imagination and resilience – and it’s still part of the landscape, even if you have to look a little closer to see it. A place where each new season brings fresh growth, and where the spirit of regeneration that shaped the South Bank continues to unfold.

Over the coming months, Jubilee Gardens Trust is hoping to share more of this history, helping bring these hidden stories back into view for everyone.

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How visitors used Jubilee Gardens this summer

Jubilee Gardens new visitor data insights

Our latest report provided by Cross River Partnership on behalf of South Bank BID offers a detailed picture of how people moved through Jubilee Gardens between July and September 2025. Sensors at the Gardens’ two main entrances – the north entrance closest to Hungerford Bridge and the south entrance next to the London Eye – recorded average daily pedestrian counts of around 9,400 each, showing consistently high levels of activity throughout the summer.

This matches our broader understanding of how people arrive in the Gardens: of the 5.5 million visitors each year, we estimate that around 60% enter from the riverside walkway and 40% from Belvedere Road. In previous years, the balance was weighted much more heavily towards the riverside, but the opening of new pedestrian routes through Southbank Place has made the Belvedere Road entrance significantly more accessible and appealing. Even so, the riverside route continues to deliver very strong footfall.

Across the two riverside entrances monitored for this report, July and August were the busiest months, supported by warm weather and school holidays, while September was naturally quieter. Later in the season, the north entrance became notably busier, suggesting it is increasingly used as an alternative route during congestion around the London Eye.

Daily patterns also stand out: the south entrance shows clear lunchtime peaks as office workers use the Gardens to relax, while the north entrance sees stronger late-afternoon movement as people pass between Hungerford Bridge, the riverfront and nearby attractions.

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Planting for Pollinators: Park Plaza Volunteers at Jubilee Gardens

On 5 November, Jubilee Gardens welcomed a team of eight volunteers from Park Plaza for a dedicated day of planting as part of their ongoing corporate sponsorship of the Gardens. The team worked tirelessly throughout the day, planting over 1,000 bulbs. These included daffodils and tulips, chosen not only for the burst of springtime colour they will bring, but also for their value as an early nectar source for bees and other pollinators emerging after winter. The volunteers also planted winter-flowering annuals to ensure the Garden remains bright and welcoming during the colder months.

This activity builds on Park Plaza’s generous support earlier in the year, when their sponsorship enabled us to plant a new holly hedge, now growing strongly and providing important habitats right through the centre of the Gardens.

Daniel Pedreschi, Executive Vice President Operations UK, said:

“At Park Plaza, we believe in creating meaningful connections beyond our hotels. Supporting Jubilee Gardens allows us to give back to the local community and help preserve a space that brings joy to so many. We’re proud to see our team’s efforts making a real difference.”

Ted Inman, Chair of the Jubilee Gardens Trust, said:
“We are extremely grateful for Park Plaza’s continued support for Jubilee Gardens. Their sponsorship of the new holly hedge has already made a visible difference, and we were delighted to welcome their volunteers to the Gardens. The team’s hard work and commitment made a significant impact in just one day, and we value this ongoing relationship enormously.”

The Jubilee Gardens Trust looks forward to continuing to work closely with Park Plaza as partners in enhancing and protecting this much-loved green space on the South Bank.

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Improving Visitor Experience: New Signage for Jubilee Gardens

New signage plans for Jubilee Gardens

We’re updating the signs and information panels across Jubilee Gardens to make them clearer, more accessible and more informative for everyone who visits. The current signs were installed back in 2012 and, after more than a decade of service, are showing their age.

What’s changing

We’ll shortly be applying for advertising consent – the formal planning process for signage – for a series of improvements across the site. The plans include new totem signs at all the Gardens’ entrances to welcome visitors, explain how the space can be used, and include tactile and braille maps for visitors with visual impairments. These will replace the smaller signs currently on the grass.

At the two riverside entrances, new information panels will feature video screens sharing the history of the site and the Trust’s role in caring for it. These and additional panels near the playground will also tell more of the Gardens’ story, especially important as we approach the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain in 2026.

The new signage will include details about the tree species in the Gardens, information about the work of the Jubilee Gardens Trust, and guidance to help visitors enjoy, respect and donate to support the Gardens.

Sharing our key messages

Following feedback and experiences during the pandemic, the updated signage will make key site rules easier to understand – such as the Gardens’ no-alcohol policy, which helps keep the space safe, welcoming and family-friendly.

Our 2024 visitor research showed that while most people love Jubilee Gardens, many aren’t aware that it’s managed by a local charity rather than the council. The new signs will help highlight the role of the Jubilee Gardens Trust and how people can get involved or support our work.

Designed with local input

The proposals have been developed by our Communications and Fundraising Committee, ensuring input from trustees appointed by local residents and businesses, as well as external experts. We’ve been in touch with relevant Lambeth officers who confirmed our preference for Legible London style totems at the entrances.

And our proposals were reviewed by Tom Lister of People Friendly Ltd, accessibility consultant to the 2012 re-landscaping project, who provided specialist advice on colour contrast, text size, and layout – helping to ensure the new signage is as legible and inclusive as possible.

We’ll keep you updated as our new signage and exhibition project progresses. Sign up to our quarterly newsletter to be the first to hear the news.

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Jubilee Gardens achieves Green Flag Award for fifth year running

Jubilee Gardens celebrates Green Flag Award 2025 win

Jubilee Gardens on London’s South Bank has once again been recognised as one of the country’s best parks, after receiving the coveted Green Flag Award for the fifth year in a row.

The international quality mark for parks and green spaces celebrates the very best public spaces in the UK and around the world. This recognition reflects the continued hard work and dedication of everyone involved in caring for Jubilee Gardens – from the Jubilee Gardens Trust, the local charity responsible for the site, to the management and maintenance teams who keep it looking its best every day.

Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, said:

“Congratulations to everyone involved in Jubilee Gardens who have worked tirelessly to ensure that it achieves the high standards required for the Green Flag Award.

“Quality parks and green spaces like Jubilee Gardens make the country a healthier place to live and work, and a stronger place to invest.

“Crucially, Jubilee Gardens is a vital green space for communities on London’s South Bank to enjoy nature, and during the ongoing cost of living crisis it remains a free and safe place for families to socialise – offering real physical and mental health benefits.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark for quality across the UK and internationally.

Jubilee Gardens Trust is proud to receive this accolade for the fifth consecutive year – a reflection of the ongoing commitment to keep this much-loved green space beautiful, safe and welcoming for all.

A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available here. Find out about the history of Jubilee Gardens and the Jubilee Gardens Trust which manages the space on London’s South Bank.

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