Fact sheet, Summer Term 2026 City Gardens and Greenhouses
When
Tuesdays, 28 April to 30 June, 10am-5pm
Where
Various locations, see below.
Who
Sara Lee Roberts & Melissa Scott-Miller
About
London's many parks and public gardens effectively make up the world's largest urban forest, with over 8 million trees. None are too small to be inspiring.
Throughout this course students will immerse themselves in the centre of our subject, looking at the exquisite plants in the Victorian Greenhouses in Kew Gardens, at the views from atop Primrose Hill, at the lakes and gardens in Regent’s Park and other smaller inner-city parks. Students will discover how drawing outside heightens our senses, sharpens our focus, and resets our approach to capturing a sense of place.
Looking closely at the rhythms, shapes, and characters of a composed parkland where structure and design creates order, as well as the wild areas where nature arranges itself, students will challenge their approach to drawing each week.
In wet weather we will have access to conservatories, greenhouses and indoor gardens.
Location & timetable
Occasionally locations/meeting points may need to change so please check your emails the night before classes are due to take place and bring your mobile phone with you on the day so that the administrator can contact you if need be. It is also very important that you arrive punctually (in time for the class to begin at 10am) for each class as the class will usually move away from the meeting point quite quickly at the beginning of the day.
Week 1 — 28 April
Where: Please meet at Kew Gardens outside the Victoria Gate, TW9 3AB. The class will regroup at 12 :30 and 4pm at the Victoria Plaza Cafe.
When: 10am
Nearest station: Kew Gardens
Week 2 — 5 May
Where: The Japanese Garden Regents Park.
Please meet at Regents Bar and Kitchen, The Regent's Park, Inner Circle, London NW1 4NU. The class will regroup at the same location at 12:30 and 4pm.
When: 10am
Nearest station: Regent's Park
Week 3 — 12 May
Where: London Zoo. Please meet outside the main entrance, Outer Circle , London NW1 4RY. We will regroup outside the Terrasse Restaurant at 12:30 and 4pm.
When: 10am
Nearest station: Regent's Park
Week 4 — 19 May
Where: The Italian Gardens, Hyde Park. Meet outside the Italian Gardens Cafe Kensington Gardens, Lancaster Gate, London W2 2SD. We will regroup again at 4pm.
When: 10am
Nearest station: Paddington
Week 5 — 26 May
Where: The St John Lodge Garden, Regents Park. Please meet at Regents Bar and Kitchen. We will regroup at 12:30 and 4pm in the St John Lodge Garden, Inner Cir, London NW1 4NR .
When: 10am
Nearest station: Regent's Park
Week 6 — 2 June
Where: Holland Park. Please meet outside the cafe in the park.
When: 10am
Nearest station: Holland Park
Week 7 — 9 June
Where: The Garden Museum and Archbishops Park. Please meet at the entrance of the Garden Museum.
When: 10am
Nearest station: Vauxhall
Week 8 — 16 June
Where: Rembrandt Gardens, Maida Vale.
Please meet outside Warwick Avenue tube station.
When: 10am
Week 9 — 23 June
Where: Fulham Palace Park (Bishop’s Park) and the Walled Garden. Please meet at Fulham Palace Café.
When: 10am
Nearest station: Putney Bridge
Week 10 — 30 June
Where: Battersea Park. Please meet at the Pear Tree Café.
When: 10am
Nearest station: Battersea Power Station
Materials
Please ensure you only bring materials you will need and are able to carry comfortably. If you are working out and about, some days can involve a lot of walking so please dress appropriately bringing waterproofs and an umbrella or sun cream depending on the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Please carry a bottle of water. Drawing board and clips, paper and/or sketchbooks (A3 size recommended), pencils and erasers, conté, brush pen, ink, watercolour and pastel.
These are suggestions, please bring materials that you would like to try. We also strongly recommend that you bring a stool. You can buy collapsible ones in art shops, fish tackle shops or online for around £10.
What to expect
There will be a one-hour lunch break generally between 1-2pm each day and regular breaks throughout the day.
Contact
If you are unable to attend a class or know that you will be delayed, please email admin@royaldrawingschool.org or call 020 7613 8568 (option 1) in as far advance as possible.