Traditional Garden Design in London

Although there is no true definition of a ‘Classical’ or ‘Traditional’ garden there are some common features of design that are often used. Flower beds and borders, hedges and lawns are all common features in a traditional garden design. Planting is often far more diverse than in contemporary or modern garden design.

Traditional gardens can be subdivided into many categories such as romantic, formal, cottage, French or Mediterranean.

Some traditional gardens are formal in style and use strong symmetry in the layout of paths, borders and beds. Other traditional or classical styles such at Cottage gardens, have more informality and often use very little symmetry in the layout.

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What are the characteristics and features of Traditional or Classical Garden Design:

It is not easy to set out standard characteristics of a traditional style of garden as this is really an umbrella phrase that covers everything from formal English, French or Italian styles, to relaxed cottage, woodland or wild gardens. However some of the common characteristics might be:

Emphasis on plants and planting
Use of the natural features of the landscape such as trees, slopes, ponds and hedges
Frequent use of ornamental features, such as elaborate pots, planters and sculpture
A strong feeling of symmetry in formal styles of garden
Strong use of traditional materials such as brick and natural stone
A tendency to have softer, more blurred edges
Features such as lawns, planted beds and borders and shrubberies.

What style of property does a traditional garden design best work with?

The design of a traditional garden is often dictated by the style of the property to which it is attached, city or town house, rural cottage or grand country property.

If a property is in a conservation area the garden design may need to comply with local planning regulations and need planning permission. Often the garden design will need to use materials and finishes which are in keeping with the period of the property.

What are the advantages of traditional gardens over contemporary gardens?

One of the considerations you may want to make when deciding on the design of your garden will be the pros and cons of certain specific styles.

The advantages of garden designs in a traditional style:

A traditional style can be very fluid and adaptable and can accommodate many features and challenges found in your garden. It may be that the site is a difficult shape, sloping, long, narrow, short or triangular. It could be that the garden is damp and shaded, exposed and windy or has fixed features that can’t be changed such as ponds, walls and steps. A traditional garden style can adapt to many restrictions or challenges.
Adaptable to changing needs: As the occupants of the property grow, age and have changing needs, so the garden can be changed. Traditional gardens can allow many adaptations without the need for substantial landscaping changes.
Ageing and maturing: Trees, shrubs and hedges are living structures that grow and change over the years. A well-planned traditional garden will allow for such natural changes.

The disadvantages of traditional style garden designs:

Although very adaptable, traditional garden designs can have some drawbacks.

Maintenance and care: herbaceous perennials, shrubs, lawns and trees all need care and attention. If they are left, they can become overgrown, wild and unruly or simply deteriorate and die.
Time & money: Either you or a gardener will need to spend time maintaining the garden which will require an investment in time or money.

However, in reality, a well-planned traditional garden will take into account all of your needs and restrictions and be a wonderful space to relax and enjoy.

Would you like to discuss designing a traditional garden for you home?

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Classic & Traditional garden designs completed for clients.

What clients say about their experience and their new garden

Sarah transformed our neglected and overgrown garden into a vision from a glitzy magazine

Sarah transformed our neglected and overgrown garden into a vision from a glitzy magazine. She is very knowledgeable about planning issues and tenaciously dealt with the Council, chasing them and convincing them on the proposed design and in the end obtaining the planning permission for exactly what we wanted.

Sarah recommended interesting and durable materials like composite wood for the decking and resin for the driveway. The contractor we chose upon her recommendation was also excellent. With Sarah's guidance we selected a great variety of plants for the garden. She planted them herself and all of the plants are thriving 2 months after planting.

We are extremely happy with the final result - we got a designer urban garden with plenty of entertainment and relaxation space and a beautiful selection of plants. Can't recommend Sarah enough.

Anna, Hampstead

North London Garden Designer

2020-05-18T13:29:55+00:00

Anna, Hampstead

Sarah transformed our neglected and overgrown garden into a vision from a glitzy magazine. She is very knowledgeable about planning issues and tenaciously dealt with the Council, chasing them and convincing them on the proposed design and in the end obtaining the planning permission for exactly what we wanted. Sarah recommended interesting and durable materials like composite wood for the decking and resin for the driveway. The contractor we chose upon her recommendation was also excellent. With Sarah's guidance we selected a great variety of plants for the garden. She planted them herself and all of the plants are thriving 2 months after planting. We are extremely happy with the final result - we got a designer urban garden with plenty of entertainment and relaxation space and a beautiful selection of plants. Can't recommend Sarah enough.

http://hampsteadgardendesign.com/testimonials/sarah-transformed-our-neglected-and-overgrown-garden-into-a-vision-from-a-glitzy-magazine/

Absolutely delighted with my beautiful garden, it’s a total joy!

Absolutely delighted with my beautiful garden, it's a total joy! Sarah of Hampstead Garden Design was wonderful from the word go! Throughout the design and build process, she was supportive and approachable. She was happy to take on board requests from me as the client and guided the process forward, advising the best way to achieve the finished result. The team of landscapers she brought in were also professional and a pleasure to have working in the garden. I have no hesitation in recommending Sarah and have done so already, with her taking on board what I am sure will be another beautiful garden by Hampstead Garden Design.

Karen, Hertfordshire

North London Garden Designer

2020-06-02T17:30:37+00:00

Karen, Hertfordshire

http://hampsteadgardendesign.com/testimonials/absolutely-delighted-with-my-beautiful-garden-its-a-total-joy/

Sarah has given me the most beautiful garden

Sarah has given me the most beautiful garden. She listened to my ideas and stretched them even further. I could never have got here without her. Her landscaping was inspired and her planting has provided me with a year round of delight. I would thoroughly recommend her.

Lizzie Groper

North London Garden Designer

2019-08-15T10:23:18+00:00

Lizzie Groper

http://hampsteadgardendesign.com/testimonials/sarah-has-given-me-the-most-beautiful-garden/

In my study overlooking my wonderful new garden

I am writing this in my study overlooking my wonderful new garden From the first meeting to the final work I could not have been happier She created a garden for us that 18 months on looks brilliant even at this time of the year She was patient with us as myself and my wife sometimes had different ideas my wife usually won but the end result is that we have a garden and new patio we can enjoy and one that our grandchildren can also play in. Thank you Sarah.

Jonathan Hyman

North London Garden Designer

2019-08-15T10:27:07+00:00

Jonathan Hyman

http://hampsteadgardendesign.com/testimonials/in-my-study-overlooking-my-wonderful-new-garden/

Sarah was a delight to work with

Sarah of Hampstead Garden Design was a delight to work with, she designed a wonderful patio, front driveway and garden planting scheme for us. Sarah understood our brief completely and we are delighted with the finished results. We consider our garden to be another room in our house and are deriving so much pleasure from it. We would definitely recommend Hampstead Garden Design

Michelle, Mill Hill

North London Garden Designer

2019-08-21T17:25:09+00:00

Michelle, Mill Hill

http://hampsteadgardendesign.com/testimonials/sarah-was-a-delight-to-work-with/

The result is beautiful and easy to maintain

Sarah understood exactly how I wanted to transform my garden and the result is beautiful and easy to maintain. She is very efficient and extremely pleasant to work with.

Vivien, Hampstead

North London Garden Designer

2019-08-21T18:53:53+00:00

Vivien, Hampstead

Sarah understood exactly how I wanted to transform my garden and the result is beautiful and easy to maintain. She is very efficient and extremely pleasant to work with.

http://hampsteadgardendesign.com/testimonials/the-result-is-beautiful-and-easy-to-maintain/

I am delighted with the finished garden – it looks just like the original design

I interviewed four landscape garden designers I decided to appoint Sarah Oxby at Hampstead Garden Design. She stood out as well prepared, professional, very friendly and showed me a lovely portfolio of her work to date. I found her to be very helpful throughout the process, dealing with the landscapers, planning permissions and the design of the garden through to appropriate flowers. I am delighted with the finished garden – it looks just like the original design and I now have a lovely outlook and a relaxing and very pretty place to sit on warm summer evenings.

I would highly recommend her service.

Estelle, Hampstead Garden Suburb

North London Garden Designer

2019-08-21T18:56:03+00:00

Estelle, Hampstead Garden Suburb

http://hampsteadgardendesign.com/testimonials/i-am-delighted-with-the-finished-garden-it-looks-just-like-the-original-design/

Sarah was a pleasure to work with

From the outset, Sarah was a great listener and transferred my vision to a set of plans that my builders found easy to follow. She worked hard to source products that matched my requirements and always went the extra mile to deliver an excellent and cost effective service. Sarah was a pleasure to work with and I am happy to recommend her work.

Amanda, Golders Green

North London Garden Designer

2019-08-21T19:00:08+00:00

Amanda, Golders Green

http://hampsteadgardendesign.com/testimonials/sarah-was-a-pleasure-to-work-with/

It has greatly enhanced our home

We were recommended to Sarah by our architect and found her excellent in every way. It was great to have the garden designed so beautifully and it has greatly enhanced our home. All went very smoothly and it was a pleasure to deal with her.

David and Helen, Hampstead Garden Suburb

North London Garden Designer

2019-08-21T19:01:36+00:00

David and Helen, Hampstead Garden Suburb

http://hampsteadgardendesign.com/testimonials/it-has-greatly-enhanced-our-home/

Did an absolutely fabulous job

Sarah of Hampstead Garden Design did an ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS job in the design and implementation of my late sister's house in Hampstead, London NW 3. I rate the work performed as 200 out of a total of 100!

Chiew Chong

North London Garden Designer

2019-08-15T10:14:06+00:00

Chiew Chong

http://hampsteadgardendesign.com/testimonials/hampstead-garden-design-did-an-absolutely-fabulous-job/

‘The result was just what we wanted’ ‘Within our budget’

We didn’t want to wait for years of our own trial and error. A friend recommended Sarah and using her to design and plant our new gardens has been a real pleasure. She listened to our wants and dislikes, surveyed the new gardens carefully to take account of changes of level, supplied plans we could understand, noted our responses to her proposals, adapted them to what we wanted and oversaw the complete and imaginative redesign and planting of the new gardens.

Robert and Lynette, North Finchley

North London Garden Designer

2019-08-21T19:04:24+00:00

Robert and Lynette, North Finchley

http://hampsteadgardendesign.com/testimonials/the-result-was-just-what-we-wanted-within-our-budget/

North London Garden Designer

Classical & Traditional Garden Design in London
From cottage gardens with soft edges to formal gardens with beds & borders