The inspiration for setting up the Museum of Garden History came in 1977 when the neglected and forgotten tomb of 17th century father and son botanists, the John Tradescants, was discovered in a Lambeth churchyard. It was decided that their resting place would be preserved and developed into a first class national resource; the decision also saved the historic church of St Mary-at Lambeth from demolition.

The Museum today has been designed to fit to a style that would once of been familiar with the Tradescants; with the graveyard transformed into a beautiful Tudor-style knot garden, and a collection inside that houses items of garden history that stem from Roman box gardens to the grandeur of Edwardian state gardens.

As well as temporary exhibitions that highlight other areas of Britain's 2000 year fascination with gardening, the Museum also lends itself particularly well to live performances, with the acoustics of the old church and peculiar decor conspiring to create a space with the ideal ambiance for classical music.