Great Trees of London is a list created by Trees for Cities after the Great Storm of 1987, when the general public were asked to suggest suitable trees. Forty-one were chosen, with a further 20 added in 2008. In 2010, Time Out Guides Limited published a book, The Great Trees of London, listing all 61 trees.
List of the trees
Original 41 Name Image Location Borough Species Notes The Dorchester Plane Dorchester Hotel, Mayfair Westminster London plane Planted in the early 1930s. The Charlton House Mulberry Charlton House Greenwich Black mulberry Planted at the beginning of the 1600s, possibly the oldest in the United Kingdom. The Fulham Palace Oak Fulham Palace Hammersmith and Fulham Holm oak Oldest holm oak in London, and perhaps the United Kingdom. Possibly dating from 1495, when the palace was built. The Bexley Charter Oak Danson Park Bexley Pedunculate oak Well over 200 years old (as of 2010). In 1937 the Bexley borough charter was signed underneath this tree. It now appears in the coat of arms of the London Borough of Bexley. The Totteridge Yew St. Andrew's Church, Totteridge Barnet Yew Between 1000 and 2000 years old (as of 2010), London's oldest tree. The Carshalton Plane Sutton Ecology Centre Grounds, Carshalton Sutton London plane About 200 years old (as of 2010). The Lewisham Dutch Elm Ladywell Fields Lewisham European white elm A plaque in the park incorrectly identifies it as a Flanders elm. The Riverside Plane Richmond Richmond upon Thames London plane At over 40 metres in height, it is one of the tallest London planes in the UK. The Aperfield Cedar Aperfield Road, Biggin Hill Bromley Cedar of Lebanon The Morden Cemetery Horse Chestnut Morden Cemetery, Motspur Park Merton Horse chestnut This "tree" is actually two trees, about 100 years old (as of 2010). The Wood Street Horse Chestnut Wood Street, Walthamstow Waltham Forest Horse chestnut Estimated to be 175 years old (as of 2010). The Ravenscourt Park Tree of Heaven Ravenscourt Park Hammersmith and Fulham Tree of heaven One of the largest trees of heaven in Britain. The Ashcombe Sweet Chestnut Ashcombe Road, Carshalton Sutton Sweet chestnut The Black Horse Pollard Chestnut East Sheen Richmond upon Thames Horse chestnut The Maids of Honour Stone Pine Richmond Green Richmond upon Thames Stone pine Lost a major limb in August 2026 The Wembley Elm Wembley Brent European white elm Over 100 years old (as of 2010). The Battersea Park Hybrid Strawberry Tree Battersea Park Wandsworth Hybrid strawberry tree Dating from the 1850s. It lost a major limb, which was hovering over the footpath, in a big storm in February 2022, and the next bough up (still seen in the picture) in September 2023. The Dulwich Park Oak Dulwich Park Southwark Turkey oak The Greenwich Spanish Sweet Chestnut Flower Garden, Greenwich Park Greenwich Sweet chestnut Dating from 1660. The Greenwich Park Shagbark Hickory Flower Garden, Greenwich Park Greenwich Shagbark hickory Largest shagbark hickory in the United Kingdom. The Marble Hill Black Walnut Marble Hill Park, Richmond Richmond upon Thames Black walnut The Roehampton Lucombe Oak Alton Estate, Roehampton Wandsworth Lucombe oak The North Circular Cork Oak Hall Lane, Chingford Waltham Forest Cork oak Around 100 years old (as of 2010), although a plaque next to the tree says that it was planted as a sapling by Len Harding in 1959. The South Woodford Copper Beech St Mary's Church, South Woodford Redbridge Copper beech The George Green Sweet Chestnut George Green, Wanstead Redbridge Sweet chestnut Probably planted in the early 1700s. The Fairlop Oak Fulwell Cross roundabout, Ilford Redbridge Pedunculate oak Planted in 1951 in remembrance of its historical predecessor, which lived for around 500 years until 1820, in nearby Hainault Forest. The Bromley Oak Outside the Glades shopping centre, Bromley Bromley Pedunculate oak About 400 years old (as of 2010). The Downe Yew St Mary's Church, Downe Bromley Yew The Barn Elms Plane, 'Barney' Barn Elms, Barnes Richmond upon Thames London plane London's oldest plane tree, planted around 1680. Visible from outside an enclosure. The Friday Hill Plane Friday Hill House, Chingford Waltham Forest London plane Now on private grounds, but visible from above the boundary wall on Simmons Lane. The tree is probably dating from the building of the house (1839). The Valence Park Oak Valence Park, Becontree Barking & Dagenham Holm oak As of October 2022, the pond enclosure is closed to the public for health and safety reasons, but the tree can be visited up close from Valence House grounds. The West Wickham Oak Southcroft Avenue, West Wickham Bromley Pedunculate oak The tree is in a private garden, but largely visible from surrounding public spaces. It is around 800 years old (as of 2010). The Addington Palace Cedar Addington Palace Croydon Cedar of Lebanon Access by arrangement. Planted in the 1770s. The Kenley House Oak Kenley (approximate) Croydon Pedunculate oak On private land, hidden from view. The St James's Indian Bean Tree St James' Church, Piccadilly Westminster Indian bean tree Tree removed in April 2010. Nativity figures have been carved from its wood, and are used by the church every Christmas. The Charlton House Nettle Tree Charlton House (approximate) Greenwich Hackberry Tree removed April 2002. The York House Cut Leaf Beech York House, Twickenham Richmond upon Thames 'Asplenifolia' beech Tree removed winter 2020/21. The Asgill House Copper Beech Asgill House, Richmond Richmond upon Thames Copper beech Died winter 2013/14. The Crane Park Crack Willow Crane Park Hounslow Crack willow Fallen over circa 2010. The Kingston Weeping Silver Lime Thames river path, Kingston Kingston upon Thames Silver lime 'Petiolaris' Tree removed circa 2008. The Barnsbury Beech Barnsbury Park, Barnsbury Islington Beech Replaced 2005.
20 added in 2008 Name Image Location Borough Species Notes The Hendon Japanese Maple Hendon Park, near the tennis courts Barnet Japanese maple,Acer palmatum'Heptalobum' Planted in the early 1900s. The Brunswick Plane Brunswick Square Gardens Camden London plane The Cheapside Plane Cheapside, City of London City of London London plane At over 250 years of age, "possibly the oldest tree in The Square Mile". The Forty Hall Cedar of Lebanon Forty Hall, Enfield Enfield Cedar of Lebanon Planted around the turn of the 18th century. Severely damaged 11th August 2024. The Ravenscourt Plane Ravenscourt Park Hammersmith and Fulham London plane An example of the ‘Baobab’ cultivar of London plane The Osterley Park Cork Oak Osterley Park, Hounslow Cork oak Planted 1855. The Amwell Fig Amwell Street, Pentonville Islington Fig This "tree" is actually three trees, likely in place since 1827. The Brockwell Oak Brockwell Park Lambeth Pedunculate oak Between 500 and 700 years old (as of 2010). The Tate Plane Outside Tate Library, Brixton Lambeth London plane The Stratford Fig Off High Street, Stratford Newham Fig The Valentines Park Maple Valentines Park, Ilford Redbridge Field maple Planted in the 17th century. The Richmond Royal Oak Richmond Park Richmond upon Thames Pedunculate oak Around 750 years old (as of 2020). The Carshalton Sweet Chestnut Carshalton Park, Carshalton Sutton Sweet chestnut Around 400 years old (as of 2010). Survived a number of arson attacks, which account for the wooden door blocking the hollow at the bottom of the tree. The Marylebone Elm By the Garden of Rest, Marylebone High Street Westminster Huntingdon elm Age estimated to be 150 years (as of 2010), over 100 feet (30 meters) high. The Embankment Plane North side of Horse Guards Avenue, at the junction with Victoria Embankment, SW1 Westminster Oriental plane Planted in 1870. The Berkeley Plane Berkeley Square Westminster London plane Planted in 1789. The Gower Plane Gower Street Camden London plane The Regent's Plane Regent's Park, in the grounds of Regent's University London Camden London plane Access by arrangement. Around 200 years old (as of 2010). The Abbey Plane Broad Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey Westminster London plane Accessible from 8am to 5pm. The Hardy Ash Old St Pancras Churchyard Camden Ash At just over 250 years of age, the tree fell in December 2022. This is believed to have been due to fungal damage.
See also List of individual trees List of Great British Trees
References
External links