Soil Sisters is an award-winning garden design studio working across London, from Islington and Hackney in the north to Brixton and Greenwich in the south. We design residential gardens, courtyard spaces, roof terraces, balconies, and listed property gardens. Every project is bespoke, hand-drawn, and designed around how you actually want to live in your garden.
Book a free consultation or call us on 0203 834 9807.
Garden Design Services in London
We offer a full range of garden design services for London homeowners. Whether you need a concept plan to take to a landscaper, or a complete design-and-build package from initial consultation through to planting day, we can help.
| Service | What's Included | Starting From |
|---|---|---|
| Concept Design | Site visit, design brief, hand-drawn concept plan, plant palette | £1,500 |
| Full Garden Design | Concept + scaled technical drawings, 3D visuals, planting plan, materials spec | £3,500 |
| Design & Build | Full design plus project management, landscaping and planting | £15,000 |
| Planting Design Only | Plant selection, layout plan, species list and quantities | £850 |
| Garden Consultation | On-site session, written recommendations, priority action list | £350 |
See the full garden design cost guide for London, including typical project budgets by garden size and style.
Types of London Garden We Design
London gardens come in every shape, size and condition. We have designed them all.
| Garden Type | What We Bring |
|---|---|
| Victorian terraced gardens | Narrow plots, challenging access, clay soil — we know these inside out |
| Courtyard gardens | Compact space specialists. Every square metre justified and designed with purpose |
| Roof terraces | Weight-bearing constraints, wind exposure, waterproofing, drainage — handled |
| Balcony gardens | Container planting, irrigation, structural loads, privacy screening |
| Large residential gardens | Formal structure, naturalistic planting, cohesive zones for different uses |
| Listed properties | Conservation-compliant design, sympathetic to heritage architecture |
| New build gardens | Starting from scratch — we turn builders' rubble into finished outdoor rooms |
How We Work
Every project starts with a conversation. We want to understand how you use your garden, what you love about it, what frustrates you, and what you want from it. From there, the process is straightforward.
- Free initial consultation. We visit your garden, take measurements, and talk through your brief. No charge, no obligation.
- Concept design. We produce hand-drawn layout options and develop the preferred direction into full 3D visualisations so you can see the garden from every angle before committing.
- Technical drawings. Scaled plans, planting schedules, materials specifications and any structural details your contractor will need.
- Build support. We work alongside your landscaper or our own build team throughout construction to make sure the design is delivered as intended.
Start with a free consultation — we typically respond within 24 hours.
London Garden Design: Challenges We Understand
Designing a garden in London is not the same as designing a garden anywhere else. There are problems here that rarely come up elsewhere, and getting them wrong is expensive.
- London clay soil. Heavy, waterlogged in winter and cracked dry in summer. The wrong plants die. The wrong drainage solution floods. We specify accordingly.
- Access. Side gates, narrow passages, neighbours' property to negotiate. Materials have to be planned carefully or you're paying double on labour to move things by hand.
- Dry shade. London plane trees, mature sycamores, north-facing walls behind tall Victorian terraces. We know which plants thrive there and which ones won't.
- Party wall implications. Raised beds, retaining walls and structures close to boundaries often trigger party wall notices. We flag these at the design stage, not after the landscaper has started digging.
- Conservation areas and listed buildings. Planning restrictions apply to many London properties. Some works need consent even in the garden. We design with this in mind from the outset.
- Underground utilities. London is full of them. We always recommend a utility survey before any significant excavation.
How Much Does Garden Design Cost in London?
Design fees in London typically run from £1,500 for a concept plan to £8,000–£15,000 for a full design package on a large, complex garden. Most of our London residential projects fall between £3,500 and £6,500 for the design stage.
The full cost of transforming a London garden (design plus landscaping) varies considerably by size and specification:
| Garden Size | Typical Build Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 30 sqm) | £15,000 – £30,000 | Courtyard or compact terrace garden |
| Medium (30–80 sqm) | £30,000 – £60,000 | Typical Victorian terrace garden |
| Large (80 sqm+) | £60,000 – £150,000+ | Formal or naturalistic, premium materials |
London adds cost compared to the South East. Access premiums, higher contractor day rates, skip permit costs, and the price of getting materials through a narrow side gate all add up. See our full London garden design cost guide with borough-level breakdowns and a project cost calculator.
Areas We Cover Across London
We design gardens across Greater London. Below are the boroughs and areas we work in most frequently — but if you're not on the list, get in touch. We'll travel for the right project.
- North London: Islington, Hackney, Haringey, Camden, Highgate, Hampstead, Muswell Hill, Crouch End
- East London: Tower Hamlets, Walthamstow, Newham, Stratford, Bethnal Green, Shoreditch, Bow
- South East London: Greenwich, Blackheath, Lewisham, Dulwich, Beckenham, Bromley, Bexley, Brockley
- South London: Lambeth, Southwark, Brixton, Clapham, Battersea, Streatham, Tooting, Croydon
- South West London: Wandsworth, Wimbledon, Richmond, Kingston, Twickenham, Barnes, Putney
- West London: Fulham, Hammersmith, Chiswick, Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill, Shepherds Bush, Acton
- Central London: City of London, Clerkenwell, Bermondsey, Waterloo, Elephant and Castle
We also work across Kent, Surrey and Essex for clients outside the capital.
What Our Clients Say
"Our designer listened to exactly what we were looking for and the result has genuinely changed how we use our garden. We'd tried two other designers before Soil Sisters — nobody else had really understood the access problem or the shade on the north side. They did."
— Sophie T., Islington, N1
"The 3D visuals were the thing that sold it for us. We'd been nervous about committing to a full redesign but when we could actually see how the space would look, the decision was easy. The finished garden is exactly what we were shown."
— James & Rachel M., Dulwich, SE21
"We have a listed Victorian terrace with a tiny courtyard at the back and a side return. Half the designers we spoke to said it was too complicated. Soil Sisters designed something beautiful within all the constraints — and it came in on budget."
— Anna B., Islington, N5
Why Soil Sisters
- Women-led studio with a personal, attentive approach — you work with your designer, not a junior account manager
- Hand-drawn plans and 3D visuals on every full design project, so you can see the garden before it's built
- Sustainable by design — we specify drought-tolerant planting, rainwater harvesting, wildlife-friendly schemes and sustainable materials as standard, not as extras
- Listed building experience — we have designed gardens on conservation area properties and listed buildings across London, navigating planning constraints from the start
- Full London coverage — we know this city's soil, access challenges, planning rules and contractor network
- Free initial consultation — always. No charge to come and see your garden and talk through what's possible
For bespoke garden design across West London — Chiswick, Ealing, Notting Hill, Acton, Maida Vale and Shepherd's Bush — see our dedicated garden design West London service page with pricing from £1,500.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does garden design cost in London?
Design fees start from £1,500 for a concept plan. A full design package for a typical London garden (including 3D visuals, technical drawings and planting plan) runs £3,500–£6,500. Large or complex gardens with extensive technical requirements can reach £10,000–£15,000 for design alone. See our full cost guide.
Do you do design and build, or design only?
Both. We can provide a design package for you to take to your own contractor, or we can manage the full project from design through to completed garden. We'll tell you which approach makes more sense for your project at the initial consultation.
How long does garden design take?
Initial consultation to concept presentation typically takes 3–4 weeks. Full technical drawings, 3D visuals and planting plans take a further 4–6 weeks depending on project complexity. We'll give you a specific timeline at the start of the project.
Do you work on small gardens and courtyards?
Yes — small spaces are often our most satisfying work. A well-designed 20 sqm courtyard takes the same level of thought as a large garden, and the results are transformative. We don't have a minimum garden size.
Can you design a garden on a listed property?
Yes. We have experience with listed buildings and conservation area properties across London. Not all garden works require consent, but some structural elements do. We advise on this at the initial site visit and can work with your planning consultant if needed.
What areas of London do you cover?
All of Greater London, plus Kent, Surrey and Essex. If you're unsure whether we cover your area, just ask — we will travel for the right project.
How do I get started?
Call us on 0203 834 9807, email enquiries@soilsisters.co.uk, or use the contact form. We aim to respond within one working day and will arrange a free site visit at a time that suits you.
Ready to talk about your London garden? Book your free consultation today — no charge, no commitment, just a conversation about what's possible.
Or explore more: Our garden design services | Project portfolio | Garden design costs in London | Our design process