The London College of Garden Design one-year Garden Design Diploma classes take place in the Orangery conference facilities at Kew Gardens. The course is currently led by Andrew Wilson, and from 2025 by James Aldridge, both of whom have long-standing experience of teaching Garden Design. We also offer an online option where students take part in the same classes and studio sessions in real-time alongside classroom-based students. This can be particularly useful for students that are unable to travel into London on a regular basis as well as those students who are overseas and may not be eligible to study in the UK.
We are supported by practising design, horticulture and technical professionals to ensure you get a wide experience of the industry and the most up to date knowledge. For more information about our tutors please visit the Teaching section of our website. We pride ourselves on making sure you get personal attention and all the support you need to successfully complete the course and it is our team of expert tutors and lecturers that make this happen.
From September 2025 James will become course leader supported by Andrew who will continue to teach on the course.
I had a fantastic year with the college and learned so much – so thank you to you and everyone else who put so much effort into making the experience (although tough!) a very positive one.
GS Recent Graduate
For more information on the Garden Design Diploma including fees and timetabling please request a prospectus by using the link below and both this and an application form will be sent to you by email in just a few minutes.
WILL WILLIAMS
ALBERTO CAFFI
Enrolment
The Garden Diploma Course starts in September of each academic year. Please contact us if you are interested in enrolling and if you’d like to meet with James Aldridge for an informal chat about the course.
The course is very popular and students regularly enrol up to a year before the course starts. It is therefore a good idea to contact us early if you are interested in studying on this course with us. We are currently taking enrolments to study in 2025-26 so if you are interested in studying with us please download a prospectus and get in touch so that all your questions can be answered. We do run a wait list for places should someone drop out nearer to the start of the course and so it is sometimes possible that we will have places at shorter notice before the course commences.
Laura Potten
Our home in Kew Gardens
The London College of Garden Design one-year Garden Design Diploma classes take place in the Orangery conference facilities at the world famous Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. In keeping with our vision to offer the best garden design training available, our teaching facilities are world class and provide a quiet haven for study in the middle of one of the world’s leading botanic gardens. Kew is conveniently located within easy access of transport links and live projects being constructed in the capital.
Rewarding careers
With our unique position in the profession we are often able to make connections for students to benefit from work experience and introduce them to rewarding positions with well-known designers, many of whom originally trained with us.
If you are interested in studying on this course please request our comprehensive prospectus be using the link below and then if you have any further questions or would like to have a short, informal interview with James Aldridge you can get in touch with us either by phone or email.
Lyndan Brewer
