South London Botanical Institute

The South London Botanical Institute is a botanical research institute with garden in London that houses an extensive collection of living plants and scientific materials. The Victorian building contains a specialized library with scientific publications, a herbarium of preserved plant specimens, and cultivated garden areas.

The institute was founded in 1910 by Allan Octavian Hume, a British colonial administrator who dedicated himself to botany after his career in government. Hume brought extensive botanical knowledge and collecting experience to establish one of the earliest research institutions of its kind in South London.

The institute functions as a gathering place where plant enthusiasts regularly meet to study and identify local flora together. The rooms host talks and guided walks that help visitors develop a closer relationship with the plants they encounter.

The Tulse Hill location is easily reached by public transport and offers straightforward access to both garden and indoor spaces. Visiting during the growing season provides the best conditions for exploring and observing the plants in their active state.

The lecture room features specialized wallpaper with plant designs created by artist Augusta Ackerman during a 2015 renovation. This thoughtful interior detail merges the beauty of nature with the scientific purpose of the space in an understated way.