Living History

The story of the world’s first Garden City and the movement is celebrated at the heart of town

Letchworth has inspired more than 40 other Garden Cities and New Towns around the world with at least by appointment to the local

one on every continent, from Brazil to the US, South Africa to Australia.

Today the influence of Garden Cities is greater than ever, and they are once again at the heart of the debate on creating new places where people the first Saturday of every month,

are happy to live.

This incredible global influence is celebrated in the International Garden Cities Exhibition, which explores the history of the town, the birth and growth of the Garden City Movement, and the rich legacy Letchworth has given to the world.

The exhibition is sited in the former drawing offices of Barry Parker, one of Letchworth’s principal architects, which was gifted to the town by his family. It also celebrates the campaigning work of Horace Plinston, who saved the town from rapacious speculators in the middle of the last century.

It is open Friday and Saturday (10am-5pm), or by appointment during the week. The Curator also runs free guided historial walking tours each month, around some of the highlights of the first Garden City’s history.

Across town in the Garden City Collection, visitors can see displays of our art collection and beautiful Arts and Crafts furniture, master plans, and the many objects that tell the story of Letchworth’s heritage and social history.

Monthly tours are held offering an overview of the 80,000 items in the collection, which includes architectural plans, photographs, to the Garden City Movement and Letchworth, the world’s first Garden City.

The collection store is also an academic study centre, open community and researchers from around the world, catering for the growing interest in the Garden City.

Tours of the Collection are held on furniture and art works related

from 11am to 12.30pm. Numbers are restricted so advance booking is essential.

International Garden Cities Exhibition

The International Garden Cities Exhibition

296 Norton Way South, SG6 1SU Phone: 01462 476070 www.garden-cities-exhibition.com

The Garden City Collection Study Centre

Wilbury Hills Road, SG6 4LB Phone: 01462 476075 www.gardencitycollection.com

International Garden Cities Exhibition

ROOM to breathe

Few towns and cities in the world can boast such a scale and variety of green open spaces so close to the centre and homes

Broadway Gardens

Elegant public gardens, beautifully landscaped parks and leafy avenues, all key to the Garden City vision of bringing the country into the heart of the town, can be found within easy walking distance of the cultural and civic centre.

Norton Common, now a nature reserve, has Green Flag status and offers 63 glorious acres of unspoilt grass and woodland as well as leisure facilities such as tennis courts, a bowling green, lido and children’s play area.

The woods are a haven for birds such as tawny owls, woodpeckers, bullfinches and song thrushes. You may even spot a Muntjac deer or one of the town’s black squirrels, first spotted in the UK on this very common. It’s a short walk from there to Howard Park and Gardens, a timeless park featuring beautiful landscaped lawns, flower beds and water features.

Perfect for youngsters, there’s also a heritage trail, children’s play area, paddling pool, refreshments and a stage setting with banked seating for events.

Built on a grand European scale, Broadway is a broad tree-lined boulevard, sweeping into the heart of the town where it becomes Broadway Gardens - a listed civic garden and Letchworth’s cultural hub. This is often the setting for town events including open air screenings, sports events and fairs.