The Chelsea Physic Garden is a delight for garden-lovers and historians alike. Visitors can view what is reputed to be the world's largest fruiting olive tree and a variety of medicinal herbs and seeds.

The garden dates back to 1673, when it was planted as an apothecary's garden. This explains the use of the word 'physic' in the name of the garden, which refers to the science of healing. It is the second oldest medicinal garden in England, with the oldest found at the University of Oxford.

The apothecaries established the garden on land which was leased from Sir John Danvers in Chelsea. The adjacent manor was bought by Dr Hans Sloane in 1713 and he leased the land to the Society of Apothecaries. Dr Soane charged just five pounds per year for the lease, plus 50 herbarium samples for the Royal Society, of which he was a principal.

The site soon became the world's best-stocked botanic garden. Amongst other ventures, a seed exchange program with the Leiden Botanical Garden in Holland was begun which has lasted until the present day. The garden was also accredited with supplying the first cotton seeds to the American state of Georgia, which began that state's rich history of cotton farming.

The garden became a registered charity in 1983 when it was opened to the public. Visitors can view Britain's largest fruiting olive tree, which thrives in the garden - no doubt benefiting from the high surrounding walls which trap the heat. Nearby, one also finds the world's most northerly grapefruit tree.