Shakespeare Garden, Central Park – A Romantic Garden of the Bard’s Flowers
Tucked on a gentle hillside on the west side of the park is one of Central Park’s most enchanting hidden corners: the Shakespeare Garden. This four-acre English-style garden is themed entirely around the plays and poems of William Shakespeare — and it is as romantic and peaceful a spot as you will find anywhere in New York.
🌷 A garden inspired by Shakespeare
The idea behind the garden is charming: every flower, herb and tree growing here is one mentioned somewhere in Shakespeare’s writing. Roses, rosemary, columbine, primrose, lavender and dozens more spill along its winding rustic paths, arranged in the informal, cottage-garden style of the English countryside the playwright knew.
📜 Quotes among the flowers
Dotted through the beds you will find small bronze plaques inscribed with the very lines of Shakespeare that mention each plant. Wandering from bloom to bloom, reading the words that made them famous, is a quietly magical way to spend twenty unhurried minutes. There is even a mulberry tree here said to descend from one associated with the Bard himself.
🌿 A quiet, romantic hideaway
Because it sits off the main paths, the Shakespeare Garden is often blissfully calm. Its benches, arbours and stone steps make it a favourite for couples, readers and anyone seeking a moment of stillness — a true secret garden in the heart of the city.
🚲 The easiest way to visit
The garden sits on the west side near 79th–80th Street, just below Belvedere Castle and beside the Delacorte Theater, home of free summer Shakespeare in the Park. A pedicab brings you close and pairs it perfectly with the castle and Turtle Pond above.
✔ See it on the 1-hour Central Park pedicab tour from $30
✔ See all tour options on the Central Park pedicab tour page
✔ Ready to go? Book your ride here
📸 Best time to visit
🌷 Spring — tulips, daffodils and blossoms fill the beds
🌹 Summer — roses and herbs at their most fragrant
🌅 Early morning — peaceful, uncrowded and beautifully lit
🗺️ What’s nearby
The garden sits among some of the park’s loveliest west-side sights:
🏰 Belvedere Castle — the great lookout rising just above the garden
🎭 The Delacorte Theater & Turtle Pond — right beside it
🌉 Bow Bridge — the romantic crossing a short ride south
❓ Frequently asked questions
Where is the Shakespeare Garden?
On the west side of the park near 79th–80th Street, just below Belvedere Castle.
What makes it a “Shakespeare” garden?
Every plant in it is mentioned somewhere in Shakespeare’s plays and poems, with bronze plaques quoting the lines.
Is it free to visit?
Yes. Like the rest of the park, the garden is open to the public at no charge.
What is the easiest way to see it?
A private pedicab tour brings you close and pairs it with Belvedere Castle. Rides start at $30.
A secret garden of roses, rosemary and poetry — the Shakespeare Garden is one of Central Park’s most romantic hidden gems, and a pedicab makes it easy to find. Book a Central Park pedicab tour from $30.