Green spaces of historic interest
Find information about green spaces of historic interest in Westminster.
Berkeley Square Gardens
A traditional London Square with a small central shelter, surrounded by London Plane trees which are amongst the oldest to be found in Mayfair, planted in 1789.
The character of the Square is light, open, and airy creating a pleasant shady space with dappled sunlight during summer.
This park has disabled access.
- Address: 45 Berkeley Square, W1J 5AS
More information about Berkeley Square Gardens
Bessborough Gardens
A classic London Square contained on two sides by 1980’s white stucco façade houses. There is a fountain at one end and a central grass area with planted borders and a cluster of mature trees creating a strong boundary between the Gardens and Vauxhall Bridge Road.
More information about Bessborough Gardens
Covent Garden/Inigo Jones Fountain
A very pleasant space to escape from the crowds of the various nearby tourist attractions and shopping streets set behind Covent Garden Piazza. The site is enclosed by the surrounding buildings, most significantly that of St Paul's Church, the Actors’ church. The space is paved with small, raised grass areas on either side of the central path. This small churchyard garden consists of lines of benches creating the perfect spot to sit and read a book on a summer afternoon.
- Address: Bedford St, WC2E 9ED
Golden Square Gardens
The Square originally known as Goldring Square is thought to have been laid out according to plans by Sir Christopher Wren, around the year 1670s. The formal square consists of seating, floral displays and shrub and Rose beds and a grass verge. Four mature Hornbeam trees are a feature of this square, especially during autumn leaf fall. This busy and popular square was once described by Dickens as a little wilderness of shrubs watched over by a 'mournful statue'.
This park has disabled access and does not allow dogs.
- Address: Golden Square, W1R 3AD
Hyde Park Corner
Sitting between Hyde Park and Green Park on a grand round-about, the open space features grass and monuments. The main feature of the space is the Constitution Arch, more commonly known as the Wellington Arch, which was designed by Decimus Burton as a memorial to the Duke of Wellington and was originally built as a northern grand entrance gate to the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
- Address: Hyde Park Corner, W1J 7NT
More information about Hyde Park Corner
Leicester Square Gardens
Leicester Square is one London’s best known public squares and hub of entertainment and activity. The Square has a central marble fountain which contains a 19th-century statue of Shakespeare, surrounded by mature London plane trees creating a significant tree canopy overhead.
The Square features a splash water feature and an abundance of floral displays.
This park has disabled access.
- Address: Leicester Square, WC2H 7LU
More information about Leicester Square Gardens
Marble Arch
The site offers raised seating areas, and the site is enhanced by floral displays throughout the year. In contrast to the floral displays the sides of the bunds that face into the space appear as simple grass mounds, creating the impression that the lawn simply sweeps up and flows into the bunds.
Adjacent to the piazza space areas is a soft area for people to sit throughout the summer months.
- Address: Cumberland Gate, W1K 1PX
More information about Marble Arch
Marylebone Garden of Rest
A small pocket park set back from Marylebone High Street and adjacent to Marylebone Church, containing gravestones and memorials, including one to John Wesley.
This is a predominantly paved area with York stone paving and planting.
- Address: 65 Marylebone High St, W1U 5JE
Ministry of Defence
This rectangular green space at the end of the group of Embankment Gardens host a number of significant memorials to the armed forces and a tribute to those who fought for freedom.
These include memorials to the Fleet Air Arm, The Korean War, Iraq & Afghanistan Memorial, The Chindit Memorial the Battle of Britain Memorial, and The Royal Airforce Memorial.
Norfolk Square Gardens
A long-established rectangular London Square, consisting of central lawns, floral displays, and London plane trees. Norfolk Square Gardens provides a quiet space just yards from Paddington Mainline Station.
The Garden Square was acquired by the City Council through compulsory purchase in the late 1980s and opened to the public in autumn of 1990 and is occasionally used by local groups for concerts and other events, particularly throughout the summer months.
This park has disabled access and does not allow dogs.
- Address: Norfolk Square, W2 1RS
Paddington Green
A classic historical London Square, set back from the busy Harrow Road and The Westway and is adjacent to St Mary’s Church. The Square is set out traditionally with diagonal York stone paths connecting the four corner entrances and consists of grass, shrubs, and floral displays together with mature plane trees that dominate the space and landscape character.
A statue of Lady Sarah Siddons (1755-1831), a famous British actress who lived in the area and whose memorial can be found in the nearby St Mary’s Churchyard, sits within the space.
This park has disabled access.
- Address: Paddington Green, W2 1NB
Paddington Street Gardens North
A small local park and former churchyard with a central grass area. London Plane trees and a number of memorials, tombs, and gravestones are features of the park. The park lies behind Marylebone High Street and raised from the road and accessed via steps.
- Address: Paddington Street, W1U 5QY
Paddington Street Gardens South
Paddington Green South consists of a formal open space with grass areas, traditional shrub, rose and floral displays, a bandstand and children’s play area. Plentiful seating enables visitors to enjoy this space. Tall London Plane trees on the boundaries ensure shade on sunny days.
This park has disabled access, and toilets, including disabled, are accessible from Paddington Street.
- Address: Paddington St, W1U 4AL
More information about Paddington Street Gardens South
Riverside Walk Gardens
Riverside Walk Garden is on a triangular site bounded by Millbank and the Thames. The public gardens were created in 1965 when Riverwalk House was built but underwent a complete re-landscaping in 2004. The new design reflects the sites historical associations with the river. A Henry Moore's bronze sculpture 'Locking Piece', on loan since 1968 can be seen here.
Millbank is named for the mill that stood here until 1730 when it was replaced by a private house, itself later demolished when the Millbank Penitentiary was built. Prisoners were held waiting deportation to Australia, and one of two large bollards remains, marking the gateway through which prisoners passed before boarding boats to Australia.
This park has disabled access, but not along river walk where there are steps up to Vauxhall Bridge.
- Address: 56 Millbank, SW1P 4RL
Soho Square Gardens
This very popular London Square is located at the centre of Soho and provides a small oasis behind Oxford Street. Soho Square dates back to the 1680s in an area of land known previously as Soho fields.
The half-timbered black and white building in the centre was built in 1895 and refurbished in 2009.
This park has disabled access and does not allow dogs.
- Address: Soho Square, W1D 3QP
More information about Soho Square Gardens
St Anne’s Churchyard
It is the only green space serving the dense urban area of lower Soho and contains a central grass area, bordered by paths and shrubberies. The site is noted for its abundance of pots and containers and its fine collection of plants including Japanese Maples.
St Anne's Churchyard does not have disabled access. Dogs are welcome at this park.
More information about St Anne's Churchyard
St John's Wood Church Grounds
Located north of Regents Park and parallel with Lords Cricket Ground this large, attractive former church ground still contains various gravestones and memorials. An award-winning Park with mature trees give the park maturity and a sense of a well-established landscape. Excellent florals displays a good range of interesting plants including a Camelia collection Facilities include a recently refurbished playground, formal gardens, and a nature reserve area with interpretation signage. The generous size of this site provides visitors with a choice of spaces to spend time in.
This park has disabled access, and a disabled toilet.
- Address: Wellington Road, NW8 7PF
St Marylebone Church Grounds
The grounds with its cobbled circular sweeping path is a feature of the space. A low hedge encloses a central grass area with a mature plane tree in the centre. There is also level access into the site from Marylebone Road.
This park has disabled access from Marylebone Road.
- Address: Marylebone High Street, NW1 5LT
St Mary’s Churchyard
The present St Mary’s, the third on this site, was built in 1791 by John Plaw, at the junction of Harrow Road and Edgware Road.
The church is a charming, Georgian building within its own extensive graveyard and contains fine monuments (by renowned sculptors such as Physick, Derby and Blore) to local luminaries including Nollekens, Roget and Sarah Siddons. The Churchyard with its grass, trees and bulbs is a reflective space.
Sussex Gardens
This is a formal triangular-shaped London Square, surrounded by busy roads. It contains a Rose garden (one of only a few in Westminster), grass areas and London Plane trees. A major feature in the local area.
This park has disabled access and does not allow dogs.
- Address: 227 Sussex Gardens, W2 2RL
Victoria Embankment Gardens
This vibrant public park is part of the chain of open spaces along Victoria Embankment, designed by Sir Joseph Bazelgette and opened in 1865.
The park provides impressive floral schemes surrounded by manicured lawns. The “Tropical Border” is one of the finest in London during the summer months. A bandstand has a programme of events throughout the summer and visitors to the gardens can sit in deckchairs to enjoy.
This park has disabled access.
- Address: Villiers Street, WC2N 6NS
More information about Victoria Embankment Gardens
Victoria Street, Westminster Cathedral Piazza
This paved open space in the middle of Victoria Street creates the central piazza to Westminster Cathedral, with its impressive facade. The Cathedral site was originally known as Bulinga Fen and was part of a marsh area around Westminster. After the reformation, the land remained as a wasteland but at various times became a maze, a pleasure garden, even a ring for bullbaiting and by the 17th-century a prison.
In 1884 the site was acquired by the Catholic Church, and in 1895 the foundation stone of Westminster Cathedral was laid, and the exterior of the building was fully completed eight years later. It was designed by the Victorian architect John Francis Bentley. The cathedral opened in 1903.
The piazza has disabled access.
- Address: Victoria Street, SW1P 1LT
Victoria Tower Gardens South
A public park along the north bank of the River Thames adjacent to the Victoria Tower, the south-western corner of the Palace of Westminster.
The park, which extends southwards from the Palace to Lambeth Bridge, is sandwiched between Millbank and the river, also forms part of the Thames Embankment.
This park has disabled access.
- Address: Millbank, SW1P 3JA
Published: 29 April 2022
Last updated: 27 October 2022