Pocket parks

Covent Garden, Inigo Jones Fountain

A 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

Drury Lane

Drury Lane Gardens is an attractive pocket park located in the heart of London’s Theatreland.

Divided into a few zones, and containing a range of facilities all enclosed by adjacent buildings. A small seating area, a raised play area and a multi-sport court. An attractive arbour with climbing plants divides the quiet seating area from the more active and lively play areas.

This park has disabled access.

• Address: Drury Lane, WC2B 5SN

Edbrooke Road Gardens

A small local park laid to grass with mature trees and paths running diagonally across the site from each corner entrance. The paths converge and meet in the middle with circular paving and a feature. The site includes an old stone water trough and a small play area, mainly for younger children.

This park has disabled access.

• Address: 2-54 Edbrooke Rd, W9 2AX

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

New Trinity Mews Playground

A small pocket park in Pimlico with a play area for young children and multi-use games space for older children.

This park has disabled access. Dogs are not welcome at this park.

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

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

Shrewsbury Road Gardens

This small pocket park on a corner plot between Shrewsbury Road and Talbot Road.

A path runs through the space, sloping down from both entrances to a central tarmac area with a block paving feature in the middle.

• Address: 506 Shrewsbury Rd, W2 5PW

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.

This park has disabled access from Marylebone Road.

• Address: Marylebone High Street, NW1 5LT

Violet Hill Gardens

This attractive and popular small traditional garden in the north of the Borough contains a good playground, seating, a lawn and shrubbed area as well as flower borders and seasonal containers surrounding the play area.

This park has disabled access, and there is a disabled toilet on site.

• Address: Aubrey Place, NW8 9BH