London Squares and Gardens

Finding Green Spaces in Central London

Sometimes the constant buzz of the high streets becomes too much and all you need is a slice of peace and tranquillity. Thankfully, you don’t need to search too hard to find squares brimming with wildlife and clean air. I’ve cobbled together a short list of the best squares to visit on a daytrip to the West End.

Soho Square

Built in the 1670’s, Soho Square has always been a fashionable spot for Soho’s changing blend of trendsetters. It makes the most of the compact space, filling the square with interesting exotic trees, modern art installations and monuments such as the statue of Charles II.

Cavendish Square

All it takes is a short detour from Oxford Street and you’ll find yourself in a little area seemingly worlds away from the incessant shopping and endless traffic. Once a simple circle of grass for grazing sheep, Cavendish Square is now a popular spot to visit in the autumn when the plane trees litter the ground with orange leaves.

Phoenix Garden

This hidden gem definitely has a secret garden vibe. Nestled away not too far from Tottenham Court Road Station, the Phoenix Garden is a community funded project set up in the 1980’s. Although small, it is an important refuge for animals that would otherwise have nowhere to go. Frogs, dragonflies, travelling birds and more visit the garden’s ponds and wild areas, revelling in the spots left to overgrow intentionally.

Russell Square

Russell Square is the perfect place to relax after a visit to the nearby British Museum. Larger than the other squares on this list, it is filled with wide grassy areas, trees and a central fountain used by visiting animals in need of a bath. It is more heavily orientated towards wildlife than the other squares and a dedicated ‘nature conservation area’ helps conservationists survey the square’s bird population. It’s busy, but big enough that you’ll always be able to find you own space to switch off from the world.

Tom Gill

TripTide User