London’s Famous Garden Squares

Tourist and visitors to London on their amblings through London’s streets will definitely come across any of the city’s famous public squares, besides smaller gar¬den squares that are secured behind wrought iron gates. The city is well known for its large open green spaces, parks and garden squares, which were created in the 17th century, for the specific purpose of giving the citizens pure clean air amidst lush green surroundings.  It is said that London got its first residential square in Covent Garden in the 1630s. Nowadays these well maintained garden squares (though not necessarily square in shape); offer sanctuary to those living in the surroundings. 

Some of the more famous squares in London are:

Just a short distance from The Piccadilly London West End is St. James's Square, which is the sole square in the posh St James's district that is located in the City of Westminster. It is the best place to take a heritage trip in London. St. James’s Square is renowned for its classic Georgian and Neo-Georgian architecture that dominate the place, with a private garden being located in its centre. It offers easy access to major attractions in the area including the theatre district at The Piccadilly London West End. For over two centuries it has been regarded as being among the most exclusive and trends residential addresses in the city of London. Now the area hosts the headquarters several large businesses prominent among them being the Rio Tinto Group and BP. It also boasts two exclusive gentlemen’s clubs the Naval and Military Club and the East India Club. It also is the location of the High Commission of Cyprus and the London Library. Chatham House an international think tank is also based here. The most striking landmark in the area is a statue of William III set up in 1808.

It is a town square that lies in the West End within the City of Westminster. Berkeley was initially planned and laid out in the mid 1800s by the famous architect William Kent. It derived its name from the illustrious Berkeley Family of Gloucestershire, whose London home was also named Berkeley House. Berkeley House served as the family’s residence in London, when they were away from their ancestral property aptly named Berkeley Castle.

When the square was originally built is was primarily a residential area, although now there is just one residential block number 48 at the square. Owning a residence in Berkeley Square is considered to be very exclusive although they do not come on the market that often. With such exclusivity the prices are naturally astronomical which is further fuelled by limited supply and greater demand. It is said that property at Berkeley Square commands a much higher price than similar high end properties in the market.

One of the most striking landmarks at Berkeley Square is a fountain created in 1865 by Alexander Munro. Its Plane trees planted in 1789 are reputed to be out the oldest in the city. The famous Gunter’s Tea Shop that was set up in 1757 is situated here. Other notable venues in the area are Lansdowne House; the very exclusive private member’s Morton’s Club and also reputedly the most haunted house in the country, which has Maggs  Brothers Antiquarian Booksellers as its current occupants.

 

It is located in the Borough of Camden in the Bloomsbury District. It was created in the late 1700s to serve as residential area for the elite of the city. It has been home to some very prominent citizens including the longest serving Lord Chancellor in the country Lord Eldon. Bedford Square derived its name from the Dukes of Bedford the Russell family who were major landowners in Bloomsbury. It also is home to some of the finest Georgian architecture in the city and has numerous Grade I listed buildings. It also was home to the first female college in Great Britain Bedford College. 

   

The Square is located in one of the trendiest districts of London the very exclusive Belgravia district. It was built by the renowned Grosvenor family and was one of three garden squares, which were developed this area of Belgravia in the 1900s. The Square derived its name from Eaton Hall, which was the Grosvenor residence in Cheshire. Besides Eaton Square the other two Squares built by the Grosvenor family are Belgrave Square and Chester Square. Eaton Square was laid out in 1827, by Thomas Cubitt.

The residences in Eaton Square are generally large, with three-bay-wide buildings that are connected with regular terraces in the Classical Style. Eaton Square is one of the city’s largest squares. Most houses in the area have a white stucco facade with some having been faced with brick. Eaton Square was predominantly a upper class area before the Second World War but not of the stature of posh areas like Mayfair, Belgravia and St. James’s Square. It was the war that the place received an upgrade in status of sorts as the other prime properties were transformed for institutional and commercial use. Eaton Square continued to remain residential in purpose and became out of the more trendy places to stay at. Although a number of houses remained in their original state most others were redeveloped as maisonettes and flats.

    

Most of the exteriors of houses at the Square retain their original appearance. Large parts of the freeholds are still under ownership of the Grosvenor Group, with current Duke of Westminster having his residence in the square.  A striking feature that lies at Eaton Square’s east end is St Peter's Church, built in a classical style, with an ornate Ionic portico of six columns and a clock tower. During the Second World War Eaton Square also housed the Belgian government in exile.