The City of London’s biggest and oldest park has reopened after a massive makeover

Workers and residents in the City of London have been deprived of one of the area’s best parks for quite some time now. But we bring you good news, because Finsbury Circus – the city’s biggest green area managed by the City of London Corporation – is finally re-open for good after more than a decade of building works and closures. 

The leafy oval in the heart of the City has been shut for refurbishment since November 2023. But on-and-off closures have been going on since long before then, with Finsbury Circus first being taken over by the Crossrail construction in March 2010, and not reopening until August 2020. 

But the park is now back to business as usual, and it’s got a lovely new ‘urban forest’, oval-shaped footpath and islands full of bedded plants. The redesign of the two-acre garden was carried out Realm, who worked with Studio Weave.

One of the oldest greens in the city, Finsbury Circus Gardens has been offering Londoners a spot for peace and quiet since 1606 when it was laid out as London’s first public park. The Grade II-listed spot is also home to a Grade II-listed drinking fountain dating back to 1902, which has been restored and moved to a new location under its own canopy.

First look: inside plans for a major revamp of Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. 

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