LI Registered Practice, Realm, designed the newly reopened Finsbury Circus Gardens.
Finsbury Circus Gardens – London’s first public park and the largest open green space in the Square Mile – has reopened following a major transformation project by the City of London Corporation.
Upgrades to this historic, Grade II-listed site include: improved accessibility and seating; a larger, revitalised central lawn; and new landscaping and planting to boost biodiversity and attract a range of habitats for birds, bees, and bats – including 12 additional tree species, over 13,000 plants and more than 6,000 bulbs.
The design by Realm, who worked with Studio Weave to incorporate a brand-new Parks Office, reflects the City Corporation’s ambition in attracting businesses, workers, and visitors to the Square Mile – ensuring that the City continues to play a leading role in driving both London’s and the UK’s economy.
Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said:
“Finsbury Circus Gardens is a beautiful, tranquil retreat in the heart of the City – now revitalised and ready to be rediscovered.
“Our green spaces play a vital role in making the Square Mile a welcoming and attractive place to live, work, and visit – delivering on our vision for a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable City.
“These gardens reflect what makes the City of London so special – not just a global financial powerhouse, but a destination rich in beauty, history, and moments of escape.”
Chair of the City Corporation’s Natural Environment Board, James St John Davis, added:
“With the arrival of the nearby Elizabeth Line, much of Finsbury Circus Gardens has been closed for years. But now the wait is finally over, and we’re delighted to welcome the public back to this cherished green space.
“Our open spaces are a lifeline in the City, supporting people’s health and wellbeing, and playing a vital role in climate resilience and biodiversity. From birds and butterflies to bees and insects, places like this provide essential habitats while helping to cool the urban environment and improve air quality.
“Despite their size, the Square Mile’s parks and gardens – which attract over 21 million visits a year – truly punch above their weight. They offer a vital escape from the bustle of daily life and are central to making the City a more sustainable, liveable and thriving place for all.”
Principal Partner and founder of Realm, Edward Freeman, said:
“The site of Finsbury Circus has a varied and fascinating history from the natural processes that helped form it and the people and communities that helped shape it.
“Our design references this history through the new layout and materials used within the gardens, with a design focusing on the creation of equitable space with improved accessibility for all and improving biodiversity with new planting palettes and trees selected for climate change and resilience.”
Finsbury Circus Gardens has evolved significantly over the centuries — from boggy fenland shaped by the Roman London Wall and the River Walbrook, to becoming a public park, known as ‘Moor Fields’, in the 1600s.
In 1815, George Dance the Younger introduced a formal layout, and now, in 2025, the new design creates a welcoming and accessible garden space for future generations to enjoy.
The City Corporation manages a network of 11,000 acres of internationally important open spaces across London and southeast England, investing millions of pounds every year. They include iconic places like Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest, as well as over 180 smaller sites within the Square Mile.
As a collective, these gardens, churchyards, and plazas deliver the highest recreational and health benefits out of all the organisation’s open spaces and have a benefit to cost ratio of 87.7:1 – meaning that every £1 spent on maintenance gives a return of £87.70 in public benefits.
In 2024, the City Corporation was awarded the World Urban Parks Legacy Award in recognition of its outstanding contribution to the preservation, management, and enhancement of London’s urban green spaces.
The City of London Corporation also won gold and was named overall winner in the ‘Town category’ at last year’s London in Bloom awards.
