London Parks & Gardens


Garden Details

London Open Gardens 8-9 June 2025

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Gloucester Square

Gloucester Square
(Photo: Travis Thompson)

The Garden

At 1.6 acres, Gloucester Square is the second largest garden in the Hyde Park Estate. The surrounding environs offer an eclectic mix of original Italianate white stucco townhouses, and more recent developments by 20th Century modernist architects.

Built between 1838 and 1843, Gloucester Square was the first garden square in London where some of the houses (16 of 48) were built to face a central garden to which they had direct access (Toplis, 1974). Original residents included the pre-eminent engineer Robert Stephenson, who lived and passed away at No.34.

A detailed history of the square, and interactive historical map, can be found at GloucesterSquare.org/History.

Contract Gardener: Gravitas Gardens

Further information on London Parks & Gardens Inventory

Visitor Information

Open
Sunday 10:00–17:00
Activities
The garden will be offering a relaxed open day to visitors, who are welcome to make use of the expansive lawn, benches, deckchairs, and four table-seating locations. We kindly ask that visitors dispose of any food waste in the bins provided.

A new playground celebrating former resident Robert Stephenson opened at last year's Open Garden's event and will be available during this year's open day. Further details on the play area can be found at GloucesterSquare.org/New-Playground

Within 100m of the garden's south gate, visitors will find the famed Victoria pub and other restaurants, including Maximini, owned by Jimmy Choo.


Picnics allowed.
Entrance
North Gate
Nearest postcode: W2 2TB
Buses
Map of nearby bus stops
Station
Paddington
Cycle hire station
Southwick Street (Map)
Access
Access via the garden's north gate, which consists of a sloped ramp down to a compacted-gravel path. Two tables are directly accessible from the path with spaces for wheelchairs.
Dogs
Working assistance dogs only

Getting here

Street Map Google map Citymapper Journey Planner

More links

London Parks & Gardens Inventory WWW

Where next?

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Hyde Park SquareW2 2JY

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An elegant garden square surrounded by stucco-fronted houses dating from 1860. Moods range from more formal planting to naturalistic sections. Many unusual shrubs, trees and herbaceous perennials.

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Bryanston SquareW1H 2DH

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An early 19th Century garden square laid out to a grand design between 1811 and 1821 on the Portman Estate, with plane trees and other flowering shrubs.

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Portman SquareW1H 7BH

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Gardens laid out around 1780 as a wilderness. Now a private garden of one hectare, enclosed by a clipped privet hedge.

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Dorset SquareNW16PU

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Central feature of an urban layout by the Portman Estate (1815-20). The site of Thomas Lord's first cricket ground, established in 1787.

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Manchester Square GardensW1U 3AB

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How to get there from Gloucester Square