List of parks and open spaces managed by the City of London Corporation

The City of London Corporation owns and maintains open space in and around Greater London.

They have mainly been acquired since 1878, when two Acts of Parliament entrusted the management of Epping Forest and several other areas within a 25-mile (40 km) radius to the Corporation: these areas laid the foundation for the Green Belt in the 20th century. On dedicating the opening of Epping Forest on 6 May 1882, Queen Victoria said "It gives me the greatest satisfaction to dedicate this beautiful forest to the use and enjoyment of my people for all time."^[1]

Within the City[]

Finsbury Circus, the largest public open space, seen from Tower 42

The City has no sizeable parks within its boundary, but does have a network of a large number of gardens and small open spaces, many of them maintained by the Corporation. These range from formal gardens such as the one in Finsbury Circus, containing a bowling green and bandstand, to churchyards such as St Olave Hart Street, to water features and artwork in courtyards and pedestrianised lanes.^[2] There are 150 smaller areas within the square mile of the City of London, including:

Barber-Surgeon's Hall Garden, London Wall
, Queen Victoria Street^[3]
Churchyard at St Olave Hart Street
Courtyard of St Vedast Foster Lane
Finsbury Circus, Blomfield Street/London Wall/Moorgate
Jubilee Garden, Houndsditch
Portsoken Street Garden, Portsoken Street/Goodman's Yard
Postman's Park, Little Britain
, Seething Lane
St Dunstan-in-the-East, St Dunstan's Hill
St Mary Aldermanbury, Aldermanbury
St Olave Hart Street churchyard, Seething Lane
St Paul's churchyard, St Paul's Cathedral
West Smithfield Garden, West Smithfield
Whittington Gardens, College Street

Outside the City[]

The total managed area is 4,200 hectares (42 km² (16 sq mi)). Included in the open spaces are:

Hampstead Heath 274 hectares. Located in the boroughs of Camden and Barnet
Epping Forest, 3,188 hectares. Largest public open space in the London area.
Burnham Beeches, 218 hectares. An area in Buckinghamshire purchased 1880.
Stoke Common, 83 hectares in Buckinghamshire.
The City Commons, seven green spaces in South London and Surrey managed by the Corporation:^[4]
- Ashtead Common, 200 hectares
- Farthing Downs, 95 hectares
- Coulsdon Common, 51 hectares
- Kenley Common, 56 hectares
- Riddlesdown Common, 43 hectares
- Spring Park, 20 hectares
- West Wickham Common, 10 hectares
Highgate Wood 28 hectares Purchased in 1886
Queen's Park in northwest London, 12 hectares. Purchased 1886, having been the site of 1879 Royal Agricultural Exhibition
West Ham Park, 31 hectares. Purchased 1874

It also has an interest in the Downlands Countryside Management Project in South-east London.

References[]

^ Hagger, Nicholas (3 May 2012). A View of Epping Forest. John Hunt Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 9781846945878.
^ "Gardens of the City of London". Gardens of the City of London. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
^ "The History of the Bay Trust, Fred Cleary – Founder". baytrust.org.uk. 2013. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
^ City of London, City Commons

External links[]

[1] Hagger, Nicholas (3 May 2012). A View of Epping Forest. John Hunt Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 9781846945878.

[2] "Gardens of the City of London". Gardens of the City of London. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.

[3] "The History of the Bay Trust, Fred Cleary – Founder". baytrust.org.uk. 2013. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2013.

[4] City of London, City Commons

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v t City of London
City of London Corporation Parks and open spaces
Wards	Aldersgate Aldgate Bassishaw Billingsgate Bishopsgate Bread Street Bridge Broad Street Candlewick Castle Baynard Cheap Coleman Street Cordwainer Cornhill Cripplegate Dowgate Farringdon Within Farringdon Without Langbourn Lime Street Portsoken Queenhithe Tower Vintry Walbrook
Enclaves	Inner Temple Middle Temple
Localities	Barbican Bishops Square Blackfriars Broadgate Farringdon Holborn Minories Smithfield Temple
Attractions	20 Fenchurch Street Bank of England Museum Barbican Centre Clockmakers' Museum College of Arms Dr Johnson's House Finsbury Circus Guildhall Art Gallery Leadenhall Market London Mithraeum London Stone Mansion House The Monument Museum of London One New Change Prince Henry's Room Royal Exchange St Paul's Cathedral Smithfield Market
Notable structures	2 Hare Court 2 King's Bench Walk 30 St Mary Axe Aldgate Pump Bank of England Bevis Marks Synagogue Golden Boy of Pye Corner Guildhall Heron Tower Holborn Circus Lloyd's building London Stock Exchange Merchant Taylors' Hall National Firefighters Memorial Old Bailey Old Billingsgate Market Tower 42
Civil parishes	List of civil parishes in the City of London
Bridges	Blackfriars Bridge Blackfriars Railway Bridge Cannon Street Railway Bridge Holborn Viaduct London Bridge Millennium Footbridge Southwark Bridge
Rail and tube stations	Aldgate Bank–Monument Barbican Blackfriars Cannon Street City Thameslink Fenchurch Street Liverpool Street Mansion House Moorgate St Paul's Tower Gateway
Topics	Coat of arms Flag History Listed buildings at Grade I at Grade II* Livery companies Lord Lieutenants Lord mayors Lord Mayor's Show Public art and memorials Sheriffs Street names
Category Commons