Gardens of the City of London

Welcome to the “Gardens of the City of London”. A privately maintained venture (established during mid-2005) with no affiliations to any organisation etc. Just a gentle stroll round some often truly delightful places; gardens, churchyards, sometimes just simple open-spaces etc. Additionally, pictures of a number of drinking fountains &c. are included, many of which may be found either within the gardens or nearby.

We shall find ourselves in a variety of streets. For example, Bishopsgate, Cannon Street, Gresham Street, Lime Street, London Wall, Newgate Street and Queen Victoria Street to name but a handful of the grander ones. We shall also visit lesser known places such as Church Entry and Ireland Yard.

Please visit the Take-A-Stroll pages ... try taking either the Eastern Stroll and the London Wall Stroll ... or perhaps both? But on separate days!

Individual pages are included for the gardens etc. identified within these strolls. More than forty other gardens etc. are identified within the “others include ...” link per the “Please Visit The Gardens” page. Each has its own individual charm and they vary in appearance and size, particularly size, greatly.

Havens in a whirlwind of activity (well sometimes perhaps) the gardens, be they largish such as Finsbury Circus or small such as the Churchyard of St Olave Hart Street (described by Charles Dickens as the Churchyard of St Ghastly Grim) or Church Entry (see below), can offer total tranquility ... that being said, some, although not all, may be somewhat crowded during summer lunchtime periods.

The gardens are kept in immaculate condition; plantings of permanent shrubs often complemented by colourful summer bedding. Sadly, some of the visitors are inclined to leave their rubbish ... but it has probably ever been thus.

Many gardens come with a church attached (one even has a cathedral!) ... although perhaps it’s the other way around!

The Miscellaneous Items in “Please Visit The Gardens”, include some odds and ends that have taken the fancy. Alas, some gardens do not appear to be open to the public ... these include the garden (off George Yard) behind the church of St Edmund the King & Martyr in Lombard Street and the garden (off St Stephen’s Row) behind the church of St Stephen Walbrook in Walbrook (both are included within the Miscellaneous Items).

Does every garden have its own resident blackbirds? Certainly the majority seem to. And, it is not too unusual to see a blue tit or great tit. Or starlings (many of them), the odd magpie, a robin, a crow perhaps, and of course, pigeons (pigeons, pigeons, everywhere). A busy group of wrens was seen (once but not again) in Salter’s Garden although one has also been seen in the Barber-Surgeons’ Hall Garden. And a pair of pied wagtails seen strutting in the Tower Hill Garden. But sparrows? A noisy gang of seven or eight house sparrows seen in the Seething Lane Garden and a single individual seen in the garden behind St Magnus the Martyr! Let’s not however forget the ducks, cormorants and gulls down by the river side ... plus a solitary silent heron in the waters between St Giles’ Terrace and the Barber-Surgeons’ Hall Garden and some noisy Canada Geese in the same place. There are squirrels ... seen in the garden surrounding St Anne & St Agnes in Gresham Street (visit the garden here to see one) and in St Paul’s Churchyard.

Anyone who has wandered into Finsbury Circus must surely become immediately aware of the change of atmosphere from the style of life generally endured in the City. A calming peace descends. It is understood that some of the London plane trees were planted in Queen Victoria’s time. For the more energetic souls amongst us, a bowling lawn provides an opportunity for gentle exercise although on occasion perhaps, some frayed tempers!

Hopefully the pictures will speak for themselves. Thank you for dropping by ... if you are moved or feel compelled to offer any comments etc. please contact the author at ... mmandm@hotmail.co.uk ...