Description
Mount Street Gardens is a beautifully tucked-away, historic urban sanctuary located in the heart of Mayfair, one of London's most elegant neighborhoods. Originally created in 1889 on the site of a former 18th-century parish burial ground, this public square offers a remarkably peaceful green space that is completely shielded from West End traffic. It serves as a fascinating hidden gem for families sightseeing in central London.
Visiting the gardens is entirely free, making it an exceptional, budget-friendly rest stop for parents with kids. Children can discover unusual exotic trees, spot local birdlife, and uncover hidden historical clues like ancient gravestones embedded in the grass, while parents unwind on one of the many historic wooden benches.
If you are looking for a tranquil outdoor escape that balances rich local heritage with a shaded, relaxed atmosphere, this charming public haven provides the perfect spot to recharge your batteries.
Features
- Free
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
Key Features
- Repurposed Heritage Site: A quiet pocket park beautifully converted from a historic 1723 parish graveyard and a former Victorian workhouse site.
- The Rearing Horse Fountain: A striking, Grade II listed bronze drinking fountain crafted in 1891 by famed architects Sir Ernest George and Harold Peto.
- The American Bench Connection: An unusual collection of pathways lined with benches funded and dedicated by US citizens with ties to the nearby historic embassy.
- Warm Urban Microclimate: A highly sheltered pocket layout surrounded by tall mansion blocks, creating a temperate climate that allows delicate global plants to thrive.
Highlights
- The Historic Gravestones & Tombs: Because the park was built on a former burial ground for St George’s Hanover Square, it still holds visible secrets. Older children can look closely at the lawns to spot a historic sunken table-top tomb and flat gravestones set directly into the grass. It offers an excellent, real-world history lesson about how Victorian London solved its inner-city burial crisis by moving graves out to the suburbs.
- The Exotic Botanical Trail: Thanks to the warm microclimate trapped by the surrounding grand red-brick mansion blocks, the gardens house an impressive collection of international trees. Kids can path-walk past a Canary Islands date palm, an Australian silver wattle tree, and three prehistoric Dawn Redwoods sourced from south-east China. Handily posted informational panels make it easy for families to identify the species together.
- The Bronze Horse Fountain: Positioned elegantly along the pathways is a magnificent bronze drinking fountain featuring a statue of a rearing horse. Commissioned in 1891 by a local estate agent, it was fully restored to its historic flowing order by local donations. Children love inspecting the detailed stone and listening to the soft trickle of water.
- Red Telephone Kiosks & Gate Piers: The park features several historic, Grade II listed architectural fixtures. Entering via the South Audley Street gate offers a highly picturesque view, where traditional British red K2 telephone boxes frame either side of the historic Portland stone gate piers and decorative lamps, making it a great photo opportunity.
- The Local Bird Sanctuary: The dense canopy of towering London plane trees and fragrant shrubs serves as a thriving natural sanctuary for urban wildlife. Families can rest quietly to spot resident robins, great tits, magpies, goldcrests, and song thrushes visiting the central birdbaths.
Beyond the Main Attraction
- Grosvenor Chapel: Located directly adjacent to the western gate, this simple 1730 chapel served as the design blueprint for many early New England churches in America.
- Farm Street Church: Situated at the eastern end of the park, this spectacular Victorian Gothic Revival church features an altar designed by Augustus Pugin, the mastermind behind the Houses of Parliament interiors.
- Grosvenor Square: A historic five-acre green public square located just a short walk to the north, offering wide open lawns for children to play.
0.65 miles
