Many projects involve providing, retaining or enhancing the public realm, parks and open spaces – for public or private use and enjoyment.
London has many such spaces. There are 1700 public open spaces of more than one acre in Greater London covering an area of 67 square miles. The origins are diverse. Some started as parks for royal use only. Others belonged to religious orders. Some are private and remain so. Some were set up and adapted for public use notably in 19th century; some are attached to stately homes; some are in squares and parks for use of adjacent residents only.
- Epping Forest;
- Hackney Marshes;
- Richmond Park, TW10;
- Wimbledon Common;
- Bushey Park;
- Greenwich Park; etc.
- Regents Park;
- Hyde Park;
- Green Park;
- Kensington Gardens;
- Richmond Park;
- Greenwich Park;
- Streatham;
- Wandsworth;
- Tooting Bec;
- Clapham;
- Blackheath
- Trafalgar Square;
- St Paul’s precinct;
- South Bank;
- Hyde Park Corner;
- Marble Arch;
- Battersea Park (1858);
- Victoria Park;
- Hackney (1841-48);
- Finsbury Park;
- Southwark Park;
- Holland Park (historic but open from 1952), W8 6LU;
And then there are many Georgian Squares – most incomplete due to wartime bomb damage:
- Lincoln’s Inn Fields;
- Postman’s Park;
- etc..
– as open spaces – see Retail and Wholesale Markets