Finsbury Circus Garden

This patch of greenery in the middle of the bustling city is in fact London’s oldest public park, dating back to 1606, although it wasn’t always open to the general public. It was originally part of Finsbury Manor, a series of houses for wealthy inhabitants, however these were eventually broken up and used as offices. The garden as it is today was designed in the 19th century and opened as a public space in the early 1900s. As you can imagine its location attracts hundreds of lunchtime workers as soon as the sun pops out, but as well as picnicking you can bowl and perhaps even catch a jazz concert if your timing is right. The garden is exceptionally well maintained, and due to its age it is deemed of great importance by the English Heritage society. That hasn’t stopped part of it from being bulldozed to make way for the new Crossrail, however it is all to be restored (and potentially parts of it will be renovated in the process) once construction work is over, which is scheduled for 2016.