Finsbury Circus Gardens, London’s oldest public park, has reopened following a major renovation, ending nearly a decade of closure due to construction on the Elizabeth line.

Closed for much of the past ten years while serving as a worksite for the nearby Liverpool Street station, the historic park has undergone a major transformation led by the City of London Corporation since 2023.

Improvements include a revitalized central lawn, upgraded seating, and newly designed landscaping. To boost biodiversity, 12 new tree species have been planted along with more than 13,000 plants and 6,000 bulbs, enhancing the park’s green space—the largest in the City’s Square Mile.

Chris Hayward of the City of London Corporation described the upgraded park as “tranquil,” saying it is now “revitalised and ready to be rediscovered.”

Originally opened to the public in the 1600s as part of the Moor Fields, the park received its formal layout in 1815 by architect George Dance the Younger. Despite its long history, the park has only recently become fully accessible again, with a partial reopening on 6 May and an official reopening set for 4 June.

“Our green spaces are essential to making the Square Mile a welcoming place to live, work, and visit,” Hayward said. “They reflect our commitment to a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable city.”

James St John Davis, chair of the Corporation’s Natural Environment Board, added that the City’s parks—visited over 21 million times each year—"truly punch above their weight,” offering a much-needed escape from the busy city environment. Photo by Basher Eyre / Eastern entrance to gardens at Finsbury Circus / CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia commons.