London certainly isn’t lacking in lush-and-leafy locations. In fact, our (not so) concrete jungle is actually home to around 3,000 glorious gardens and gorgeous green spaces. One of which happens to be mere moments away from reopening to the public having undergone a rather hefty transformation.
Grosvenor Square has been picturesquely perched in the middle of Mayfair for three centuries. Spanning roughly six acres; it’s not just one of the oldest garden squares in London, but one of the largest, too. It closed its gates back in June 2025 in preparation for a mighty makeover (which marked the square’s fourth redesign in its 300-year history). And now 13 months (and £25 million) later, it’s finally ready to swing open its freshly-painted gates.
Grosvenor Square’s glow-up has been described as ‘the largest private investment in public green space in the West End for a generation’, and came courtesy of the square’s owners over at the Grosvenor Group (the Duke of Westminster’s private property company). Prior to the transformation, there had long been concerns regarding the lack of biodiversity in Grosvenor Square. But I think it’s safe to say that these concerns have been firmly addressed.
The ‘radical reimagining’ of Grosvenor Square has seen the green space transformed into a ‘first-of-its-kind biodiversity haven’. Now home to a whopping 150,000 plants, bulbs, and trees, the square -which will reopen on July 20 – has been redesigned to be calmer and far more eco-conscious. All in all, the transformation has seen the planting across the square increase from a rather measly 140 square-metres to an ever-so impressive 8,000 square-metres. Not bad, hey?
New woodlands and wetlands have been introduced to the garden, in a bid to encourage more wildlife into the square. Extensive decompaction was also carried out as part of the works, meaning that Grosvenor Square can now absorb up to 1.4 million litres of rainwater. A new education centre has also set up shop in the square in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust, providing a space for both children and adults to learn more about the garden’s biodiversity.
The regeneration also involved upgrading the square’s entrances, adding 300 more seats throughout the space, introducing new public toilets, water fountains, and security measures, and building a new cafe kiosk that’ll serve up snacks, sandwiches, cakes and coffee. The redesign honoured the square’s history and heritage, ensuring that its 1720s design was still in tact. The oval-shaped lawn has been reintroduced and previously-existing memorials have all been carefully integrated into the new-and-improved garden square.
The Duke of Westminster said: “The reopening of Grosvenor Square is a very special moment for Grosvenor and for this part of London. The Square has been at the heart of Mayfair for three hundred years, and our responsibility has been to respect that history while ensuring it is ready to serve London for the next century.
“This transformation is about showing how historic urban spaces can work well for people, nature and climate. We are grateful to the thousands of people who helped shape the project, including many young people whose ideas influenced the final design. I hope Grosvenor Square becomes a place where everyone can pause, explore and connect with nature in the heart of the city, and where future generations can develop a sense of wonder about the natural world.”
Grosvenor Square will reopen to the public on Monday, July 20.
