One of London’s smallest and secret-est of gardens has had a major overhaul, and Londoners are only just now finding out. The tiny park, next to 25 Cannon Street, has installed an oval reflection pool that perfectly frames an upside down view of the dome of St Paul’s. It’s a brilliant place for a unique shot of St Paul’s, or for a moment of peace in the middle of the city.
A mid-city oasis
The miniscule park is a proper hidden London oasis. Foliage hides the park from the street, and in turn hides the city from the park. You won’t really see it from the outside, and from the inside you’ll all but forget you’re in London.
The area was given an overhaul in 2022, with new shrubs and planting to make the park a gorgeous place to be year-round. Sure it’s gorgeous in the summer, but it’s equally inviting in the cooler weather.
Despite appearances, and all the signs warning you that you’re on CCTV, it is indeed open to the public. Private land; public park on the land. It’s part of Pembroke’s efforts to transform the building and surrounding land into a mixed-use property. The overhaul was a collaboration between landscape design practice, Tom Stuart-Smith, and Andrew Ewing, who is famous for his water features throughout London.
Pembroke’s Nick Moldon had the following to say of the development upon receiving planning permission back in 2020:
“We are excited to receive planning consent for this ambitious project, which will a create new out-door user experience for the City of London. Accessible to all, 25 Cannon Street gardens is an important oasis which promotes wellbeing in the heart of the City and compliments the elegant green spaces nearby.”
Swing by, check it out, and smugly upload it to your Instagram before the rest of London finds out. Although, if we’re writing about it, you don’t have much time left!
Find the tiny park at 25 Cannon Street, EC4M 5TA.